Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009

Calabash candidates give views

Calabash, N.C.

Commissioner

William "Bill" Dixon, (i)

Age | 70

Address | 1142 Charlotte Ave., Calabash, NC

Occupation | retired; former bridge captain; owns Granny Allyn's restaurant, Calabash

Education | Shallotte H.S.

Civic and political experience | Calabash commissioner, 4 yrs.; Member, Ocean View Baptist Church, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Family | married, 6 children, 4 grandchildren

Military | N.C. National Guard, 8 yrs.

E-mail/Web site | N/A

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

A. | Get more business in Calabash. "We need some revenue in Calabash to help the taxpayers."

Q. | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A. | "We gave The Pearl owner DeCarol Williamson, a 20-year extension to finish what he wants to do. It will still be a golf course, but he's rearranging everything. He wants to put in shopping, pools and other [amenities]. He has 20 years to finish it. All five commissioners voted for that."

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

A. | "No, I would not raise taxes, simply because 60-70 percent of the residents of Calabash only have Social Security coming in. You can't raise taxes on people like that."

Cecelia Herman,(i)

Age | 62

Address | 403 Deer Path, Calabash

Occupation | retired; former owner-relations representative, Sea Watch Resort, Myrtle Beach; former legal secretary

Education | Dominican Commercial H.S., Jamaica, N.Y.; certificate, public relations, State University of New York, Farmingdale; certificate, paralegal studies, Brunswick Community College

Civic and political experience | commissioner, 4 years; Calabash planning and zoning board, 4 years; chair, 3 years; Elks Ladies Auxiliary president, 1 year; multiple officers, Property Owners Association, Saltaire Village, Calabash; member, Our Lady Star of the Sea, North Myrtle Beach; member, American Legion Auxiliary, Calabash

Family | married, 5 children, 5 grandchildren

Military | None

E-mail | ceil1021@atmc.net

Web site | N/A

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

A. | "Sewer. The cost of sewer has become almost prohibitive without some kind of assistance."

Q. | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A. | "We applied for stimulus money, but we were denied. We have applied for grants to minimize the assessments, and we will continue to do so until we get some assistance for our citizens."

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

A. | "I don't think we have to raise taxes. Our goal is to get some assistance. It's about time we got our share of the tax dollars."

Joseph "Jody" Nance Jr.

Age | 55

Address | 1083 River Road SW, Calabash

Occupation | self-employed, Calabash Small Engine Repair Inc.; police officer, 14 years, Calabash and Brunswick County Sheriff's Department

Education | Shallotte H.S.; basic law enforcement, Southeastern Community College, Whiteville, N.C.

Civic and political experience | past chairman, Calabash planning and zoning board, Calabash commissioner, 2001-05; member, Calabash Merchants Association

Family | married, 4 children, 4 grandchildren

Military | None

E-mail | lawnmowers@atmc.net

Web site | www.calabashsmallengine.com; www.townofcalabashnc.com

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

A. | There are a lot of city ordinances that can be streamlined to fit our area to make the builders and contractors come back to the area to build.

Q. | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A. | When commissions appoint a committee and planning and zoning board, take into consideration what they say. Trust the commissioners to choose the people to fill committee positions. A committee is appointed to come up with a better solution. Trust their decisions.

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

A. | It doesn't have anything to do with taxes. No taxes should be raised without a reason, and there is no reason to raise taxes now.

Emily DiStasio,(i)

Age | 78

Address | 495 Planters Place, Calabash

Occupation | retired from IBM as department tech in the publishing department for large systems

Education | Poughkeepsie H.S., New York

Civic and political experience | Calabash commissioner,1999-present; Neighborhood Watch, Poughkeepsie, 4 years; member, St. Brendan's, Shallotte

Family | widow, 4 children, 15 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren

Military | None

E-mail | None

Web site | None

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

A. | Obtaining money for our sewer project.

Q. | What is your proposal for addressing that issue?

A. | Working to try to keep it down to what the contract said in the beginning or even lower than that.

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

A. | I would rather not raise taxes. There are a lot of older people who would not be able to afford it, but I don't think it's going to be necessary.