Meet the candidates: Pender County Board of Commissioners, District 1, Republican primary
During the filing period for the 2022 primary election, two Republicans signed up with hopes to join the Pender County Board of Commissioners for the next four years.
For the District 1 seat for North Hampstead, Topsail Beach and Surf City voters, former commissioner Jimmy T. Tate and Joe Cina will be challenging each other. The winner will represent their political party in November for the general election.
There is no Democratic candidate on the ballot in November, which effectively means the winner of the primary will take the seat.
Incumbent and current vice chairman David Williams did not refile for another term after more than 15 years on the board.
Pender County Commissioners receive bi-weekly payments of $507. The chair receives $636.
Voters in Pender County have several options to cast a vote in this year's primary election.
Residents can vote before Election Day by mailing in an absentee vote or casting their vote during the One-Stop or Early Voting period, which begins April 28 and ends May 14. Early voting is held at two locations throughout Pender County.
Voters can also cast their ballot at any precinct on Election Day, which is Tuesday, May 17.
Joe Cina
Age: 43
Occupation: Owner of Team Cina Enterprises, LLC
Family: Married with three children
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from University of North Carolina Wilmington; Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Cape Fear Community College
Political affiliation: Republican
Jimmy T. Tate
Age: 44
Occupation: President/Mt. Calvary Center for Leadership Development
Family: Single
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts -- University of North Carolina Wilmington; and Doctorate of Education-attended numerous other universities
Political affiliation: Republican
As growth continues in Hampstead, Topsail Beach, and Surf City, what are some of the challenges facing eastern Pender County?
Cina: Choosing three challenges for discussion purposes: traffic, schools and parks. Traffic is completely out of control. Eastern Pender County has one main artery to its traffic flow and that is U.S. 17. Unfortunately there are not too many branches off of this artery that allow a reconnect to the main artery.Of the 18 schools in Pender County, nine are overcrowded and all of them are on the eastern side. On the eastside we have Kiwanis Park, which is a fantastic park. It is important to note that this park is primarily funded and paid for by the Kiwanis Club not Pender County. Also, it is important to note that Kiwanis Park does not have a line item in the budget for maintenance and improvements yearly although it services the largest portion of Pender County.
Tate: Infrastructure is the biggest challenge facing Pender County right now and will continue as the county grows. The good news is this is nothing new to us. When I was a Pender commissioner from 2008-16 we faced similar challenges. As a board we created the Rocky Point Water System and expanded water to the eastern side of the county. The other major need is traffic. Until the Hampstead Bypass is complete we need to ensure our residents are safe traveling on U.S. 17.
Developers are continuing to submit applications for houses, apartments, and retail stores. But what are some of the other needs in District 1?
Cina: District 1 has many different needs that need to be explored and addressed. Along with three of the major needs in traffic, schools and parks, District 1 really needs more options for food service. Currently there are not many options available for families to eat out and enjoy their family or free time. This also piggy backs into hotel service. Currently there is really no option available for hotel service on the eastern side unless you go onto the island. Hotels are in high demand for multiple reasons whether for families to have a place to stay, visitors for events, or tourists visiting our community. Important to also note that the county is entitled to an occupancy tax on room service in our community which can help to fund many local projects and needs.
Tate: Along with the issues stated above other issues include our beaches, which is environmentally friendly money that comes into our towns and county. Our schools, we need to ensure our school board knows we want our educators to receive competitive pay and that our schools are becoming too crowded too soon. Pender, like too many communities, is dealing with high crime and drug issues. We need to ensure our sheriff has the money to get the tools to deal with this pandemic.
The Hampstead Bypass is scheduled to be completed in 2030. In the meantime, what are some actions local officials can take to help with traffic problems?
Cina: The bypass is far overdue. In 2018 it was completely funded and ready to go while New Hanover County had secured zero funding for their project. Over the past four years Pender County lost all funding for its part of the project and New Hanover County made tremendous progress on their portion. More forward to today and we have finally broken ground four years later in Pender County. We need to explore numerous options to address this concern immediately. The Pender County Sheriff's Office needs to have its eastern office open 24 hours and increase its visibility to the community. Most locals who live here do not even know it is there, so most passers-by likely do not know of its existence either. Law enforcement presence is the first step in enforcing traffic laws. We also need to partner and work with NCDOT on protecting drivers from the median turning lane. We need to explore options to indicate to drivers the need to use extreme caution in these areas using new technology, light up signs during high traffic times of day, more warning signs, possibly even adjusting speed limits during heavy traffic times to reduce the amount of travel distance during braking to help reduce collisions.
Tate: We must work closely with our local state legislatures to try for a sooner completion date and make sure the bypass is and remains completely funded. We need to work with the sheriff’s department to stress the importance of patrol and traffic control. A good portion of U.S. 17 is bound between the Holly Shelter Game Lands and the ocean, so there is little that can be physically done until the bypass is complete, but until that time we can do our best to ensure the safest passage as possible for our many residence and visitors who use that corridor every day.
What grade would you give the current Pender County Board of Commissioners and why?
Cina: Currently I would give the current Pender County Board of Commissioners a C-plus for their efforts in Pender County serving the community. The position is not highly desired, the hours can be extensive, and the pay is only around $13,000 a year, which is not enough to treat the position as full time employment although the demands are such. Communication with the community needs to be improved upon greatly and development needs to be controlled until our infrastructure can catch up.
Tate: B. I do this not to criticize the current board but I believe a board, no matter how good, can always be improved; unforeseen things always happen, mistakes are made. As a former commissioner I realize stuff happens despite your best efforts, but its knowing how to handle these situations when they happen. A board members with actionable experience is important.
Why are you the best candidate for the position?
Cina: I have served our state and community for more than two decades and completed hundreds of hours volunteering. I currently serve as the Chairman of the Pender County Tourism Development Board and a member of the Pender County ABC Board. I previously served on the Pender County Juvenile Crime Prevention Board. All three boards I was appointed by the current Pender County Commissioners. I also serve on the Tri County Cape Fear Fair and Expo Board, an active member of the Coastal Rotary Club, and have coached youth sports in our community for several years. I am a recipient of the NC Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate and the NC Professional School Resource Officer Certificate, which gives me knowledge to protect our children, families and staff in the Pender County School System.
Tate: I feel I am the best candidate for the job because I have done the job. Pender County faces the possibility of four new inexperienced commissioners should I not be elected, George Brown not reelected and Jackie Newton winning the Clerk of Court race. That big a turnover could lead to real struggles for Pender residents. Being a commissioner involves more than just showing up and making promises about things you don’t know how to accomplish. Change can be good but leaderless change comes with a cost.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Republican candidates for Pender Board of Commissioners, District 1
