William “Alex” Walker
♦ Age: 39
♦ Address: 200 Feimster Street, Statesville
♦ Education: West Iredell High; East Carolina University
♦ Professional Background: 19 years as an Insurance and Risk Analyst holding numerous designations
♦ Elected experience: None
♦ Volunteer/community service experience: Three years on the Chamber of Commerce Board, 11 years on the Downtown Statesville Board; Pumpkin Fest Committee ; 10 years on the Carolina BalloonFest Board and ran grounds crew for nine years. Currently on the Statesville Civil Service Board.
Q&A
IFN: What motivated you to run for this office? If you are elected, what will your top three priorities be? What can the council do to move the needle in these areas?
WALKER: For many years, people I look up to have asked me to run. But the moment I knew it was time was when I looked across the street from my office and saw the first new market-rate apartment going up in over two decades. Statesville is about to see rapid growth that we haven’t seen in generations. It needs to be handled differently than it has in the past so that we can save our small-town feel while embracing growth.
I was also motivated by a simple truth: the median age in the U.S. is 39, and I don’t believe our government reflects the need for the next generation to step up and serve our community. My entire campaign is focused on building a foundation for Statesville’s future:
Refresh and Strengthen the City-County Partnership: We must refresh the relationship between the city and Iredell County. We are missing opportunities we could capitalize on with something as simple as a conversation. Our constituents are both Statesville and Iredell County citizens, and they can benefit from both resources.
Proactively Invest in and Maintain Infrastructure: We must invest in our infrastructure and maintain it, not just build it and ignore it for years. Proactive planning supports sustainable growth. A development can be a burden on citizens—with reroutes, delays, and environmental effects—unless Statesville is proactive in anticipating those needs through renovation and maintenance of our infrastructure.
Make Smart Investments that Generate Revenue: We need to make sure we are not raising taxes unnecessarily and that we are making smart investments that generate the most revenue to leverage quality of life for our citizens and revenue for our businesses.
IFN: Voters want their elected officials to understand their lived experiences as they consider policy/budget decisions. Tell us about your family and how your experiences in Statesville have shaped your views on major issues where the city council can make a difference.
WALKER: I have been blessed to be raised by a loving family right here in Statesville, and my life has always been deeply intertwined with the city. I am a local, fourth-generation Insurance agent here. My great-grandfather started our business in 1945, and we’ve been downtown ever since. My grandmother was a teacher, guidance counselor, and tennis coach at Statesville High before she served in the N.C. House. Today, my beautiful wife Erica owns a salon downtown, and my daughter, Harlan, attends Statesville High. My son, Teddy (age 2), believes downtown is his second home.
Being a fourth-generation business owner and living in Ward 5, I hear issues from all different walks of life. My ward is incredibly diverse, and I’m proud to represent people from all backgrounds. The main lesson from my family and my community is that communication and compassion are key. If we start caring for one another more intentionally, we’ll all be better off. When we stop building relationships, we leave room for misunderstanding. We need to understand that even if we don’t agree 100 percent, we are all united under the vision of a better Statesville for today and tomorrow. I believe that if we embrace dialogue, we can meet in the middle on certain concerns and decisions.
IFN: The City Council has or will soon approve the rezoning and annexation for the massive Compass Data Center project. This project will add an estimated $1 billion or more to the city’s tax base and generate millions of new tax dollars. What will your priorities be for spending this money? As part of your plan, will you support a reduction in the property tax rate to give homeowners some relief?
WALKER: The data center is here, and our responsibility is to use this new revenue to focus on building a foundation for Statesville’s future. While I would love to see a reduction in the property tax rate, my priority is making smart investments and securing our critical needs first. My priorities for spending this increased revenue would be:
♦ Securing First Responders’ Needs: We need to create specific funds for police and fire to ensure we don’t fall behind on their needs as we see rapid growth, rather than having to move earmarked tax dollars around or increase taxes in the future.
♦ Investing in Quality of Life: We need to invest in our parks and greenways, which is what keeps people here and creates a quality of life. Go to any updated park in the city, and it is flourishing with kids and adults.
♦ Incentivizing Private Investment: I would use this money to create grant and incentive programs for business owners and landlords who want to do major improvements to their buildings but are just out of reach. This proactive strategy, similar to what other successful cities have done, is crucial for revitalizing areas like South Statesville with needed capital improvements and beautification.
♦ Supporting Non-Profits: I think we could look at using a portion of the money for emergency grants for our local non-profits, should they have an unforeseen financial burden. We are not the same community without our non-profit partners.
IFN: The cost of housing has increased dramatically in the last five years. As a council member, would you support the use of taxpayer dollars to help first-time homebuyers? If so, what is your vision for such a program? If not, do you have any ideas for helping residents struggling to pay rent or buy their first home?
WALKER: Yes, I would absolutely support using taxpayer dollars to help first-time homebuyers, especially when it’s done in a smart, targeted way that strengthens our community. The cost of housing has risen faster than wages, making it difficult for working families—teachers, nurses, first responders, and young professionals—to put down roots here.
My vision is multi-faceted:
Targeted Down Payment Assistance: A down payment assistance program specifically for first-time buyers who meet income and residency requirements. This could include forgivable loans, grants, or matching savings programs, ideally in partnership with local banks and non-profits.
Streamline Development: We need to recognize that property values, taxes, and housing prices are increasing, driving the need for affordable housing. While we have affordable options, we need to stay on top of the issue. We need to reduce the crippling bureaucratic process—the red tape is getting out of control. When an industry leader in Statesville takes ten years to complete their last project, that is unacceptable and stalls the very supply we need.
Increase Supply and Protection: We also need zoning updates to allow for more starter homes, townhomes, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which help expand supply and keep prices within reach. To support renters, I would explore rental assistance programs, stronger tenant protections, and incentives for developers to include affordable units in new housing projects.
IFN: Iredell-Statesville Schools previously asked the City Council to help fund a pre-K classroom for low-income children to ensure that they are ready to begin kindergarten. The council declined to provide funding. If elected, would you support such an initiative?
WALKER: This is a difficult question, but I would say that I do support this mission in some manner. However, we must be smart with taxpayer dollars and avoid spending where we already have resources and tools to accomplish the same task.
From the outside looking in, we have many programs that are already serving this need. Rather than reinventing the wheel, we should ask: Could we partner with an amazing organization like the Boys & Girls Club to accomplish the same task? Could we connect local non-profits with the Iredell-Statesville Schools and focus less on “money” and more on the mission, thereby getting rid of overlaps in these programs? I would concentrate on partnering and providing alternative resources, such as programs or teachers, to support the mission without necessarily creating a new, overlapping program.
IFN: If you are running for a Ward seat, what is the No. 1 issue in your community and what are your ideas for addressing it? How will you ensure the council is laser focused on this issue?
WALKER: The No. 1 issue in my ward is access to good-paying jobs and workforce development opportunities. Too many residents are stuck in low-wage jobs or commuting long distances for work, while local businesses struggle to find skilled workers. This is a gap City Council can help bridge, and I believe in investing in people, not just projects.
My plan to address the issue:
♦ City-Led Initiative: I will advocate for a city-led workforce development initiative in partnership with local schools, Mitchell Community College, small businesses, and trade programs. This means expanding access to vocational training, apprenticeships, and certifications in high-demand fields—like clean energy, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
♦ Local Resource Center: I will push for the creation of a local job and resource center within the ward, where residents can get essential help with resumes, job searches, and training connections. This is critical for youth and those re-entering the workforce, providing them the tools to succeed.
♦ Laser Focus: To ensure the Council stays focused on this issue, I will propose regular updates on workforce outcomes and advocate for dedicated funding support for training programs in the city budget. This is more than just about jobs—it’s about giving our citizens the tools to succeed, strengthening families, and building a foundation for Statesville’s future.