Carroll
J.R. Carroll said he will have a three-question litmus test if he is elected as a commissioner in Cherokee County.
“Is it the best thing for most of the citizens of Cherokee County? Can we afford it without putting an undue tax burden on the taxpayers? Is it going to infringe on your rights or your property rights if we do it?” he asked.
“If the first two are yes and the last one is no, I’m going to vote for it.”
Carroll is one of four people running for the District 3 seat being vacated by Gary “Hippie” Westmoreland. The Republican candidate was born and raised in Murphy and is married with three children. He has spent the past 30 years as a car salesman and initially did not intend to run for the position in 2022.
“I really didn’t want to do it, but I felt like I had to do it,” Carroll said. “I’ve lived in this county all my life and some change is OK, but I don’t want to see it turn into a Canton, Ga., or something like that.”
Carroll said he views drug use, housing and the settlement of a series of lawsuits against the Department of Social Services as the central issues facing Cherokee County. He would like to see a sunset clause placed on any future tax used to fund judgments and settlements in DSS cases.
“The people of the county are going to get a tax increase, and they’re going to get absolutely no benefit out of it at all,” Carroll said. “We’re paying for our mistakes.
“I, for one, would put a sunset clause on that tax. As soon as it’s paid off, it goes away.”
Carroll said he believes commissioner meetings have become too emotional and filled with too many vendettas. In particular, issues surrounding Western Carolina Regional Airport frequently have led to personal attacks during meetings.
“There’s too much emotion, too much personal vendetta, personal feelings,” Carroll said. “When you walk into that commission board, my feeling is you need to check your personal feelings at the door, you need to check your vendettas at the door.
“If something comes up that you’re voting on, and it’s going to be good for the county, but it’s going to help this guy you don’t like down the road, so be it. You’re not there to play out your vendettas.”
Carroll likewise has issues with the election format that decides seats on the board of commissioners. He would prefer to see each post decided solely by the voters within that district.
“Why do we have districts and then the whole county votes on everybody?” he asked. “If you can’t win your district, you don’t need to representing everybody.”
Carroll serves as the voice of the Murphy Bulldogs during home football games. While he was initially against high school consolidation, he ultimately was swayed by everything that could be offered in a single facility on the Peachtree campus.
“When I got my emotions out of it and I got down to looking at the numbers, it’s the only option for the county,” Carroll said. “The only way we’re going to be able to (compete with surrounding schools) is to combine our resources in that one school and we can offer all the stuff they’re offering and more. And with that School of Innovation next door, we can offer a lot more.
“That School of Innovation is a home run. It’s stuff we’ve needed for years.”
Carroll said the county needs to prioritize its employees and find ways to retain them. He believes the current setup is simply training them to go somewhere else. He also would like to see the county hire a grant writer.
“We need to hire a good grant writer in Cherokee County because that’s the only place we’re going to get money the next four years to do any projects,” he said.
Carroll said he is against the establishment of any type of planning committee or board that could install zoning or land ordinances.
“I’m running to serve the people of Cherokee County,” he said. “I’m going to protect your property rights. I’m going to try to do what’s right, but I won’t always get it right.”