Name:  Beth Dawson

Political affiliation:  Republican

Occupation:

Banking-21 year career- with NCNB, NationsBank, Bank of America (retired), and N.C. Real Estate Broker.

Political experience:

I was the Republican candidate for the N.C. House of Representatives, District 18, in 2010. I have served on the county, district, and state Republican Party executive committees, as a national RNC delegate, and on the local and state boards of the N.C. Federation of Republican Women.

I have been active on civic boards and in our community since 1986:

• Southeastern N.C. Regional Economic Development Commission
• New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees- 2 terms
• Cape Fear Museum of History & Science Advisory Board Member
• Junior League of Wilmington , Sustaining Member
• First Presbyterian Church- Elder
• Member, Stamp Defiance Chapter, NS DAR
• Opera House Theatre Company, former board member

QUESTIONS (There is a 75-word limit for each answer because of the space available in the issue. Answers longer than that are subject to editing down. Some questions will look familiar to ones from the forum, but in case our readers did not catch the radio streaming).

1) What can the county do to improve economic efforts?

Our economy and the need for sustainable jobs, that are compatible with our coastal environment, are the most important concerns facing our county. We should invest in infrastructure, especially water, sewer and solid waste, to meet the needs of our citizens and to encourage responsible growth with effective, efficient regulatory processes.

County leaders must develop a respectable, pro-business atmosphere in order to retain and attract businesses, and evaluate the risks and return on potential public investments.

2) What do you think state lawmakers should do about N.C.’s film tax incentives?

The film industry continues to have a tremendous economic impact in our state and in New Hanover County, providing thousands of well paying jobs and supporting hundreds of small businesses.  State lawmakers must acknowledge the film industry’s contribution to our economy, and continue to evaluate the return on potential public investments for our state and county, to be competitive in the recruitment and retention of the film industry. I will work with our legislative delegation to ensure they know New Hanover County is open for business and welcomes the film industry.

3) What specific sectors do you think the county should focus on to grow jobs?

County leaders should support a diverse economy. We should encourage new and existing businesses to invest and remain in our region by supporting diverse and sustainable enterprises that serve local, state, national and global markets with goods and services.  Our local governments must be respectable and provide predictable regulatory processes that encourage investment while protecting our environment and high quality of life.  I believe our high quality of life will attract new business and generate jobs.

4) What makes you the most qualified for the office?

I have a proven public service record, a business background, the genuine commitment, and the time, to serve. I have served in leadership positions in our community for twenty years- including the NHRMC Board of Trustees, the Cape Fear Museum Board, the SENC Regional Economic Development Commission, and as an Elder at First Presbyterian Church. I will bring a pro business attitude, professionalism, and common-sense leadership to the Board to undertake the significant issues facing the citizens of New Hanover County.

Name:  Beth Dawson

Office: Candidate for the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners

Political Affiliation: Republican

Age: 55

Personal/family information: Husband, Dan Dawson, married 33 years

Education: Salem Academy; N.C. State University

Profession: Banking- 21 year career, with NCNB, NationsBank, Retired from Bank of America; N.C. Real Estate Broker

Previous elected/appointed offices held: N/A

I was the Republican candidate -having been elected in the Republican primary- for the N.C. House of Representatives, District 18, in 2010.

I was appointed twice by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, and to the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science Advisory Board. I was appointed by the N.C. General Assembly in 2011 to the Southeastern N.C. Regional Economic Development Commission.

1-What are the top issues facing New Hanover County residents today?

Economy/Jobs – Our economy and the need for sustainable jobs are the most important concerns facing our county. We should, when feasible, invest in infrastructure (especially water, sewer and solid waste), in order to meet the needs of our citizens and to encourage responsible growth.

Crime- We should continue to address our crime problems by providing adequate resources to Law Enforcement.

Environment- We should be good stewards of our natural and cultural resources, in order to protect the quality of life we all enjoy in New Hanover County.

Education-

For New Hanover County to be competitive in the recruitment and retention of sustainable jobs and new business investment, we must offer quality education options for our students and their families. The priority should be funds in the classroom- for our students and our teachers. Cape Fear Community College offers vital job training programs, which are important assets to new businesses looking at investing in New Hanover County. I will work with the NHC Board of Education and CFCC to ensure they are successful.

2- As county commissioner, what would you do to make New Hanover County conducive to recruiting new industry as well as making the county a viable place for small business owners?

First and foremost, we need leadership among our governing board that will promote a pro-business atmosphere and be respectable in order to retain and attract businesses that are compatible with our coastal environment. We should invest in infrastructure, especially water, sewer and solid waste, to meet the needs of our citizens and to encourage responsible growth. I will support effective, efficient and predictable regulatory processes, and make responsible planning and zoning decisions that will encourage investment, while protecting our environment.

County leaders should support a diverse economy. We should encourage new and existing businesses to invest and remain in our region by supporting diverse and sustainable enterprises that serve local, state, national and global markets with goods and services.

Our community should know where it wants to go regarding economic development in the next ten years, and it would be wise to do strategic planning involving the county, private sector partners, and the economic development organizations that are working to create jobs and to bring new businesses here. We should make sure we are targeting the types of businesses that we want to attract, and to help grow here. This should involve input from existing businesses, as they have the potential to create the majority of new jobs in the future. Resources are limited and strategic planning will help to determine our priorities.

We should work collaboratively with our legislative delegation, municipalities and surrounding counties to promote New Hanover County as the economic engine that it is in Southeastern North Carolina. We are fortunate to live in an area with an exceptionally high quality of life supported by an excellent health care system, our state port, UNC-Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College- which are just a few of the many great attributes that I feel make our county very attractive to new corporate investment.

“The course we chart for the future will determine our quality of life for tomorrow.”

3- Do you support economic incentives as the law currently allows?

I will always evaluate the risks and return on any potential public investments.

Until such time as the N.C. General Assembly tackles corporate tax reform in North Carolina, we need to acknowledge that economic incentives are a tool being used across our country as states compete for business investment. Many companies request them while evaluating potential locations to relocate or expand their businesses. All North Carolina and county business incentives are performance based, meaning companies must commit to make investments and create jobs, before receiving any incentives. The use of film industry incentives in N.C., and especially in New Hanover County, speaks for itself and has proven to be very successful, as they approach two hundred million dollars in local investment this year.

The film industry continues to have a tremendous economic impact in our state and in New Hanover County, providing thousands of well paying jobs and supporting hundreds of small businesses.  State lawmakers must acknowledge the film industry’s contribution to our economy, and continue to evaluate the return on potential public investments for our state and county, to be competitive in the recruitment and retention of the film industry.

I will work with our legislative delegation to ensure they know New Hanover County is open for business and welcomes the film industry.

1- How do you plan to patch up the relationship between the county and the city?

I will bring my experience of effective listening, problem solving, and communication skills to the Board of County Commissioners. It is imperative that our county and municipal governing boards lead by listening and understanding our citizen’s concerns. I will encourage frequent communication between the county and municipalities to address important issues on behalf of all of our citizens. I have the time, proven public service record and the sincere commitment to serve all of the citizens.

 2-What is your position on fixing the sustainable-energy facility (WASTEC) and renovating 320 Chestnut St.?

As the County determines the fiscally responsible option for reducing the volume of solid waste going to our limited landfill space, we should send our solid waste to other available landfills at a lower cost. As it becomes economically feasible to replace the 30 year old SEF, we should proceed utilizing the latest technology. Renovation of 320 Chestnut St. is needed immediately to provide necessary office space downtown for the county departments and employees who serve our citizens.

3- What is your economic development vision?

Our economy and the need for sustainable jobs, that are compatible with our coastal environment, are the most important concerns facing our county. We should invest in infrastructure to meet the needs of our citizens and to encourage responsible growth with effective, efficient regulatory processes. We must develop a respectable, pro-business atmosphere in order to retain and attract businesses. The course we chart for the future today will determine our quality of life for tomorrow.

4- Explain three ways you’d tackle the traffic problem in the Porters Neck area?

I will work with the citizens, petitioners, planning board, and staff to make careful planning and zoning decisions. I will encourage effective participation in the WMPO, and work with the NCDOT in order to address the many challenging traffic issues in New Hanover County.

5- Should New Hanover County offer incentives/tax breaks to help Wilmington lure a minor-league baseball team to town?

It continues to be good news when organizations and businesses want to invest in New Hanover County; however, I am not in favor of publicly financing the proposed baseball stadium. I am more concerned about adequately funding our law enforcement, and our fire and emergency response services. The needs of our citizens and our county are significant, and we need to invest, when economically feasible, in our infrastructure, our schools, public safety, and other priorities.

6- Is the county doing enough, financially or otherwise, to help the schools?

For New Hanover Co. to be competitive in the recruitment and retention of sustainable jobs and new business investment, we must offer quality education options for our students and their families. The priority should be funds in the classroom- for our students and our teachers. Cape Fear Community College offers vital job training programs, which are important assets to new businesses looking at investing in NHC. I will work with the NHC Board of Education and CFCC to ensure they are successful.

“REALTORS® have one of the most accurate readings of economic conditions in New Hanover County,” says Dawson.  “I am grateful to have the support of the Wilmington Regional Association REALTORS®, and I appreciate and value their insights and opinions on issues that impact families and small businesses in New Hanover County.”

Beth Dawson is a 26-year Wilmington resident who has been actively involved in our community.  She has served on numerous community boards and committees, including the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science Advisory Board and the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees.  Professionally, Beth spent over 20 years working in the banking industry.  Beth and her husband of 33 years, Dan, are also actively involved in their church.

“A strong, effective educational system is critical to New Hanover County’s future success and economic growth,” says Dawson.  “As a County Commissioner, I will work with our Board of Education to ensure that New Hanover County’s children have the opportunity to obtain a world-class education that prepares them for college or the workforce.”

Beth Dawson is a 26-year Wilmington resident who has been actively involved in our community.  She has served on numerous community boards and committees, including the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science Advisory Board and the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees.  Professionally, Beth spent over 20 years working in the banking industry.  Beth and her husband of 33 years, Dan, are also actively involved in their church.

Earlier this year I recorded a brief radio interview with WHQR.  You can listen to the interview by clicking here.

- Beth

Five early voting sites will be open in New Hanover County:

• NHC Government Center, 230 Government Center Dr., Suite 38
• NHC Senior Center, 2222 S. College Rd.
• CFCC North Campus, 4500 Blue Clay Rd., Room 117 in the Applied Technology Building
• NHC Main Library, 201 Chestnut Street – 3rd floor
• Carolina Beach Police Training Room, 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd., Town Hall

All early voting sites in New Hanover county will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Saturday November 3, when they will be open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

It was a wonderful event tonight for the Beth Dawson for County Commissioner Campaign! Thanks to Representative Carolyn Justice and Representative Danny McComas for your wonderful support and kind words, and for all who attended and support my campaign! Early voting continues tomorrow at the Government center, 9-5!