Stokes voters face choices

In Stokes County, the four candidates for two seats on the Stokes County Board of Commissioners agree that economic development needs to be a top priority.

The two incumbents -- Leon Inman and Jimmy Walker -- are both Republicans. The Democratic challengers, Richard Newsome and Zollie Smith, are both first-time candidates. Newsome said he sees economic development and increased tourism as ways to generate more money for education. He said he doesn't think that the current board has been as innovative as it might have been in finding ways to bring in more business.

"I think Stokes County has stood by and waited for situations to develop," he said.

Smith wants to support education in the county and said he thinks that being a commissioner would put him in a position to do that.

"You have a lot more authority to try to get things done," he said.

Inman and Walker support education as well and said they have worked to put the county on a sound financial footing so that it is in a position to do such things as renovate and build schools. They said that the board has been actively working on economic development and pointed out that it was instrumental in keeping two major employers, KobeWieland Copper Products and Parkdale Mills, in the county by supporting their expansion.

"Business retention is economic development," Inman said.

Another major goal for Inman and Walker is for the county to have its own community-college campus in the not-too-distant future.

"That will provide all kinds of educational opportunities," Walker said.

The need for school renovation and construction is a major issue for the five candidates running for three seats on the Stokes County Board of Education. Topping the list is the need to renovate or replace Nancy Reynolds Elementary School and to deal with school crowding in the western part of the county by building a new elementary school.

With board member Yvonne Rutledge choosing not to run, only two incumbents -- Sonya Cox and Becky Boles -- are running in the nonpartisan race. The challengers who are running don't necessarily have a problem with members of the current board. As Colon Moore sees it, he is running for the one open seat.

"I'm running because of the passion I have for education," he said. "I'm not there to right a wrong."

Robert W. Nickell also wants to work to change the requirements for the state-mandated project that, beginning with the class of 2010, high-school seniors in North Carolina will have to complete before they can graduate.

The other contested race pertinent to Stokes County residents is the State House 91st District in which Democratic challenger Ed Gambill is running against Republican incumbent Bryan Holloway.

There are also two uncontested races. Kathy Young is running unopposed for Register of Deeds, and James David Booth is running unopposed for Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor.

■ Kim Underwood can be reached at 727-7389 or at kunderwood@wsjournal.com.

Stokes County Board of Commissioners

Leon Inman, Republican

• Age: 61.

• Lives in: King.

• Job: Retired Stokes County educator. Small-business owner -- Country Adventure Daycare, Carolina Farms Real Estate.

• Political/civic experience: Stokes County commissioner since 2002.

• Top priority if elected: Keep taxes low and protect taxpayers' interests, economic development, establish Stokes campus of a community college.

Jimmy Walker, Republican

• Age: 64.

• Lives in: King.

• Job: Insurance agent.

• Political/civic experience: County commission since 2004. Mayor of King 1995-2000, member of King City Council 1989-1995.

• Top priority if elected: Economic development to create more jobs; improve education, particularly school construction; establish Stokes campus of a community college.

Zollie Smith, Democrat

• Age: 48.

• Lives in: King.

• Job: Project manager in the cabinet division of Pilot Floor Covering.

• Political/civic experience: First-time candidate.

• Top priority if elected: Economic development.

Richard E. Newsome, Democrat

• Age: 57.

• Lives in: King.

• Job: Farmer and owner of Smart Onsite Aggregate Recycling.

• Political/civic experience: First-time candidate.

•
Top priority if elected: Improving education by making the economy grow and promoting tourism to increase the tax base.

Stokes County Board of Education, nonpartisan

Sonya Moorefield Cox

• Age: 43.

• Lives in: King.

• Job: Barber/stylist at Kings Cabin Salon and Day Spa.

• Political/civic experience: Member of board of education for 5½ years.

• Top priority if elected: Increase the graduation rate and reduce crowding.

Becky Boles

• Age: 61.

• Lives in: Germanton.

• Job: Customer-service representative for Flow Honda in Winston-Salem.

• Political/civic experience: Member of the board of education since 2006.

• Top priority if elected: Renovate Nancy Reynolds Elementary School, build a new school in the King area and ensure safe schools.

Colon Moore

• Age: 40.

• Lives in: King.

• Job: Partner with Magnolia Construction in Winston-Salem.

• Political/civic experience: First-time candidate for office.

• Top priority if elected: Provide appropriate facilities, do a better job of retaining staff, support student advancement.

Robert W. Nickell

• Age: 47.

• Lives in: Westfield.

• Job: Owner Carolina Ziplines Canopy Tour. Part-time bus driver for Stokes County Schools.

• Political/civic experience: Has run unsuccessfully for public office in Stokes County three times.

• Top priority if elected: Redirect school budget to make more money available for education by cutting waste so that commissioners will not have to raise taxes, more art education in schools, work to change conditions of senior project, renovate and build schools.

Chris Prysock

• Lives in: Walnut Cove.

• Additional information: Not provided.

91st District, N.C. House

Bryan Holloway, Republican

• Age: 31.

• Lives in: King.

• Job: Public-relations consultant.

• Political/civic experience: Four years as 91st District House representative.

• Top priority if elected: Continue to support less tax burden for North Carolinians, improve education system, provide infrastructure necessary to attract businesses, support small businesses and farmers in district.