Funny how my efforts paid off with reforms in economic development practices...for awhile...though I'll never get any credit. Instead, I was beaten and tortured, literally, for opposing the most corrupt government in America...in Southeast North Carolina. FBI? What a joke...undermining and meddling in elections and undermining democracy since the 1930s, instead of opposing political corruption and law enforcement criminal acts, sadism, rights violations, disregard for the Constitution, Just like NC's current Gov. Cooper, his predecessor, Pat "Duke Energy" McCrory, and the DA, Ben David, Sheriff, and their equally corrupt pals in New Hanover County and Wilmington, like Ted Davis, Woody White and the fake Christians who share their sick, lynch mob values!!!

1. 7/19/2018 County Commission candidates face tight budget, high unemployment | WilmingtonBiz
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(/printsto
GOVERNMENT
(/section/government/3)
County Commission Candidates Face Tight
Budget, High Unemployment
BY STAFF REPORTS, POSTED OCT 29, 2010
TweetLike 1 Share Share
Four candidates are running for two open seats on the New Hanover
County Commission this year. Democrats Deborah Butler and former
sheriff Sid Causey and Republicans Brian Berger and Rick Catlin. The two
winners will replace long-sitting commissioners Bobby Greer and Bill
Caster.
Here is the Greater Wilmington Business Journal Q&A with the four
candidates.
GWBJ: As a New Hanover County Commissioner, what would you
propose to nurture job growth that will employ the diverse population
within our community?
Butler: The majority of job growth comes from start-up companies
(according to the New York Times and Newsweek). We should identify
county-owned real estate that is underutilized and offer it to qualified
start-ups for their use on terms and conditions favorable to them and the
county. We need to create/beef-up UNCW and CFCC mentoring programs.

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And we must cultivate seed investor and angel investor groups.These are
the three things start-ups need most: physical space, mentorship and
money!
Causey: Our county is faced with the same concerns which our state and
nation is experiencing. The county commissioners must be sensitive to
these concerns and work with large and small businesses and industry. We
need to design a program of incentives for business and industry and this
program needs to be addressed immediately. The county commissioners’
leadership must address this need as a number one priority for our
citizens.
Berger: Low taxation, fees and regulatory burdens are the best strategies
for spurring job creation. Across-the-board, low-taxation policies are more
beneficial to the local economy than targeted tax incentives (Titan
Cement). Low taxation and fees are critical to recruiting new businesses to
the county AND enabling existing businesses to prosper and grow. Small
businesses, crucial to the local economy, deserve a pro-business
environment that enables all businesses to add jobs, hire new employees
and increase pay for current employees.
Catlin: As chairman of our Ports, Waterways and Beach Commission, I
understand that our coastal assets, harbor commerce and tourism
industry are our foundation for a strong local economy. I will continue my
leadership of our unique coastal resources as your commissioner. A
business-friendly environment requires low taxes and fees, sustainable
infrastructure, responsive permitting review and quality educational and
cultural opportunities. I will bring a professional balance to our economy,
environment and quality of life.
GWBJ: What would you focus on to improve economic development
recruitment?
Berger: NHC’s strategy for recruiting new businesses is outdated and
flawed. Major improvements are needed to improve results.
Comprehensive review of the current recruitment process and
performance, and adoption of a more contemporary, effective strategic
plan for recruiting new businesses to the area is overdue. Creating a

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business climate of low taxation, fees and regulatory burdens is the best
tool for bringing new businesses and jobs to the county. Enhanced
infrastructure, schools, the environment, quality of life contribute
significantly to economic growth.
Catlin: We have the proven potential to provide industry-specific
employee training opportunities at our community college. If combined
with infrastructure improvements, a culture of responsive regulatory
review and sustainable business leadership from our elected officials, we
have the right ingredients for the success formula we need to attract jobs.
If we can agree upon and consistently implement a unified business
development marketing plan, I believe we will bring good jobs to our
unique coastal county.
Butler: Among my plans to encourage new business would be a
public/private venture whereby we adaptively reuse existing county-
owned real estate that is underused and not contributing to the tax base,
developing a program that encourages for-profit start-ups by providing
them space for a temporary period during which they can grow their
businesses. The program would allow them to use the space, provided they
maintain and improve the property and hire a predetermined number of
employees within a specified time. The long-term goal is to offer the space
for sale to the successful enterprise thereby returning it to the tax base.
Causey: The State of North Carolina and many areas similar to New
Hanover County have ongoing studies and plans to address economic
recruitment. We need to study what others are doing and use this
information to develop a short-term and long-term economic development
recruitment plan designed for our county. A focus group of
commissioners, of business men and women, local economy planners and
citizens, is capable of providing the direction we need to assure stability
and growth.
GWBJ: In this economic climate, New Hanover County faces a tight
budget. If you had to shore up a budget shortfall, where would you
make cuts?

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Catlin: In traditional incremental budgeting, departmental managers
justify only increases over the previous year’s budget and what has been
already spent is automatically sanctioned. By contrast, in zero-based
budgeting, every department function is reviewed comprehensively and
all expenditures must be approved, rather than only increases. This
process can also be applied to mandated service departments that do not
have mandated budgets. This successful business approach should reveal
decades of legacy costs and inefficiencies if performed correctly.
Berger: Higher taxation is not the solution and discourages new
businesses from locating here, and prevents new job creation by existing
businesses. Conservative fiscal management is the best solution. Zero-
based budgeting, focused on top priorities and essential services (i.e. law
enforcement), would help prevent much of the nonessential spending that
led to the current budget gap and calls for raising taxes. Working with
state representatives to reduce unfunded mandates is critical. So is
prioritization of needs.
Causey: I am in favor of a detailed budget review by the commissioners
and the establishment of budgetary allocation priorities. Each department
and division of county operation would provide input also based upon
priorities. The priorities of county health, education, welfare, safety and
services must be evaluated and funding alloted for each within the limited
available funds. A most difficult task for us during the challenging
economic time but these decisions which must be made for the future of
New Hanover County.
Butler: I believe we need to take a surgical approach when dealing with
cuts to the budget as opposed to sweeping, across-the-board departmental
cuts. I have been discussing the formation of a Budget Advisory Committee
comprised of an all-volunteer group of financial experts from within the
community who would be charged with the responsibility of examining
with fresh eyes and complete objectivity, the minutiae of the budget on a
year-round basis and making non-binding recommendations to the
commission so that the cuts that are inevitable are thoughtfully and
judiciously made.

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GWBJ: What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish as a
County Commissioner?
Causey: My experience in county government has well trained me to
understand and respect the strict need to implement and oversee a budget
for successful operations. My desired accomplishment as a commissioner
would be one who was wise with budgetary allocation for the continued
excellence of our county and a commissioner who provided open and
honest answers to each citizen’s questions. This is my pledge.
Butler: I want to have this county poised and ready to emerge from this
recession with a reputation as an innovative, cutting-edge place to start
and grow a business as well as raise a family. We need JOBS! The county
needs to assume a more prominent role in economic development and
should collaborate with those local economic development organizations
that demonstrate vitality and an appreciation for the emerging clean tech
possibilities of the future. I want to build our future around these forward-
thinking principles rather than continuing down the path of our heavily
polluting and industrial past.
Catlin: I want to leave New Hanover County a more attractive and
affordable place to live. This will include thoughtful restructuring of our
utility authority, new business approaches to budgeting and continuous
improvement programs, improved inter-government efficiencies between
the city and county, a competitive educational system, contingency plans
for self-sufficiency for our beaches, improvements in our air and water
quality, sustainable economic growth and most importantly, a long term
comprehensive vision for our county’s future.
Berger: Immediately, addressing high unemployment and the economic
direction of the county through improved policies and reducing the
stifling rise in taxation and utility fees on families, retirees and small
businesses which contributes to economic problems in NHC. Improving
county budgeting policies and advocating priorities over non-essential
projects, through more conservative fiscal policies and greater

6. 7/19/2018 County Commission candidates face tight budget, high unemployment | WilmingtonBiz
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accountability and transparency are vital. Perhaps the number one
objective of a four-year term is restoring the proper role of government
and public-sector integrity.
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