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Cal Stiles believes his experience and availability are important characteristics for his elected office. After almost 10 years on the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, Stiles said he thinks of himself as a “seasoned commissioner” well-suited to help address the wide variety of complex issues facing the county.
“I’d like to stay because I’m abreast of all this stuff and I have the business experience,” Stiles said earlier this year. “You’ve got to know people, you’ve got to be able to talk to people and it takes time.
“I’m available about any time to do whatever I need to do. I’m Johnny on the Spot.”
Stiles is the only local candidate facing opposition in the general election. The District 1 commissioner is being challenged by newly retired Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Jeana Conley, who is running as a write-in candidate.
With Stiles’ name the only one that will appear on the ballot for District 1, the race appears to be his to lose. Aside from his paid advertisements in the Cherokee Scout, Stiles declined to add further comment to the candidate profile interview he sat down for ahead of the May GOP primary.
Stiles faced a variety of attacks during the 2022 primary, in particular. In one instance, the Republican candidate was the target of a digital cartoon illustration that featured him kicking a can. In another, he was featured on a website that depicted him as a mafia boss.
Stiles said earlier this year that these are examples of “Washington politics” entering Cherokee County. While he said he has no issue with Western Carolina Regional Airport, he attributed the attacks to individuals closely associated with its interests.
“They’ve always gone after me, but they’ve really gone after me this time,” Stiles said. “Now I’ve just gone ahead and identified them as the ‘Airport Special Interest Group,’ and that’s what they’ve done, they’ve gotten way out there. I hope the citizens will look (and see) that I’m just trying to protect their tax dollars.”
He said he also has been falsely accused of supporting zoning when his only intent is to see the county do a better job of planning.
Stiles has more than 40 years of business experience that includes time in areas such as grocery, real estate and storage units. He said he’s been called things like “cheap” and “frugal” – labels he is willing to accept. Stiles is less inclined to embrace the “kicking the can” jab, but he tries to keep a sense of humor about it all.
“I think sometimes it’s better to kick the can than to stomp the wallet of the taxpayer,” Stiles said with a smile. “However, on kicking the can, Mr. (Commissioner Gary “Hippie”) Westmoreland accused me of that at the (March 21) board meeting on (funding) the EMS station.
“But if I may quote the June 1 of 2020 minutes, ‘New business, motion was made by Commissioner Westmoreland to delay EMS Station 1 project and reject all EMS Station 1 bids. After discussion, motion passed unanimously.’ “
Stiles said he is proud of the fact that he helped the town of Andrews get almost $2 million in money for water and sewer projects while he was a member of the N.C. Water Infrastructure authority. He is also honored that he was voted Best Government Official in the Scout’s Readers’ Choice contest in 2019, 2021 and 2022, and was an honorable mention in 2020.
Stiles would like to see internet access improved locally and bring in more housing to help fill critical jobs that are available. He makes it a point to attend as many local events as possible in order to keep his finger on the pulse of what citizens want.
Stiles said he believes Cherokee County is in good financial shape overall, but acknowledges there are challenges on the horizon. He feels like a commissioner’s most important responsibility is to spend taxpayers’ dollars as effectively as possible.
“With my background, I have over 40 years of conservative business experience and I try to apply that logic to when I make a decision,” Stiles said. “Is this something that, one, I would put my money into?
“It’s very easy to sit there at that meeting and spend someone else’s money. But you’ve got to decide, is this in the best interests of the taxpayers?”