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Position/philosophy statement
A good conservative government that always puts people first.
Current Occupation
Retired
Age (optional)
65
Campaign Phone
828-334-7679
I am a Burke County native with 30 years experience in our county's public schools and a 30 year U.S. Army veteran having retired as a chief warrant officer. I am a graduate of Texas A&M University and other institutions having obtained an Ed.S degree. I am married to a wonderful lady, Penny McFalls, and the father of two grown sons, Garrett and Andrew. I am a Christian and member of Mount Home Baptist Church. I am also a member of the Disabled American Veterans Morganton Post 43, American Legion Post 234 in Valdese, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Table Rock Post in Morganton. I love Burke County and want to see it keep advancing for the benefit of our children and its citizens. I am proud to serve as your commissioner.
The most important issue for our county will always be to keep our property taxes as low as possible while at the same continuing to provide the level of services our citizens deserve and have come to expect. I am proud of the progress we have made in the past three years in attracting good paying jobs to Burke County, and also in hiring and keeping the best public service workers in law enforcement, emergency medical services, human services, and in our health services. This must continue.
Our most important role as commissioners is investing in our students and all children as they are our future. I have voted to do that in Burke County by increasing funding for our public schools by 30% in the past three years. That comes out to four million dollars a year increase and would equal sixty teacher positions and I might add that was all done with NO INCREASE IN YOUR PROPERTY TAXES!
We will improve our economy in Burke County by attracting more industries with good paying jobs here. This is done by providing for 1. a skilled and educated workforce, 2. having good medical services here with hospitals and doctors, 3. a good system of public safety including, our sheriff's department, fire departments, and emergency medical services, 4. a good system of parks and recreation including our trails and services to our children, 5. attracting good restaurants and entertainment, 6 better housing and more of it, and, 7. transportation through our public transit system and maintenance of our roads. All these things work together to attract better paying jobs for citizens and to provide a better quality of life.
Right now the most immediate need that comes to mind is we have to create a better system for our foster care. We have made vast strides in this area and have made it a major focus of our board of commissioners. We have many children in Burke County that need or help and assistance and we are working to continually improve these services by increasing the number of foster parents and improving our facilities to accommodate the children already in our care.
I would like to continue serving Burke County as your commissioner so I can keep us moving forward. We must keep advancing. We do not need to be complacent in our present position and we certainly do not need to go backwards. We must always strive to get better and to improve our services. Our citizens and our children deserve no less. I hope you will vote to re-elect PHIL SMITH as your COUNTY COMMISSIONER!
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