Andrews – Controversial topics arose at a candidate forum last week.
Before Thursday night’s event, someone asked candidates in this year’s races to discuss the possibility of allowing nonresidents who own businesses in town to vote in municipal elections.
“You can actually not own any property and not have any property taxes, and be the mayor of Andrews (as long as you live in town),” Mayor James Reid said. “And you can have [someone living outside town limits] with over $500,000 invested in the town of Andrews, and they can’t even vote.”
Reid said he has spoken with state legislators about passing a bill that would change that fact in hopes of attracting more business-minded people to serve with town government.
“It has to go through legislation for a (nonresident) business owner to vote in a local election or run in a local election,” Reid said. “I think it would be wonderful because it would broaden the base of people running for mayor and running for alderman.”
Brandi Smith, a candidate for alderman in this year’s election, questioned such an arrangement.
“Let’s say they’re registered to vote in Peachtree, so they get to vote in the Andrews election?” Smith asked.
“It’s very, very muddy water, and that’s what they're telling me when I talk to Kevin Corbin and Karl Gillespie,” Reid said. “It’s not a quick process.”
The hour-long event, which was livestreamed on Facebook by WKRK Radio, was an opportunity for citizens of Andrews to learn more about the candidates. The forum included discussions about how to increase the town’s revenue.
Candidates said the town must find ways to attract families and business owners, while offering amenities and recreation that keeps them in Andrews. They also spoke about improving infrastructure and expanding some services outside of town limits.
“We can extend our water [and sewer] lines further out,” Alderman Steve Jordan said.
The candidates also discussed the possibility of annexing properties outside of town limits as a way to increase the tax base and raise additional revenue for public projects.
North Carolina property owners can volunteer to have their land annexed by a city; however, state law makes it difficult for municipalities to initiate the annexation of adjacent unincorporated areas.
Essentially, an area must meet several specific urbanization requirements regarding population density, development density and subdivision before it can be involuntarily annexed. The requirements are designed to prevent cities from annexing large tracts of vacant or rural land before they are developed to the established standards.
In 2011, state law was updated to require voter approval for involuntary annexations, making city-initiated annexation even more difficult and highly unlikely.
“If people would volunteer to come on and be part of [the town], that’s one thing … but you can’t just go out and demand that people be annexed,” Reid said. “Very few people are going to volunteer to pay double taxes, unless they’re picking up services they truly need.”
Three people are running for mayor of Andrews: J. L. Franklin, Reid and Randy Hogsed. Meanwhile, seven people are vying for the two alderman seats up for grabs this year: Jordan, Glenn Parker, Jason Raxter, Alton Raymond III, Smith, Bryan Tomlin and Rebecca Woodard.
The election will be held, Tuesday, Nov. 2.