BY DEBBIE PAGE
Losing by a single vote in the 2023 Troutman Town Council election still stings George Harris.
On Monday, Harris filed to run again in the 2025 election, explaining he is even more determined to reach out to community members and hear their concerns.
Harris declined to request a recount in 2023, trusting in the integrity of the Iredell County Elections Office and not wanting to burden the town with additional election costs. He learned later that some of his supporters did not vote after confusion about polling place changes and additions, and he vowed to work to make sure voters, especially those new to the area, are more aware of their polling places this fall.
The seats of incumbents Felina Harris, Jerry Oxsher, and Paul Henkel will be on the ballot in November. Henkel is not currently planning to seek another term.
Harris believes his experience makes him a solid candidate.
He first joined the Troutman Planning and Zoning board in 2015 and was the top vote-getter in the race for two seats on the council in 2019 after encouragement from Henkel, whom he considers a close friend and mentor.
“I kind of feel lost not serving my community,” said Harris. “I served so much when I lived in West Virginia. I miss the interaction with people and listening to their ideas and concerns.”
Harris currently serves on the Design and Review Board and continues to volunteer at town events.
During his campaign, Harris will continue his habit of walking two miles a day, walking different routes to converse with residents along the way. He wants to have one-on-one conversations with town residents.
“I look forward for another opportunity to serve the town. I’m ready to step up and do a good job in representing the people.”
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Harris is proud of the council’s accomplishments during his previous tenure, which he said moved the town into positive positions, including creating plans for the Lytton Street extension, the Strategic Master Plan for downtown development, and promoting commercial growth to improve the tax base at Exit 42.
The council also began planning for the new Town Hall to accommodate increased staff and started the acquisition of property that will allow the town to move forward with Lytton Street and downtown projects.
During his tenure, he also helped lobby legislators in Raleigh for the $14 million in state funds the town received for sewer upgrades, which are currently in the works.
“It was an honor to visit the legislature to talk about the town’s needs, especially the roads,” he said.
LOOKING FORWARD
Harris believes his years of experience as an elected official and in public service and his management of remediation and hazardous waste disposal for DuPont will be invaluable to the town if he is elected to another term on Town Council.
While in serving Chesapeake, Harris also reduced garbage disposal costs one-third by introducing clear bag recycling and changing the garbage collection method.
Harris believes he also possesses the “communication skills that allow me to work with the community to resolve issues and help the town to grow in a positive manner.”
His goals include recruiting more retail to serve citizens needs, getting more involved with the Iredell County Economic Development Corporation, promoting citizen involvement in retail recruitment, and getting a new Town Hall underway. He also hopes develop more cooperation with NCDOT to get needed road improvements, crosswalks, traffic lights, and other enhancements.
Other priorities include completing the unfinished lighting plan for ESC Park brought, moving forward with the Lytton Street extension to Perth Road to alleviate some Main Street congestion, and addressing sewer capacity concerns, whether that involves agreements with other municipalities or building a sewer treatment facility to create independent capacity.
Harris, who worked as a wastewater treatment manager for Dupont, has expertise in this area.
He also wants to create redundant water resources to meet residents’ and businesses’ needs.
If elected, Harris also wants to find ways to manage housing growth.
“We need more businesses, which strengthen the tax base. We don’t want to lack the infrastructure for that,” he said.
Harris also believes the school system needs to be consulted as residential development plans are considered to understand their effects on area schools.
Noting that a number of developments have already been approved, Harris believes the town needs to look carefully at the type of housing being approved. He believes larger suburban residential single- family homes on half-acre lots are now more appropriate.
Harris said the town also needs to slow down the residential development approval process, which sometimes is pushed through in only a month. Multiple readings and discussions over several months would allow for more thought and resident input, he said.
Harris previously opposed a triplex development site once considered on Perth Road. That site is now being developed as estate homes on larger lots. He also voted against three townhome projects because “they were not the right fit for the middle of town.”
He believes homes should be on quarter- to half-acre lots in town residential areas. “Don’t let developers convince us otherwise,” he said.
By denying annexation of new areas, especially outside the ETJ, developers would be forced to meet county requirements of wells and septic systems, which require much larger lots. He noted that the annexed Sanders Ridge is miles out of town.
Harris also has concerns about traffic impact studies being carried through since NCDOT does not always follow through on schedule, citing repeated delays in the Highway 21 widening project and the Flower House Loop/Houston Road realignment.
BACKGROUND
Harris said he will bring his business skills and prior government experience as an elected official and board member to help the Troutman community realize its full potential while maintaining its friendly, small-town feel.
After retiring with 40 years of service at DuPont, Harris and his wife Rebecca moved to Troutman in July of 2015. Harris has special ties with the community, including their daughter Sara Dillion and their two grandchildren, Austin and Avery, who live here.
Harris also spent some of his childhood at Barium Springs Home for Children. His oldest brother Royce was also a member of the first graduating class at South Iredell, as well as a member of the school’s first State Champion wrestling team.
After high school, Harris started working in a coal mine while trying to get a job with Dupont, a company he knew would fund his college education. After finally getting a job with the company in December of 1975, he started immediately college at University of Charleston (West Virginia).
In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing, Harris also earned his Masters in Business Administration. His educational and business experience helped him acquire “many creative skills to make work go smoother and for less costs.”
Harris got his start in local government service in West Virginia, serving 16 years as an elected official for the Town of Chesapeake and four years as an appointed member of the Kanawha County Planning Commission.
Today, Harris is instilling this desire to serve the community in his grandchildren. “People need to look after each other,” he said.