Position/philosophy statement
Serving as a public official in Wake County is a way to give back to the place I call home. I have been given many opportunities in life and wish the same opportunities for the rest of our citizens. I am passionate about assuring clean water and ac
Current Occupation
CEO and Owner Markus Group LTD
Age (optional)
72
Campaign Phone
919-422-2525
Of the candidates running for the non-partisan office of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor I have the greatest level of management and water conservation experience. The job requires knowledge and experience in the subject matter as well as a track record of dealing with complex issues. I possess both.
I have an extensive experience consulting in water cleanup and have led my own company, Markus Group Ltd. as CEO for 28 years. Early in my career I learned leadership skills while serving as a US Marine and have worked on complex projects including serving as a Senior Scientist at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory where I developed strategies for the cleanup of buried radioactive waste.
Soil & Water Supervisors assist Wake County in natural resource management such as erosion and sediment control, source water protection, stormwater management, floodplain management and flood control, water use efficiency, stream restoration, open spaces and small-plot forestry management.
Wake County is one of the top ten counties in the United States losing farmland at the fastest rate. Once farmland is developed it rarely, if ever, is put back into use as farmland. People who currently own farmland and wish to continue farming should be supported in their efforts to do so.
I believe the most effective Soil and Water programs are associated with education. Both K-12 classroom programs and public education help people to understand the importance of soil health and conservation, the water cycle and the need for pollution prevention, biodiversity and the geology of our county.
Companies which use water in their commercial operations should return the water not consumed in a as clean or cleaner condition than they took the water in.
I strongly support education programs offered by volunteer organizations like Master Gardeners, The Sierra Club, and the Audubon Society. These organizations can help students to understand the importance of sustainable practices.
As a Board member I will interact with the public at forums like the North Carolina State Fair. I will team with the Wake County Agricultural Extension office to increase the knowledge of county residents wishing to take individual actions that collectively will improve our environment.
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Age (optional)
30
Campaign Phone
919-480-1529
At an early age, Reese was taught the importance of the natural world. Through his local cub- and boy-scout activities he learned the importance of conserving our natural resources not only for the health of the creatures in the fields and woods, but also for the health and well-being of all of us: the people. Reese continues these principles in his own home gardening and encourages others to be good stewards of our natural resources. Reese believes that by protecting our soil health and water quality, we can continue to live happy healthy lives for generations to come.
• A District Supervisor establishes conservation priorities and implements programs to suit the district's needs.
• A Supervisor engages with the community to promote awareness and education for the importance of conservation.
• A District Supervisor is responsible for reviewing and approving contracts for conservation assistance programs available to farmers and landowners.
• A Supervisor partners with local officials and leaders to execute long term plans to ensure clean drinking water and sustainable land management practices.
As of the 2020 census, Wake County was shown as the most populous county and still is one of the fastest growing counties in our state. With this growth comes the challenges of protecting our drinking water, ensuring the continuation of our local farms, and protecting the natural wildlife around us. Balancing these needs is crucial to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of our growing community. As a member of the Soil and Water Conservation Board, Reese will advocate for all members of our community to continue having clean drinking water. He will communicate with local leaders to find a balance between our population growth and the needs of our local farms. Reese will help ensure our resources are available for future generations.
The Big Sweep is a program of the Conservation District. It is a purely volunteer based program that helps promote stewardship of our local parks and waterways within our community. Since it started in 2006, the Big Sweep has removed over 510,000 pounds of litter that pollute our parks and waterways. This helps us protect our drinking water and our native habitats.
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