Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Sunset Beach, N.C., candidates

Five candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for the three open seats on the Sunset Beach Town Council in the upcoming non-partisan race.

The candidates say various issues including sewers, bridge, development and parking are among the priorities for the town.

Read about their backgrounds and their thoughts for the town's future on Page 4C.

Carol Scott

No party affiliation

Age | 62

Address | 1214 Main St. E., Sunset Beach

Occupation | Retired attorney; last position, assistant general counsel, Securities and Exchange Commission

Education | City College of the City University of New York; J.D., New York University School of Law

Civic and political experience | Board member, Brunswick Family Assistance; chair of a town-appointed committee to improve the gateway onto the island; started and runs a program to collect food for a local food bank from renters on the Island; Bird Island steward; organized a petition drive for Sunset Beach which got 82 percent of property owners to request longer-term financing for the sewer system; homeowners association board, McLean, Va.; extensive fundraising and charitable work in Virginia

Family | Married, two children, no grandchildren

Military | N/A

E-mail | ckscott13@gmail.com

Web site | www.carolscottforcouncil.com

Q | What is the biggest issue facing your community in the next four years?

A | The new sewer system and bridge will, without question, spark additional development activities, exacerbate parking issues on the island, cause construction issues, and result in financial hardships for some members of our community. The issue is how to encourage desirable growth while maintaining the small-town charm of Sunset Beach without adverse economic impact on citizens. Our citizens do not believe they have a sufficient say in some of the choices the town has made regarding major purchases, and do not believe they have been given sufficient information about some projects that will affect them in coming years. These issues can only be dealt with by improving communications with citizens so they gain confidence in the process and knowledge that we will pay attention to their financial concerns.

Q | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A | My background as an attorney with substantial experience preparing budgets during lean years will enable me to prioritize spending and keep budgets and taxes in line. We can avoid any expenditures not absolutely critical, such as staffing and equipment costs associated with a second fire station so they are not needed until growth catches up with our long-range plan; avoiding expenditures associated with the town's recent purchase of a second boat launch and park area unless grant monies become available and until we hear from our citizens about what they want to see with the land; looking closely at the first boat launch area purchase to determine the proper use or disposition of the site; doing whatever is in our power to reduce disruption and costs associated with the sewer system, such as waiving town inspection fees for electrical and hookup work; and keeping our citizens informed about sewer assessment and construction issues on a timely basis.

Parking on the island must be addressed, so that there is free and easy access to the island without turning it into a parking lot or overwhelming its capacity for visitors. I propose to establish a committee of residents of both the island and the mainland to investigate possible solutions including free permit parking for Sunset Beach residents, shuttle parking from the mainland, additional acquisitions of land to increase parking capacity, and increasing and enforcing restrictions on parking elsewhere on the island.

Making sound zoning and planning decisions to properly handle growth will be critical. I have extensive knowledge of the town's zoning and planning ordinances, as well as a background in contract, regulatory and personnel law, and management issues. We must stay on top of sewer issues and work closely with the county to reduce disruptions and minimize costs as much as possible. We must not forget the desire to attract appropriate business development, and to that end, we must make sure that there are no obstacles in the town's building inspection process and zoning ordinances that impede construction, or the ability for businesses to open and thrive. I will be vigilant is making sure that height and density restrictions are sufficient to maintain the quality of life so desirable about Sunset Beach.

As stated above, none of this will mean anything to our citizens unless we improve the exchange of information with them. I have helped in getting planning board and council agendas posted on the town's Web site, as well as publishing more detail about upcoming public hearings, but much more needs to be done. I propose eliminating the time limits on comments made at council meetings. I want give and take from council and citizens at council meetings and council response to citizen concerns.

Q | Would you be willing to raise taxes if necessary for the success of your proposal?

A | If council properly prioritizes and manages its expenses, there should be no need for any tax increases.

Karen Joseph

No party affiliation

Age | 61

Address | 915 Sandpiper Bay Drive, Sunset Beach

Occupation | Retired; former associate director for public/media relations, New Jersey Education Association

Education | Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Va.; M.A., Kean College of New Jersey

Civic and political experience | Sunset at Sunset, chairwoman, 2009; steering committee member, 2008; Sandpiper Bay board of directors; Sandpiper Bay transition chairwoman

Family | N/A

Military | N/A

E-mail | KJoseph@2khiway.net

Web site | www.karenjoseph.net

Q | What is the biggest issue facing your community in the next four years?

A | Managed growth and managed budget.

Q | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A | I will work with other council members and Sunset Beach residents to develop a definitive plan for future development with broad input from mainland and island residents; develop and enforce facade and landscaping requirements for all future businesses; require current businesses to maintain attractive facades and landscaping; review future annexation plans recognizing the financial impact on the town budget; and hold the tax rate at current levels.

Q | Would you be willing to raise taxes if necessary for the success of your proposal?

A | I don't believe in dealing with hypotheticals. Every situation should be evaluated and judged on its merits. As a member of the Town Council it would be my responsibility to approach issues with an open mind, free of bias or preconceived notions.

Len Steiner (i)

No party affiliation

Age | 79

Address | 613 Kings Trail, Sunset Beach

Occupation | Retired; Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp., Lancaster, Pa.; manager of advertising and promotion and district manager Education; University of Rochester, N.Y.

Civic and political experience | Sunset Beach councilman, 2001-05; mayor pro tem, 2005-present; Lockwood Folly Watershed Roundtable, 2006-08; Brunswick County Red Cross volunteer, 1995-2002; Alliance of Brunswick County Property Owners Association, 1998-2001; commissioner in Manheim Township, Pa., 1978-86; chairman, zoning hearing board, Manheim Township, 1986-89; member, Calabash Presbyterian Church

Family | Married, two children, three grandchildren

Military | Navy, two years

E-mail | lenpatst@atmc.net

Web site | N/A

Q | What is the biggest issue facing your community in the next four years?

A | Several; probably sewers. It's being done in the next two years. Beyond that it's parks and parking.

Q | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A | The town has significant reserves we've put aside to help us address those issues within five years. I'm a backer of a park site we're negotiating with now.

Q | Would you be willing to raise taxes if necessary for the success of your proposal?

A | If absolutely necessary, but I can tell you it won't be necessary. We have funds so we can do that without raising taxes.

Lou DeVita (i)

No party affiliation

Address | 223 Crooked Gulley Circle, Sunset Beach

Age | 70

Occupation | Retired; Northrop Grumman, Johnson Space Center, Houston, deputy program manager on information systems contract

Education | Empire State College, State University of New York; MBA, Long Island University, CW Post Campus

Civic and political experience | Sunset Beach Town Council, 2005-present; Sea Trail representative, Alliance of Brunswick County Property Owners Associations, 2003-05; Sea Trail POA board, 2001-03, president, 2002-03; Swan Lagoon POA President 1997-99

Family | Married, three children, two grandchildren

Military | Army, two years; Army Reserves, six years

E-mail | deesatplay@atmc.net

Web site | N/A

Q | What is the biggest issue facing your community in the next four years?

A | We will complete two of the largest projects (bridge and sewers) in the next two years. We then have to address all of the projects that have been on hold pending their completion (road repaving, bike and pedestrian trails, water access, streetscape of beach approach, parking and restrooms at the beach) to name a few.

Q | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A | As part of the existing council, we have been planning for these follow-on projects and allocating funding annually for their eventual completion.

Q | Would you be willing to raise taxes if necessary for the success of your proposal?

A | This approach was taken to help us to hold the line on taxes while moving forward incrementally on a multi-year implementation plan.

Edward Apalinski

No party affiliation

Age | 67

Address | 118 Crooked Gulley Circle, Sunset Beach

Occupation | Retired from Public Service Electric and Gas, Elizabeth, N.J., as division safety director

Education | Linden High School, Elizabeth, N.J.; attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and Union County College

Civic and political experience | Headed training sessions on electrical safety to Public Service Electric and Gas employees and New Jersey state, county and municipal police and firemen; qualified as instructor in Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations in construction standards, First Aid, CPR, blood-borne pathogens and motor vehicle safety; inducted in Linden, N.J., Athletic Hall of Fame and Union County, N.J., Baseball Hall of Fame.

Family | Married, two children

Military | Army, two years

E-mail | edapples@atmc.net

Web site | N/A

Q | What is the biggest issue facing your community in the next four years?

A | Openness in the local government of Sunset Beach.

Q | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A | Use city Web site to publish the check register monthly; use referenda to allow residents to participate in decisions for major expenditures; establish a Web site of my own that will post monthly meetings and other pertinent information.

Q | Would you be willing to raise taxes if necessary for the success of your proposal?

A | There is no tax increase necessary to implement my proposals.

For the Sun News