EDENTON — The election for two seats to serve on the Edenton Town Council is ahead in November.  

As such, we’ll be posting candidate profiles in the days ahead so our readers can make informed choices about they think will best serve the community.

On that note, as time allows, we’ll continue reaching out to other municipal candidates across Eastern NC so that voters between Columbia and Plymouth, Elizabeth City to Winfall, know more about these politicos – because really, local government matters far more than the partisan sh** show that is DC or even Raleigh.  For more information, my email address is mileslayton1969@gmail.com  

Edenton – REMINDER — Regina Bond and Craig Miller are the candidates for the At-Large seat on Town Council.  

Aaron Coston and Haywood Coston are for the 3rd Ward seat on Council.

Early voting started Friday and ends Saturday, Nov. 1, with the Election Day being Nov. 4

We’re going to start with the race for the At-Large seat – we sent a series of questions to Miller – because we’re not in the business of censorship, his answers are the same ones she sent back to us. 

Q: Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I am running for reelection, having served on Town Council since 2017.  I am an alumnus of East Carolina University, and worked 35 years in health care administration before retiring. I served in US Army Intelligence between 1967-71 – Vietnam War era – where I earned a Bronze Star Air Medal. Per civic clubs, I am an active member and past president of the Edenton Lions Club, Edenton-Chowan Pantry, Chowan County ABC Board, Chowan County Recreational Advisory Committee, past chairman and a member of the Town Planning Board, and a member of the Regional Advisory Board of the Salvation Army of the Albemarle. Personal note, I have been married for 38 years to Marianne and we are members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.  

Q: We had a tax increase this past budget cycle. What will you do to hold expenses tight and make another increase less likely?

An efficient way to help keep our tax increases at a minimum involves a balanced approach of cutting departmental costs where you are able without jeopardizing the livelihood and safety of our tax paying citizens, put additional focus on “non-tax” revenue sources as a user fee for services and fines, and hold our town leaders accountable for encouraging sustainable economic growth in Edenton.  

A small town like Edenton can further reduce its expenses through effective use of strategic management. As a small town, we must look at the possibility of sharing certain services with neighboring towns; increase efficiency through better use of technology; further improve the utilization of cost efficient labor by outsourcing some specialized tasks; and firmly putting more focus on recruiting and retaining volunteer help on boards/commissions among other avenues of public service.   

Q: Many residents felt in the dark about the recent utility-rate increases. How will you and the council improve transparency moving forward?

Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! 

In the future, the Town hopes to adopt a more comprehensive approach to building citizen trust by fully explaining the necessity of rate increases and sharing how the funds will be used for the community’s benefit. Early and informative communication with our citizens regarding tax rate issues is the key to keeping our citizens informed as to why a tax hike is even necessary in the first place. 

The best way to keep our Edenton citizens more thoroughly informed of tax rate increases is through the continued effective utilization and navigation of the town’s website, notification letters inside utility billing envelopes and continued publication through the Town’s quarterly newsletter, effective use of social media platforms such as Facebook, institute more Town Hall meetings, and engage in more timely press releases via our local news outlets – Albemarle Observer and Chowan Herald.

Q: Edenton is not a cheap place to live. What policies will you pursue to make it more affordable for service and civil-service workers?

The Town is currently working to provide financial assistance to its citizens in the form of a grant or loan to make homeownership more affordable by assisting buyers with the upfront costs (Downpayment Assistance Program). In addition to this assistance, the Town is looking into loan funding for the many upper-story downtown Broad Street apartments.  

As far as affordable housing sites are concerned, plans are currently underway to consider a 144-unit apartments complex at 1311 Paradise Road. The former Chowan Veneer Plant on Coke Avenue will hopefully become an affordable housing site, and attached to the planned parking deck at 200 Court Street will be apartments priced at affordable costs for teachers, firefighters and other first responders.  

Q: Should all town employees have an evaluation before receiving a salary increase?

Yes, all employees should have a performance evaluation at least annually before receiving a salary increase. The evaluation process aligns with compensation with employee performance. 

The evaluation review provides a process for the supervisor and employees to further discuss accomplishments and goals, assess employee work, and identify areas for growth.  

Q: What would you like to do to keep current businesses and attract new ones?

Thanks to our local Mainstreet program under the able direction of (Executive Director) Ches Chesson, this community is already doing an excellent job on strengthening the local business climate and supporting local entrepreneurship by offering technical assistance with business planning and market analysis; marketing training and making good use of old vacant commercial buildings to recruit new businesses and add new jobs to Edenton’s workforce. It’s accomplishments such as this that help keep our existing businesses here in Edenton while simultaneously attracting new businesses to invest in Edenton.  

Q: What policies should Edenton implement to encourage young adults to return after college?

To combat the growing phenomenon of people moving away from home after college, we need to do a better job of creating job opportunities that appeal to college graduates’ fields of study.  

As a town, we need to support more knowledge-intensive businesses – jobs that appeal to recent college graduates, such as jobs in technology and specialized manufacturing. 

Besides job opportunities, the development of more affordable housing, enhancement of recreational facilities, availability of cultural sites and more nightlife options would go a long way in keeping our recent college graduates home in Edenton.  

Q: Finally, say something nice about your opponent (Regina Bond).

I do not know my opponent personally, but I do admire her thoughts on the Town doing all it can to better serve the underserved within our community. Her comments regarding “everyone is entitled to a second chance” at life resonated with me.