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CommunityStallings candidates(continued from page 8)for the last four. I walk, talk, eat and sleep Stallings.While my education and professional experienceare important qualifications, I’ve also provenmyself through a difficult term and I stand proudlyon my performance record and 2005 campaignpromises. See a list of accomplishments on my Website, www.VotePaxton.com.What are the three most important issues inStallings?The top three issues are long-range fiscalplanning and management, economic developmentand roads/transportation. I want to workon a five-year plan for revenue, expenditures andcapital projects rather than a single-budget-yearperspective. I plan to work with business leadersto develop an economic development commissionand implement programs such as the SmartTown Card and explore alternatives such as taxincrementfinancing and public-private partnershipsto stimulate economic development. We needa fiscal plan and schedule for taking in and maintainingsubdivision roads. Our role in the metropolitanplanning region also requires us to cooperatewith other local leaders and legislators to revisethe equity formula and identify alternate fundingsources to bring more transportation money toour area. qLouis PhilippiBackground: A New Orleans native, Philippi, 65,is a retired small-business owner who served inthe U.S. Army, started a Charlotte-area manufacturingbusiness in 1972 and moved to Stallingsin 2000, where he re-established his business in2002. He and his wife, Diane, have two childrenand two grandchildren, all Stallings residents.Philippi said he’s invested in <strong>Union</strong> <strong>County</strong> propertyover the years.Barbara Anne PriceCurrent council memberBackground: In 2002/2003Price and her family moved toStallings from Charlotte. Sheand her husband live next doorto her mother, daughter, sonin-lawand nine of her 15 grandchildren. She has aB.S. in business management from Nova University inFlorida, a master’s degree in financial planning fromthe College for Financial Planning and is a licensedcertified financial planner. Price said she’s politicallyactive as a volunteer and member of the Forum andSweet <strong>Union</strong> Republican Women’s Club, where she’schaplain. A member of Christ Covenant Church, she’sparticipated in the jail ministry for 10 years. Price isretired and said she enjoys family gatherings, gardeningand the outdoors.Why are you running for mayor?I ran for office four years ago because I was concernedabout government in America. My concernremains. While the arena isn’t always comfortable,and there’s generally a price to pay, some things areworth fighting for despite the cost. It’s time to getoff the sidelines. Leaders are plentiful in America, butthose who’ll do the right thing appear to be in shortsupply.What are your qualifications for office?I’m an independent thinker and have strongproblem-solving and analytical skills. In the corporateworld, I led a number of multi-departmental project8CommunityLoCationsIn his spare time, Philippi said he’s mostlydevoted to family. But, he admitted to enjoyinghis motorcycle and a boat on Lake Wylie.Why are you running for mayor?I’ve been disappointed with the performanceof my local elected officials. Having just retiredfrom owning a small business for 38 years, I nowhave the free time and desire to serve my community.Thomas Jefferson never envisioned professionalpoliticians; he felt each citizen shouldteams and was in a corporate-wide managementdevelopment program.I’ve been a member of the (Stallings Town Council)for almost four years, including serving on the TreeOrdinance and Personnel committees, and as theMecklenburg-<strong>Union</strong> Metropolitan Planning Organizationalternate. I’ve learned a great deal, not onlyabout town issues but about how government worksand how it shouldn’t work.After only a month of service as mayor pro tem, Iwas “promoted” to ex-mayor pro tem in an unprecedentedpower play. I can assure you I’m not a goodold boy, and am willing to pay up for refusing to lookthe other way when things are amiss. Government asusual is not OK.What are the three most important issues inStallings?1. The future direction of the town hangs in the balance.Who’s going to run the town and whose interestis being served? Developer loopholes in the newzoning ordinance need to be closed, and we need toquit passing the problem on to the taxpayer.2. Elected officials shouldn’t throw the town intoexcessive debt. We need to exercise some restraint.Tax revenue isn’t easy come, easy go for the taxpayer.3. Spot zoning and a north/south bias have hurtus already. A dog kennel with 60 to 100 dogs doesn’tbelong 6 feet, 2 inches from anyone’s propertyline. Respect for our neighbor shouldn’t be basedon the price of their home or how far away theylive from us. Bad zoning decisions will hurt futuredevelopment. qTRAVEL GLOBALLY • BOOK LOCALLYArboretum 704.541.0943Hickory 828.464.6962LAke NormAN 704.892.9020PArk roAd 704.556.8311moNroe 704.282.1063give a few years of civic duty and then return totheir farm. I will serve one term only, then returnto my farm, (which) may consist of only twotomato plants and a cucumber vine.I believe the best government is the one thatgoverns least. Taxes should be kept as low aspossible and only minimum emergency-reservefunds should be kept. Life experience has shownme governments take as much as they can andgrow as much as allowed. If they have our cash,they will surely spend it.While I’m a fiscal conservative, I’m a socialmoderate. I have firm religious and moral beliefsbut I won’t impose them on the people. Citizens’actions that aren’t detrimental to the freedom ofanother aren’t the government’s concern.What are your qualifications for office?Attended numerous Town Council and countyboard meetingsRepublican Party Precinct 15 ChairmanFormer <strong>County</strong> Board of Adjustments memberFounding member of Disabled American VeteransChapter 95Vice president - <strong>Union</strong> <strong>County</strong> Republican Men’sClubU.S. Army veteranFormer EMT volunteerThirty-eight years of owning and operating alight manufacturing company gives me executiveexperience; 65 years of walking this earthgives me human experience.(more on page 17)Our Kids in <strong>Union</strong> <strong>County</strong> Need FamiliesLove them as your ownLearn more about becoming afoster/adoptive parent(704) 296-4469<strong>Union</strong> <strong>County</strong> Department of Social ServicesDiscoverAlaskaPrincess Cruises Ad representative, Publication Lynne Date: Herr, 6.5.09 will be makingPhone: 704-766-2100 educational presentations Fax: 704-992-0801 about how Email: to experience jaustin@huntersvilleherald.comAlaska.Please Join Check this us ad for evenings grammar and filled accuracy with: and respond to usas soon as possible with any corrections or an approval.light refreshments & exclusive deals • informative videoEverything you UNION have ever COUNTY wanted to WEEKLY know about AlaskaEvent dates & details:September 15: The Vintner Wine Market. 6:30 p.m. The Arboretum Shopping CenterSeptember 22: Mann Travels – Rock Hill Office. 6:30 p.m. 2210 India Hook Rd. Suite 107. Rock Hill, SC 29732September 24: Mann Travels – Monroe Office. 5:30 pm. 1774-B W. Roosevelt Blvd. Monroe, NC 28110October 6: Mann Travels – Hickory Office. 6:30 p.m. 3354 16th Avenue SE Suite 102 Conover, NC 28613October 13: Mann Travels – Lake Norman Office. 6:30 p.m. 19826-B North Cove Rd. Cornelius, NC 28031October 15: Mann Travels – Statesville Office. 6:30 p.m. 1811 East Broad St. Statesville, NC 28625To reserve your spot, please email rsvp@manntravels.com or call your local officetriAd 336.887.8747rock HiLL 803.327.1156StAteSviLLe 704.872.1333corPorAte trAveLForeigN curreNcy704.556.8311oPeN SuNdAyS800.835.9828www.unioncountyweekly.com<strong>Union</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Weekly</strong> • Sept. 11-17, 2009 • Page 15