Six Democrats, two Republicans vie for county commissioner at-large seats

Eight people are vying for two at-large seats on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, and six of those will be on the May ballot.

Six Democrats — Marshal Faircloth, Veronica Jones, incumbent Larry Lancaster, Jackie Paul-Ray, Ronald Pittman and Paul Taylor — have thrown their hats into the ring. They’ll be in the May primary.

Two Republicans — N.C. Rep. John Szoka and Ron Ross — have also filed for candidacy. Since there are only two Republicans vying for two seats on the board, they will be in the November general election.

The board has seven seats: two seats for District 1, three seats for District 2 and two at-large seats that cover the entire county.

Charles Evans and Lancaster currently hold the at-large seats. Evans is running for Congress, and Lancaster is running for reelection.

Glenn Adams and Jeannette Council are running unopposed to keep their District 1 seats. They will be on the November ballot, not the May ballot.

The three District 2 seats were up for election in 2020 and therefore will not be on the 2022 ballots.

Democrats

Marshall Faircloth

Faircloth is a former county commissioner who is running for office once again. He served four terms.

“I wish to continue the work I started in 2008 and renew the many great working relationships I’ve had with other commissioners and other members of the community,” Faircloth said.

Faircloth lost the race for the District 2 seat in 2020 but said he is ready to come back. “I’ve enjoyed a brief respite and look forward to a new service commitment with new energy and perspective,” he said.

A certified public account, Faircloth said that some of the big issues, including contaminated water and education, have not changed since he was on the board.

He expressed concern over the length of time it will take to resolve the Chemours lawsuit.

“We need to move forward without further delay to provide public water using whatever money sources are available,” he said.

More: Cumberland files lawsuit against Chemours alleging 'blatant disregard' for environmental pollution

Faircloth, a former Board of Education member, is also concerned about how the current county commissioners view the school system’s budget.

“We need to revisit the local education funding formula to give schools the highest priority possible,” he said.

The school board is asking for more than $400 million from the county to repair and rebuild schools. Chairman Glenn Adams expressed that they might give the school system 72% less than its request.

More: Cumberland County commissioners increase savings account, discuss funding for potential projects

Overall, Faircloth said that he has “proven experience at the county commissioner level of service,” after having been chairman for three terms and vice chairman for one. He also was chairman of the school board and chairman of the Fayetteville City Planning Commission.

“I have more than 20 years of experience with local government accounting and auditing that no other candidate can match,” Faircloth said.

Veronica Jones

Jones is the founder of Jones Global Foundation, a nonprofit that helps multi-culture individuals live healthy lifestyles, and Jones Global Consulting, a political consulting firm. Previously, she worked in mental health and family services.

“I am a lifelong public servant,” Jones said.

Jones said she has helped several local candidates run successful campaigns and now wants to run her own.

“I felt like it was time for me to step out,” she said.

She has been on several committees and boards across the county, including Fayetteville State University, Chamber of Commerce, social services and juvenile crime prevention.

“When I say I care about my community, I feel like I have shown that through action,” she said.

Jones said that she stands for affordable housing, support for veterans, safe roads, support for a skilled workforce with livable wages, clean water and energy, and mental health services.

Jones said she also supports giving the county school system more financial support than what the current board is considering.

“We need to make sure that we’re not skimming on education because our children suffer from that,” she said.

Jones’s slogan is accountability, community and transparency.

Larry Lancaster

Incumbent Larry Lancaster has been on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners since 2014. He was chairman in 2018.

Lancaster called himself "an educator at heart." He worked for Cumberland County Schools for 33 years as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. He then served on the Cumberland County school board for 16 years.

Lancaster has also been on several boards and committees throughout the county. He is on the Cape Fear Valley Hospital System Board of Trustees and has been a liaison to the Civic Center Commission, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, ABC Board and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, according to the county website.

Now, Lancaster is in his eighth year on the Board of Commissioners.

"I decided that I wanted to do it again," he said. "As a lifelong resident of Cumberland County, I'm excited about the future."

Lancaster said that his "baby" — or biggest priority — is clean water, which he called "a fundamental right."

His other priorities include education, economic development, homelessness and health care.

"I want to see some of those things come to fruition that we've been discussing for years," he said.

Lancaster added that he is not a micro-manager and is appreciative of the work of county staff. "I am a catch-you-doing-something-right person, and I think we need more of that today," he said.

He said that he's "been there, done that" and understands the functioning of government as an incumbent.

"I'm proud of this county, and I'm glad I've been a small part of it," he said.

Jackie Paul-Ray

Paul-Ray is a retired magistrate and law enforcement officer who decided to run this year for elected office.

"I've always been into public service, and I like giving back," Paul-Ray said.

She said that while working at the Magistrate's and Sheriff's offices, she learned to listen to people and help them problem solve. She decided to run "to see if I could continue that trend in helping the citizens of Cumberland County come to a reasonable solution."

Paul-Ray said that the biggest issues in the county are drinkable water, a bigger public transportation system and a shortage of bus drivers.

Paul-Ray, who was fourth in command at the Sheriff's Office upon her retirement in 2009, is also concerned about the lack of support for law enforcement officers.

"Are they getting enough help and backing for what they do? They have a crucial job," she said. "When they get in trouble, what happens to them?"

If elected, Paul-Ray said that she would listen and figure out the job before making promises about certain deliverables.

"I don't really know the ins and outs of the job yet," she said. "Let's sit down and find a way to fix it together."

Ronald Pittman

Ronald Pittman is the executive director of Arms of Refuge, which is an organization in Fayetteville that aims to eradicate homelessness across the county.

Pittman could not be reached for an interview. The website for his organization is also no longer active.

Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor, who retired from the Army, has served on the Cumberland County Continuum of Care on Homelessness for the past four years.

Taylor did not respond to several requests for an interview.

Taylor’s website says that “Paul has realized that our current political system in Cumberland County is failing us because of too much inaction from our current local political leadership.”

According to his website, Taylor stands for safe communities, equal pay with livable wages, veteran reintegration and homelessness elimination.

He also wants to help teachers, grow the local economy and provide “a clean and nurturing environment for all residents.”

Republicans

John Szoka

Szoka has been Cumberland County’s representative in the N.C. House of Representatives for the past five terms.

Szoka said that he considered a run for U.S. Congress and N.C. House. However, after redistricting changed the maps several times, he decided to run for local office instead.

“I know the levers to pull. I know how to make things happen,” Szoka said. “I think it would be a good opportunity to do good things for our county.”

Szoka, a mortgage lender, stands for clean water, broadband expansion, support for the foster care system and economic development.

He said that he helped secure the $70 million investment deal with Metronet to bringmore high-speed fiber optic to the county, but, “There’s still work to be done.”

Szoka hopes that initiatives like the broadband expansion will help “make sure we have one of the most inviting counties for businesses to stay and come,” he said.

Szoka said that he is the best candidate for the job because of his experience.

“I have a track record for accomplishments and working with people of all sides,” he said.

Szoka added that he played an integral role in securing around $400 million in the state budget for Cumberland County.

“That would not have happened had I not been willing to work with both Republicans and Democrats,” he said.

Ron Ross

Ross is the director of the Boys & Girls Club in Lumberton, but he grew up and lives in Cumberland County.

Specifically, Ross lives in Gray’s Creek, and he thinks that the county should have sued Chemours a long time ago. He also thinks that Chemours, not taxpayers, should pay for the construction of a new water line.

“Chemours made a financial decision years ago,” he said. “They should have to pay for every cent of the cost.”

Ross said that he doesn’t believe in changing the name of Fort Bragg and that he wants to turn the Market House into an African American museum.

More: How do Fayetteville residents feel about the renaming of Fort Bragg and other associated assets?

More: Fayetteville City Council delays Market House repurposing, votes to remove fence

Overall, Ross wants more resident input in commissioner meetings. He proposes that every three months the commissioners host a meeting at a different school in the county where people won't be required to sign up before they speak.

“Everybody’s important, no matter if they’re on the streets or they’re making a million dollars per year,” Ross said.

As a leader of a nonprofit, Ross said, he has learned to “go to the people you’re serving and ask them how we can do things better.”

Ross ran for county commissioner in 2020 and lost by less than a thousand votes.

“I was very grateful for the 39,550 people,” he said. “I think they’ll vote for me again.”

Reporter Ivey Schofield can be reached at ischofield@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Eight people running for two seats on Cumberland County Commissioners