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November 3, 2004 |
Wilkes
Wilkes County Links
Official County Website
• Wilkes County Government website
Featured Stories
County Commissioner
• Candidates
for Wilkes commissioners discuss jobs, Lowe's
Oct 20, 2004
The loss of local jobs and lingering uncertainty about what Lowe's Co. Inc. is doing were the main topics
at a forum yesterday for candidates for the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners.
• Challengers
are top-two finishers in Wilkes
Current board chairman rounds out GOP ticket
July 21, 2004
Two challengers were the top finishers in the Republican primary for the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners,
according to complete but unofficial results.
Archived Coverage
N.C. House
• Walker
has challenger in Wilkes race
July 17, 2004
When voters first elected Tracy Walker to the N.C. House of Representatives four years ago, David Sprinkle
finished fourth in a four-man field.
Candidate Profiles
Five run for three spots in Wilkes
Compiled By Monte Mitchell
Three of five seats are being contested on the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners.
Democratic candidates are Michael Brinegar and incumbent Arnold Lakey.
Republican candidates are Fay Byrd, Keith Elmore and Charlie Sink.
The top three vote-getters will serve four-year terms.
Republican Rick Woodruff is running unopposed for Wilkes register of deeds.
Michael
Brinegar (Click name to read full profile)
Office being sought: Wilkes County commissioner
Party: Democrat
Home address: 112 Brinegar Road, North Wilkesboro
Date of birth: Oct, 14, 1968
Education: Did not provide
Occupation: Grading contractor and farmer
Family: Did not provide
Political experience: None
What makes you best qualified: Did not provide
Top priority if elected: Did not provide
Party: Democrat
Home address: 112 Brinegar Road, North Wilkesboro
Date of birth: Oct, 14, 1968
Education: Did not provide
Occupation: Grading contractor and farmer
Family: Did not provide
Political experience: None
What makes you best qualified: Did not provide
Top priority if elected: Did not provide
Fay
Byrd (Click name to read full profile)
Office being sought: Wilkes County commissioner
Party: Republican
Home address: P. O. Box 148, Roaring River
Date of birth: May 28, 1938
Education: East Wilkes High School, Pfeiffer College, B.S., M.A. Appalachian State University; Ed.S., Ed.D., Nova University
Occupation: Director of Learning Resources at Wilkes Community College
Family: Married with two children and five grandchildren
Political experience: Member of Wilkes County Board of Education from 1978 to 1994; elected to the White House Conference on Library and Information Services Productivity, 1991
What makes you best qualified: My qualifications start with childhood and a tenant-farm family that believed in the American dream that God, hard work, and education can help one reach a goal. In addition, I try to be caring, use common sense and take the heat if action helps positively.
Top priority if elected: Put a lid on property taxes by working to keep and to get jobs and work for physicians and not Medicare to make health-care decisions. I will work with seniors, provide education for 21st century and address needs and solutions by using closed schools. I support homeland security.
Party: Republican
Home address: P. O. Box 148, Roaring River
Date of birth: May 28, 1938
Education: East Wilkes High School, Pfeiffer College, B.S., M.A. Appalachian State University; Ed.S., Ed.D., Nova University
Occupation: Director of Learning Resources at Wilkes Community College
Family: Married with two children and five grandchildren
Political experience: Member of Wilkes County Board of Education from 1978 to 1994; elected to the White House Conference on Library and Information Services Productivity, 1991
What makes you best qualified: My qualifications start with childhood and a tenant-farm family that believed in the American dream that God, hard work, and education can help one reach a goal. In addition, I try to be caring, use common sense and take the heat if action helps positively.
Top priority if elected: Put a lid on property taxes by working to keep and to get jobs and work for physicians and not Medicare to make health-care decisions. I will work with seniors, provide education for 21st century and address needs and solutions by using closed schools. I support homeland security.
Keith
Elmore (Click name to read full profile)
Office being sought: Wilkes County commissioner.
Party: Republican
Home address: 124 Old Cotton Mill Place, Roaring River
Date of birth: May 18, 1953
Education: Forsyth Tech Community College, A.A.D., Wilkes Community College
Occupation: Information technology manager
Family: Married with a daughter
Political experience: Vice chairman of Wilkes County Republican Party; chairman of Wilkes County Department of Social Services board
What makes you best qualified: I have over 29 years vast experience in business. I have endured company transitions from Lovette Co. to currently Pilgrims Pride Corp. My experience on the Roaring River Volunteer Fire Department Board and Wilkes County DSS board has helped me understand how business principles may be applied to county government.
Top priority if elected: The economy is without doubt the biggest issue facing us. It affects every area of government and the lives of our citizens. We must expand our tax base to generate revenue, pay for needed improvements and provide services. We should support local businesses and attract responsible new business to Wilkes County.
Party: Republican
Home address: 124 Old Cotton Mill Place, Roaring River
Date of birth: May 18, 1953
Education: Forsyth Tech Community College, A.A.D., Wilkes Community College
Occupation: Information technology manager
Family: Married with a daughter
Political experience: Vice chairman of Wilkes County Republican Party; chairman of Wilkes County Department of Social Services board
What makes you best qualified: I have over 29 years vast experience in business. I have endured company transitions from Lovette Co. to currently Pilgrims Pride Corp. My experience on the Roaring River Volunteer Fire Department Board and Wilkes County DSS board has helped me understand how business principles may be applied to county government.
Top priority if elected: The economy is without doubt the biggest issue facing us. It affects every area of government and the lives of our citizens. We must expand our tax base to generate revenue, pay for needed improvements and provide services. We should support local businesses and attract responsible new business to Wilkes County.
Arnold
N. Lakey (Click name to read full profile)
Office being sought: Wilkes County commissioner
Party: Democrat
Home address: 192 E. Magnolia Road, North Wilkesboro
Date of birth: March, 12, 1937
Education: Kings Business College
Occupation: Retired from Lowe’s Companies Inc.
Family: Married with five children and six grandchildren
Political experience: Wilkes County Commissioner, four years
What makes you best qualified: I have business experience, civic and community service, leadership experience. I spent four years in office.
Top priority if elected: I will continue to support the Wilkes Economic Development Corp. in recruiting business and jobs. I will continue to support Wilkes County schools and Wilkes Community College. I will improve compensation for county employees. I will support improvement in equipment for emergency, law enforcement and other departments.
Party: Democrat
Home address: 192 E. Magnolia Road, North Wilkesboro
Date of birth: March, 12, 1937
Education: Kings Business College
Occupation: Retired from Lowe’s Companies Inc.
Family: Married with five children and six grandchildren
Political experience: Wilkes County Commissioner, four years
What makes you best qualified: I have business experience, civic and community service, leadership experience. I spent four years in office.
Top priority if elected: I will continue to support the Wilkes Economic Development Corp. in recruiting business and jobs. I will continue to support Wilkes County schools and Wilkes Community College. I will improve compensation for county employees. I will support improvement in equipment for emergency, law enforcement and other departments.
Charles
S. Sink III (Click name to read full profile)
Office being sought: Wilkes County commissioner
Party: Republican
Home address: 701 Sixth Street, North Wilkesboro
Date of birth: May, 6, 1952
Education: B.A., recreation administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.S., recreation administration, UNC Chapel Hill
Occupation: Real-estate appraiser
Family: Married with a son
Political experience: Chairman of Wilkes County Board of Commissioners and finished first four-year term
What makes you best qualified: The county has been faced with a number of challenges because of the loss of revenue streams. I have worked hard with fellow commissioners to stabilize costs to avoid large expenditure increases. The county still faces new challenges. My experience makes me well qualified to lead Wilkes County into the future.
Top priority if elected: First are our continuing efforts in economic development and job creation. We have overcome some job losses, but many of our citizens are underemployed and need better paying jobs and benefits. A second area is to continue to improve our education system. The third area is cleaning up Wilkes County.
Party: Republican
Home address: 701 Sixth Street, North Wilkesboro
Date of birth: May, 6, 1952
Education: B.A., recreation administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.S., recreation administration, UNC Chapel Hill
Occupation: Real-estate appraiser
Family: Married with a son
Political experience: Chairman of Wilkes County Board of Commissioners and finished first four-year term
What makes you best qualified: The county has been faced with a number of challenges because of the loss of revenue streams. I have worked hard with fellow commissioners to stabilize costs to avoid large expenditure increases. The county still faces new challenges. My experience makes me well qualified to lead Wilkes County into the future.
Top priority if elected: First are our continuing efforts in economic development and job creation. We have overcome some job losses, but many of our citizens are underemployed and need better paying jobs and benefits. A second area is to continue to improve our education system. The third area is cleaning up Wilkes County.
Newcomer challenging incumbent’s record
Compiled by Monte Mitchell
State Sen. John Garwood is running for his fifth term in the N.C. Senate against Democratic challenger
Jim Cain.
Garwood has served eight years in the N.C. Senate. Cain is running for his first public office.
The 45th District includes Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes and Alexander counties.
Jim
Cain (Click name to read full profile)
Office being sought: N.C. Senate, District 45
Party: Democrat
Home address: 931 Big Tree Road, West Jefferson
Date of birth: July 4, 1946
Education: B.S., general studies; B.A. history, cum laude, M.S, international relations; diploma, National War College
Occupation: Computer scientist, retired in 1997 from Department of Interior; served for 33 years in federal government
Family: Married
Political experience: None
What makes you best-qualified: I have the education, training and experience needed to bring jobs, economic-development opportunities and health care to the members of this district. I will be the voice of this district that has, to this point, not been heard in the state legislature in the last 10 years.
Top priority if elected: I am committed to creating new business opportunities, stopping business and job losses, working to improve schools and regional infrastructure, and creating a better quality of life for all who live here. I will be the voice of the district and one of Appalachian State University’s strongest supporters and promoters.
Party: Democrat
Home address: 931 Big Tree Road, West Jefferson
Date of birth: July 4, 1946
Education: B.S., general studies; B.A. history, cum laude, M.S, international relations; diploma, National War College
Occupation: Computer scientist, retired in 1997 from Department of Interior; served for 33 years in federal government
Family: Married
Political experience: None
What makes you best-qualified: I have the education, training and experience needed to bring jobs, economic-development opportunities and health care to the members of this district. I will be the voice of this district that has, to this point, not been heard in the state legislature in the last 10 years.
Top priority if elected: I am committed to creating new business opportunities, stopping business and job losses, working to improve schools and regional infrastructure, and creating a better quality of life for all who live here. I will be the voice of the district and one of Appalachian State University’s strongest supporters and promoters.
John
A. Garwood (Click name to read full profile)
Office being sought: N.C. Senate, District 45
Party: Republican
Home address: 453 Mark Lane, North Wilkesboro
Date of birth: July 8, 1932
Education: B.S. in business, Appalachian State University
Occupation: Retired
Family: Married with three children and six grandchildren
Political experience: Four years as a Wilkes County commissioner; eight years in the N.C. Senate
What makes you best-qualified: Experience and my commitment to children and education. I’m co-chair of the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee. I am a member of Public School Forum. I also serve on the economic-development committee of the Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce.
Top priority if elected: I will continue to work to improve education. I will support teacher pay raises and better benefits for state retirees. I will support better health care for all citizens. I will continue to work for better employment opportunities for the entire 45th District. I will reintroduce a bill to reduce the waiting period for retired teachers to return to work.
Party: Republican
Home address: 453 Mark Lane, North Wilkesboro
Date of birth: July 8, 1932
Education: B.S. in business, Appalachian State University
Occupation: Retired
Family: Married with three children and six grandchildren
Political experience: Four years as a Wilkes County commissioner; eight years in the N.C. Senate
What makes you best-qualified: Experience and my commitment to children and education. I’m co-chair of the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee. I am a member of Public School Forum. I also serve on the economic-development committee of the Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce.
Top priority if elected: I will continue to work to improve education. I will support teacher pay raises and better benefits for state retirees. I will support better health care for all citizens. I will continue to work for better employment opportunities for the entire 45th District. I will reintroduce a bill to reduce the waiting period for retired teachers to return to work.