H. William Compton Jr.
♦ Age: 70
♦ Family: Single
♦ Education: Mitchell Community College, AA; University of North Carolina Charlotte, BA.
♦ Professional Experience: Educator. Marketing. Sales.
♦ Community Service: Second Harvest Food Bank – Charlotte; Habitat for Humanity; Summer Olympics; Elevation Church; American Heart Association
Q&A
IFN: Why are you running for office? What will your top three priorities be if you are elected in November? Is reducing the tax rate an option?
OWENS: My top priorities are (1) Having clear transparency of the Town Budget in print and online; (2) Stop the mass development of huge apartments until clean water and sewer along with turn lanes, roundabouts and infrastructure is completed; and (3) Preserve open space land so the Town will have property for EMT, Fire, Police, Schools, and Parks and Recreation in the future. Doing this will keep the tax rate from going up in the future.
IFN: If you are the incumbent, what do you consider to be the major accomplishments of the town board and mayor during your current term in office? If you are a challenger, what is your assessment of the work the mayor and town board have done during the past two years?
OWENS: As a challenger, we all see that the current board has followed the lead of the former mayors and town boards of Mooresville. Change is needed to help our citizens first.
IFN: One of the town board candidates has raised concerns about transparency in the operations of the town government. What is your assessment of the current mayor and board’s commitment to conducting the public’s business in public? What are your ideas for improving the town’s performance in this area?
OWENS: I believe that all meetings should be open to the public and not behind closed doors, although others on the board want closed meetings when discussing employees. If that should happen then the citizens still need to know the purpose of any meeting and who is in attendance, including any attorneys in attendance.
IFN: The town has lost several dedicated, long-time employees during the past two years. What is your assessment of the work culture in town hall, the police department and other departments? What role do the mayor and town board play in making sure town employees, including department heads, feel valued and empowered to do their best work?
OWENS: The Town has lost several heads of departments over the last year. The Mayor and Human Resource Department should always have an Exit Interview if possible and learn from it. If elected, I will work to keep our employees safe and healthy. One small town in N.C. is now offering daycare to retain its employees. Our Police Department is very busy. To retain our officers and control crime better, we need to offer the police officers that live in Mooresville their old retired police cars to take home. The officers should have a $15K discount to live and buy in Town if needed.
IFN: It appears the traffic situation in Mooresville will get worse before it gets better due to current road projects and additional development. What responsibility do the town board and mayor bear for the current traffic congestion? What can the next mayor and town board do to make things better?
OWENS: Traffic lights need to be improved, keeping each one synced to the next one. We have too many homes built on one acre. This has to stop! Planning has to change. The mayor only votes to break a tie.
IFN: Why are you the best candidate to serve as the next mayor?
OWENS: I feel that I am the best candidate because I will fight Raleigh for no more toll roads. No more car inspections. Board term limits in Mooresville. Citizens should vote if they want primary elections here. I will fight Raleigh for a cap on home re-valuations. Citizens have a right to vote when the Town Board is spending $40 million or $50 million of your money. We need a grant to get the Main Street Buildings that you see from Broad Street to look a lot better. Some citizens are still needing water and sewer. The Red Line and the Parking Deck -should have been on this November Ballot. Mooresville has a new Police and Fire station, that is to small. Vote to make a change that will keep Mooresville Safe and Healthy!