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Stantonsburg candidates find their voice

1 November 2007 — Unlike neighboring Fremont, the town of Stantonsburg will see no competition for the seat of its mayor in next week’s election. Incumbent mayor Roland Gardner will not run for another term, and Bill Edmundson, who currently serves as a council member, is the only candidate filed to run for the spot.

However, the competition is a little thicker for the two council seats up for election this year. Five candidates, including two incumbents, have filed to run for the two spots. The News Leader asked the candidates to address several key issues that concern the citizens of Stantonsburg, including the controversial hike in electric rates. We also asked each candidate to explain what he would bring to the board, if elected.

H. Powell Dew is a first time candidate, and a relatively new member of the town of Stantonsburg.

Mr. Dew said he feels the electrical rate increase is most definitely of concern to local citizens. He feels that the next step for the town would be to look at ways to help citizens conserve their resources to cut back on their bills as much as possible. Though the rate increase has already passed, he feels improved conservation could help cut costs for citizens and the town.

He said if elected, he would like to continue working with the board to improve upon projects that have already been started.

“We need to begin to promote the town, and draw people to the area,” he said. Mr. Dew said he would like to see the town invest in some kind of festival to draw people into the area.

“Coming from Fremont, I see the positive impact the Daffodil Festival has had on the town,” he said. “I think that would be a positive thing for Stantonsburg to do.”

As a candidate, Mr. Dew said he would bring several key skills to the town board. He has worked with several kinds of groups, and has experience in long-range planning, consensus building, and group planning.

Tommy Darden is also vying for one of the council seats.

Mr. Darden said he was dead set against the electrical hike, as well as sewer and water increases the town has passed in recent history. He said he believes in practicing conservatism when it comes to taxpayers money.

“I don’t believe in wasteful spending,” he said. “I think it was wrong to put a tax on people that couldn’t afford it.”

He said he also disagreed with a two-percent salary increase for town employees.

“The only people that can benefit from that are people who have higher incomes,” he said. “The working man can’t even tell a difference in his paycheck.”

Mr. Darden said he would bring a voice for the underdog to the board.

“Somebody needs to say something in the benefit of the working man,” he said.

He added that it would be his hope that the board will settle down and work for the benefit of everyone in town, not just a select group.

Ken Horne is the third newcomer to the race in Stantonsburg.

Mr. Horne said that, while he doesn’t particularly like the electric rate increase, he views it as one of those things that has to happen for the citizens.

“No one likes to see increases in their utilities,” he said. “But we’re trying to make things less expensive in the long run.”

He added that he would like to work with the board to find a way to minimize the impact of the rate increase for citizens. He said that it’s all about being proactive to make things better for every citizen of the town.

That very reason, he said, is why he would like to serve on the town board. He would bring fresh ideas, energy, and balance for making things better. He said he would lend a well-balanced took at issues to benefit everyone in town, not just one specific group of people.

In addition to easing the burden of rate increases, Mr. Horne said he would really like to work with the town to have better resources for kids in the community. He also would hope to bring new energy to the town.

“We need to bring some activity and excitement to Stantonsburg,” he said.

Incumbents Billy Bardin and Hubert Tyson will also seek election. Mr. Bardin is running for his second term as a council member. Mr. Tyson is seeking election for his fourth term on the board.

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