Commissioner candidates count down days to election

Editor's Note: Burke County voters can casts ballots as early as Thursday with the start of early voting. Sunday through Wednesday The News Herald will offer biographies and a short question-and-answer session with candidates in local races. We start with the six men running for three open seats on the Burke County Board of Commissioners. Check out a sample ballot that lists all the candidates on Sunday's page A7.

When and where to vote early
Early voting starts Thursday and ends at 1 p.m. Nov. 1. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Family night voting is Oct. 21 and Oct. 23 with polling places open until 8 p.m.
• Burke County Board of Elections in Morganton.
• Morganton-Burke Senior Center on Green Street in Morganton.
• Agriculture Center on Ammons Drive in Morganton.
• Glen Alpine Town Hall on Pitt Street.
• Valdese Town Hall on Faet Street.
• Rutherford College Town Hall on Malcolm Boulevard.
• Hildebran Town Hall on Center Street.
• Connelly Springs Town Hall on U.S. 70

Bruce Hawkins Sr., Democrat
Age: 65
Education: 1961 graduate of Olive Hill High School, Morganton, N.C. 1966 graduate of N.C. A&T State University, Greensboro. BS in sociology 1978 graduate of Livingstone College, Salisbury. Bachelor's of social word degree.
Occupation: Retired from state government (Broughton Hospital) in 2000 after 33 years of service as a licensed clinical social worker and social work supervisor. Currently working in a temporary part-time position.
Family: Married to Judith Connelly Hawkins for 42 years. Father of two children: Cassandra Hawkins Caldwell, 40, and Bruce Hawkins Jr., 34.
Elected and civic offices held: Served on the Burke County Board of Education from 1979-87, serving as chairman and vice chairman; serves on the Burke County Board of Adjustments; Valdese Rotary Club; BB&T advisory board; served on the board of directors for Burke County United Way, Hospice, Red Cross and Burke County Council on Alcoholism.
Why are you running? I am seeking a seat on the Burke County Board of Commissioners because of a deep and sincere interest in county government. I have prepared myself with the necessary education and experience with 38 years of community involvement. I deeply sense the great obligation of a commissioner, and I realize full well the responsibilities and importance of this position. I am willing to work in a cooperative manner with other commissioners in addressing the concerns of our citizens and to manage our county's finances.

Steven M. Smith, Democrat
Age: 55
Education: Morganton High School graduate, class of 1971; Received AA degree in police science from Western Piedmont Community College in 1987.
Occupation: Burke Co Sheriffs Office from 1977-1981; Morganton Department of Public Safety 1981- 2002 (retirement); Currently self employed in construction industry.
Family: Married to Debra Tallent Smith for 36 years; two grown children, Kristy Reed and Steven Jr.; two grandchildren.
Elected and civic offices held: Serves on the board of directors for Burke County D.A.R.E.
Why are you running? To try to pay back the local government for the career they provided me with public service. I believe there is a need of change in local government to provide better services to the citizens of Burke County.

Gary McClure, Democrat
Age: 59
Education: Graduate of Valdese High School, class of 1968; N.C. School of Telephony in Sanford; attended DeVry Institute of Technology.
Occupation: Employed with Centel, Sprint and Embarq for 35 years and is a business service technician.
Family: Married to Marie for 40 years; have two grown children, Curtis and Don.
Elected and civic offices held: Is a current member of the Rutherford College Town Council, where he has served for 10 years; served on the town's planning board from 1996-98; member of the Work Force Development board of directors since 2000; has served on the Western Piedmont Council of Governments policy board since 2002; past member of the Rutherford College Lions Club.
Why are you running? I am running for county commissioner because I have sat and watched how our county has been managed over the past several years. I have observed time after time examples of wasteful spending while essential services are neglected. I think it's time for a change. I believe I have the experience and skills to serve the county in a more efficient and responsible way.

Jack Carroll, Republican
Age: 76
Education: AA Degree, Criminal Justice 1983, Fayetteville Comm. College, Fayetteville
Occupation: US Army, Retired 23 years; NC Division of Prisons, 15 years retired, lieutenant.
Family: married to Maxine for 54 years, two sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.
Elected and civic offices held: Current county commissioner; member of VFW, American Legion, Cub Scouts.
Why are you running? To continue the policies that have been developed over the past five years, building better relationships with municipalities in the county, the school board and state officials. Bring more jobs to the county (12 new businesses over the past few years, SBFI North America, Ice River Springs, Shenandoah Furniture, Cherokee Mfg, Duralee and VX Aerospace just to name a few). Execute the public water plan we just received, making water available to all citizens. Complete the Allied Health project, have students in the classroom by September of 2009. I want a tax rate lowered to 50 cents this year and work to lower it even more in the future. Continue to work with officials on the IBT, we have to protect the Catawba River. Continue working with Crescent on the Lake James State Park, they are in phase I of a multi-million dollar up-grade of the park. I don't want to see the county revert back to the days where the state had to threaten to take over the county because of mismanagement, not enough ambulances to respond to citizens' calls, not enough sheriffs cars, no pay raises for employees and the lust goes on and on.

Maynard Taylor, Republican
Age: 65
Education: Icard Elementary School, Hildebran High School and Carolina School of Broadcasting.
Employment: Radio sales and management for 30 years, cable TV sales manager for four years and presently jointly own (with my family and the bank) Tractor & Equipment Company located in Newton.
Family: I am one of 16 children born to Bertie Miller Taylor and Lester Taylor and a life-long resident of Burke County. My wife of 45 years is Shirley Shook Taylor. We have four children and they have given us 11 grand children so far.
Elected and civic offices held: School board member for six years, from 1976-82; ASCS (agriculture) committee member; president of Burke County Cattleman's Association; CSO membership committee at Gardner-Webb University; past member of Burke Economic Development Council; past president of Better Business Bureau; county parks and recreation board; department of social services; environmental affairs board; juvenile board; clean air and water board; mental health board.
Why are you running? I have served two terms (eight years) as your commissioner. I am running for a third term. My commitment remains the same. My first and foremost concern is for the taxpayer. Nothing is free. It is either paid by cash, check, credit card, fee, permit or taxes. All money to operate government and its programs whether it is federal, state or county comes from some form of tax or fee. I have voted no many times to keep taxes low.
The real question is who you trust to handle the affairs of the county? It is my hope that over the past eight years I've earned your trust. You can trust me with the county's assets and resources. You can trust me to manage the budget and keep the taxes low? You can count on me to be fair on all issues. I certainly hope you'll continue to trust my education, broad experience, skills, judgment, integrity and morality.

Gene Huffman, Republican
Age: 77
Education: Graduate of George Hildebrand High School, 1951; two week course on modern farming at N.C. State University.
Occupation: Semi-retired farmer; worked as a security guard for Great Lakes Carbon for 19 years.
Family: Wife Barbara Wells Huffman; four children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Elected and civic offices held: Advisory board of county commissioners in late 1970s, advisory board for extension services; served on Burke County Board of Elections for 11 years; Burke Soil and Water conservation board for eight years and currently still serves, two years; served as director of Burke County Farm Bureau; on board of Farmer's Home Administration to approve farm loans for three terms; Farm Service Agency, currently on the board.
Why are you running? With all the people I know and they know me, I think I could do a good job. With all the things I've been involved with I think I'm qualified to run. And there has only been one county commissioner, from 1918 until 1922, from the lower fork township area. I just want to do a good job. I promise one thing, to do the very best job I can. You need to balance the budget with the tax base. You don't want to get in debt like the federal government.
My priorities are:
1. Economic development, to give people jobs, no matter if it's large or small. If people have a job they're going to spend money and buy a house and that helps our tax base.
2. Looking out for the elderly. I think it's the proper thing to do because somebody who can't take care of themselves needs help. Not just because I'm an elderly person myself but because it's the right thing to do.
3. The dropout rate. I want to advise the young people they definitely need a high school education. If they get a good education, they can advance further in this world.