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Note – This article has been edited from the original post to correct that candidate Ted Paul works for Cherokee Central Schools.
Andrews – Six people, including two incumbents, are completing for two seats on the Andrews Board of Aldermen.
One-term incumbents Jonathan Ellison and Michael Sheidy are running to keep their seats on the board, with challengers James McLean, Randy Hogsed, Jodie Kozma and Ted Paul also filing to run.
Among the five-member Board of Aldermen, three seats are not up for election this election cycle – Mayor James Reid, Mayor Pro Tem Brandi Smith and Alderman Steve Jordan.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7. These are the only Cherokee County officers with seats expiring in 2023. The seats go to the top two vote-getters.
The Cherokee Scout reached out to the six candidates with a list of questions. Following are their responses, with the candidates appearing in alphabetical order. Early voting has started.
Jonathan Ellison. Incumbent candidate
Ellison is a merchandiser for Coca-Cola who has lived in Andrews for about 12 years after moving from Nantahala.
Why are you running? I’m running for a second term to apply added success to some projects that have started and some we are hoping to start in the near future. We have done some amazing things last four years, but the most important reason I’m running is to serve the wonderful citizens in our beautiful town.
The opportunity that I have had to serve as an alderman has been a true privilege and a blessing. Please come out and exercise your right to vote. With your support we can continue the unwavering success we all deserve. In the last four years, we have secured over $16 million in grant money, and I look forward to seeing the end result.
List your qualities, skills and strengths: In the last four years I’ve had the pleasure and opportunity to use my Business Degree, work experience, and life lessons. Administration, management, and budgeting are just a few things that will continue to help the town be successful and prosperous. Having lead a business in Andrews for over 10 years also has give me the tools to help our beautiful town be safe and successful.
Rank town priorities (in order of priority):
- Quality representation of the board of aldermen;
- Law enforcement;
- Homelessness;
- Economic development;
- Drugs;
- Town recreation development;
- Zoning also plays a critical part in some of these topics.
Randy Hogsed, new candidate
Hogsed is an Andrews resident and owner of a real estate company. He did not respond to initial requests for interviews and did not respond directly to the questions asked by the Scout.
He did provide a copy of his campaign letter, which the Scout went through to find answers relevant to the questions asked of all the candidates.
Why are you running? I believe that one of the most important and probably the most important goal for us is to establish a system of Planning. I believe that the town’s governing board spends way too much of its time and energy responding to one crisis after another and not enough time proactively planning for the future. I recently attended a work session for the board and the major topics of discussion were flowerpots and winos urinating at Hall Park. I am not being critical of current board members. I agree that streetscape beautification and hygiene at the parks are important. I also think that there are other, more important issues at hand which need to be discussed, planned for, and dealt with. The Town needs to be more active and less reactive.
Another area of concern for me is the Town Board’s Compliance with NC General Statues (Article 33C) for conducting “Meetings of Public Bodies,” especially GS 143-318.11- for conducting Closed Sessions. Under this statute, there are Only Ten reasons that a public board may go into closed session and only about four of these reasons typically apply to the town board. During these closed sessions, the Only topic allowed to be discussed is that which was stated as the reason for going into closed session. GS 143-318.10 (e) further states that “Every public body shall keep full and accurate minutes of all official meetings, including any closed sessions held pursuant to GS 143-318.11” The Town of Andrews is currently Not in Compliance with this Statute (in other words, there is too much going on behind closed doors).
List your qualities, skills and strengths: Hogsed’s campaign letter does not list anything that is relevant to this question.
Rank town priorities (in order of priority): Hogsed’s campaign letter lists numerous issues. The following list is presented in the order it appeared in his letter.
- Planning;
- Conduct of meetings;
- Law enforcement;
- Homelessness;
- Affordable housing;
- Water supply and quality;
- Potential pedestrian shopping and entertainment district;
- Establish and maintain good working relations with county, state and national elected officials.
Jodie Kozma, new candidate
Kozma is table games manager at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy. She attended Andrews High School and has lived in Andrews for the past four years.
Why are you running? I am running for Alderman in Andrews because I love this little town. I have lived in Cherokee County for the last 11 years. The last four years I have called Andrews my home. I attended Andrews High as a teenager and made some amazing memories with great people who still live in this town. As a parent I want to keep this town a great place to live. A place where youth want to return to after college and open business and strive here in our local community. I have the experience in finance and community service necessary to be an effective town Alderman. I will work hard and make sure your voice is heard.
I will strive to better our community as I plan to continue to live in the town of Andrews. My focus will be on moving the town forward. With the best interests of every citizen in mind. I plan on maintaining an open line of communication with all the residents here in Andrews. I will not hesitate to question the facts or opinions of those I disagree with. I invite feedback, also knowing I will not please all of the people all of the time. Again I love this little town of Andrews I call home and all the residents that reside here.
I look forward to working with the board to develop Andrews into a town that everyone wants to live in.
List your qualities, skills and strengths: I have the following qualities, skills, and strengths that would make me a great candidate for alderman.
- Leadership: I have been in a leadership role for the last 11 years with the last 3 as a manager;
- Money management;
- Labor/time management;
- Understanding the importance of teamwork;
- Community fundraising: I am currently working on two projects. One is to raise money to refurbish Ferebee Park in Andrews. Also I am working with the local schools to help provide Christmas gifts to students who need them. I have helped raise thousands of dollars for local charities and nonprofit organizations here in Cherokee County;
- I am approachable;
- I have sound judgement and integrity;
- I am a strategic thinker;
- I am open to all feedback.
Rank town priorities (in order of priority): I feel the board needs to address all these issues simultaneously. When one issue is addressed the solution should solve many of the issues at once.
- Quality representation on board;
- Andrews Law enforcement;
- Drugs;
- Homelessness;
- Economical development;
- Town Recreational Services.
James McLean, new candidate
McLean is a utility lineman and lifelong Andrews resident. He and Paul are running as a slate of candidates.
Why are you running? I am running for alderman because I have watched so many bad decisions that have been made by past and current boards. Andrews is struggling to survive and we don’t have anything else to give away or lose and still be a community.
I don’t feel that some of the present members are active enough. I am a life long resident, not someone who just moved here and wants to change everything. I want to preserve our small-town life, but fight to keep what little we have left and the current seat holders don’t fight hard enough to preserve Andrews values and ways.
List your qualities, skills and strengths: I bring my love for my hometown and a good work ethic. I also bring common sense to the table. It doesn’t take rocket science to try to keep binding roots of our community.
Rank town priorities (in order of priority): 1. In my opinion, the Andrews Police Department, drugs and the homeless go hand in hand.
2. I think the key to fixing the town’s problems are the quality of leadership. I don’t believe that everyone is pulling their own weight.
3. In order to keep our youth on the right path, we must support the town’s recreational services.
4. Economic development is a must. This will only improve when this board starts working with the county commissioners to promote growth, rather than deter it.
Ted Paul, new candidate
Paul is a plumber with Cherokee Central Schools and has run for a seat on the board previously. He and James McLean are running as a slate of two candidates.
Why are you running? One thing in particular made me run for alderman; the standard response to many problems from the current board is, “There’s nothing we can do.” I am tired of hearing that.
List your qualities, skills and strengths. Hard work, honesty, patience. I have also been a crew leader of some kind for much of my working life.
Rank town priorities (in order of priority): Several of these go hand in hand:
a. Law enforcement
b. Drugs and homelessness
c. Economic development and recreational services
d. Quality representation on board.
Law enforcement is my top priority. We must have quality leadership in our police department, someone willing to support the rights of the victims and not just the perps. With effective policing, we should be able to curb the drug problem by keeping the zombies off the streets, in jail to stay if need be.
Recreation is going to play a big part in the economic development of Andrews. Like it or not, industry is probably not coming back. There are some good ideas floating around that we are willing to consider when elected. We also need to revitalize downtown. We need shops that actually stay open.
Andrews has usually had quality representation. However, it is time to change. Things are about the same now, if not worse, than four years ago. Business as usual needs to stop. James McLean and I are going to change that by bringing the issues to the citizens of Andrews. No more decision making in advance. We will provide actual representation.
Michael Sheidy
incumbent candidate
Sheidy was director of the Andrews Housing Authority for 13 years before semi-retiring into a part-time assistant director position earlier this year. He grew up in Andrews.
He moved back to Andrews 16 years ago and accepted position as executive director at Andrews Housing Authority, “where I have witnessed firsthand the need for more housing not only for the homeless but for low-income families,” he said.
Why are you running? I have served as Andrews town alderman for the last four years and would love the opportunity to serve another four,” he said. “I work well with the present mayor and aldermen and it has been a privilege to be on this board where I have been able to see the town’s growth take place over the last few years. I desire to see that growth continue and Andrews flourish.
List your qualities, skills and strengths: Grew up in Andrews after High School went to college received a BS & MA in Business Management. Served in the military during the Vietnam War. Owned and managed several businesses. He taught at both community college and university levels. He serves on the Cherokee County Tourism Development Board “where I help with bringing in tourists to the area and the expansion of business opportunities to the county,” he said.
Rank town priorities (in order of priority): I am running again because I wish to see the projects the current board has started on fulfilled.
- Keep taxes low;
- Expand economic development;
- Continue fighting against the drug problem in our community with building back up our police force;
- Work closely with state legislators to implement plans for the homeless and low-income families and to continue to bring stability and growth to the town through common-sense spending and management.