The six candidates for three seats on the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners laid out their vision for the county at a Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce forum Thursday.
Vic Burleson, Donald Street, Steve Pitman, Harley Masters, Jeff Harding and Becky Grant are all running the Republican primary. There is no Democratic primary for Mitchell County Board of Commissioners.
Pitman, Masters and Harding are all incumbents. Street is the current sheriff, but he has chosen not to run again for that role.
In his opening statement, Burleson spoke about his roots in the county and experience as a plumber and railroad employee.
“I’m not here for politics, I’m here for our community,” Burleson said.
Grant spoke about her life as a Mitchell County native, accountant and now, local business owner.
“I would love for Mitchell County to be a place that our children can come back home to, just like I did,” she said. “We are a multi-generational county, and I think it’s going to take all of us working together, asking the right questions, and finding answers, to move forward.”
Harding noted that he has served on the board for seven years, as well as being a business owner.
“My campaign is very simple, it’s the same campaign I used eight years ago when I ran — a strong voice for the people of Mitchell County,” Harding said. “I believe in representing everyone equally — it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor. Because when we were created, God created all of us equal.”
In her opening statement, Masters said that she is seeking her “third and final term as a county commissioner.
“In that time (in office), I have supported policies that promote transparency,” she said. “I have been committed to learning the North Carolina General Statute so that I stay within the bounds of the law; I have voluntarily taken several School of Government courses to help educate myself on decisions that I have to make as a commissioner.”
Pitman said that it is important to him to be an active part of the community.
“I don’t want to sit on the sidelines and offer my suggestions,” he said.
I want to get out there and try to make a difference. Am I going to do things right all the time? Absolutely not … but I promise you, I will always put Mitchell County first.”
Street made a similar point in his opening statement, saying that although he’s ready to leave the sheriff’s office, he still wants to help the community.
“I decided, well, I’m not going to go home and just sit around and do nothing,” Street said. “I want to continue serving in some way.”