PLYMOUTH — The election for 3 seats and mayor to serve on the Plymouth 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 who they think will best serve the community.

Today’s candidate profile features Gale O’Neil, who wants to represent Ward 1 on Plymouth Town Council.

Candidates who want a profile should contact mileslayton1969@gmail.com

Plymouth

• Benjamin Sexton – Mayor 
• Crystal Davis – Mayor 
• Brian Roth – Mayor 

For each ward – choose 2 candidates

• Gale O’Neil – Ward 1
• Micah Weathersbee — Ward 1 
• Donsenia Teel – Ward 1
• Cornise Debrew – Ward 1
• John Tharps – Ward 1
• Jerry Rhodes — Ward 2
• Karol Freeman – Ward 2
• Terri Pitt – Ward 2
• Danny Wobbleton – Ward 2 
• John Shelton — Ward 3
• Steven Brown — Ward 3
• Kim Williams — Ward 3
• Tristan Spencer — Ward 3
• Mary Ann Byers — Ward 3

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

Q: Can you (Gale O’Neil) tell me about yourself — provide a brief bio:  

Born in Beaufort County hospital, Washington, North Carolina in 1965. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, entrepreuneur, Christian conservative. I’ve embraced entrepreneurship for the past 31 years. Working as a Preschool Teacher and Licensed Childcare Provider for twelve years enabling me the opportunity to serve my family until our children successfully graduated. Eventually, I transitioned into real estate as a specialty contractor, specializing in private investment property management, general maintenance, structural repairs and redevelopment of commercial properties, multi-family units, and single family rentals. I often refer to myself as a Southern girl who finally found her way back home choosing Plymouth to retire in over Washington due to Plymouth’s size and proximity of everything we love. Plymouth offered us the small town feel, was perfect for our recreational interest, National Refuge(s), beach and river access. Washington County is a beautiful tapestry of God’s goodness and grace.

Q: Why are you running for council? 

To proactively serve and represent all citizens, especially our senior citizens, families with children and my neighbors in Ward 1. We as neighbors have grown very concerned about the continued wasteful and misuse of fiscal spending by our elected town government. Currently we have a divided council, who consistently chose tabling time sensitive business dealings and who have little to no regard to proper budgeting, or, their fiscal responsibility to our town and its citizens, which if not relinquished to proper individuals with the experience needed to move our town forward, will only continue to create financial burdens on our most vulnerable on limited incomes. 

Q : What is the most pressing issue facing Plymouth?

1.) Our Infrastructure is my top priority. The condition of our roads, streets, and water system is in dire need of attention and repair.   

2.) Fiscal responsibility of our elected council members. 

3.) Stablizing and reorganizing our Law Enforcement Department. Perhaps, merging our two local LE into one unit. To best serve  our current needs. Like, drug enforcement, road and street patrols, educating our citizens and teens who are at risk. 

Q: What do you think about the future of 108 W. Water Street? There was talk of spending around $200K to demolish  the building.  

I believe it is in the town taxpayers’ best interest to sell the property at 108 Water Street, relinquishing the need to demolish a historical building and further costing the taxpayers sustanically. Mr Wayne Pittman, who is a private investor, has repeatedly offered to negotiate with our current council to purchase the building with the hope of preserving and stablizing without removing a historical landmark and imposing the cost onto taxpayers. Why would we not want to see 108 Water Street preserved by an investor willing to bare the cost of doing so? 

Q: Speaking of spending — taxes — what are your thoughts on taxes? Earlier this year, there was a discussion of raising taxes to support the purchase of a firetruck.

I believe the current council and town management greatly failed to investigate and reserach all viable options of purchasing the necessary safety equipment our fire department and firefighters need to successfully do their job — with many options of purchasing newer engines online at a fraction of the cost of a new custom built engine, under our current interest rates; which would also have been available within weeks of purchase, thus eliminating the three years of waiting to replace something as important and vital as our emergency response vehicles, which also serve in other counties during catastrophic events. 

Q: How will you assist the chief of police in attracting and retaining police officers, particularly since the PPD tends to be understaffed from time to time?

Partnering with BCCC and other surrounding community colleges where Basic Law Enforcement Training classes are taught. Offering incentives to out of area officers by offering relocation packages, and reduced housing within Washington County for new officers, and their families. Offering competitive wages based upon our geographical area and our local enconomy. Making sure continued education and training for our officiers were available on a regular basis. 

Q: How do you intend to attract business and economic development, particularly to the downtown core that’s in need of revitalization?

By focusing on our infrastructure,and the beautification of our downtown will automatically attract more entrepreuners who dream of showcasing their talent and products. Working with and offering incentives to our local investors whom own vacant buildings who are open to leasing those buildings at a fraction of the cost for the first twelve months of occupancy. Enabling entrepreuners the necessary time and resources needed to become established. The Streetscape Project is a fantastic way to begin the beautification, and revitalization of downtown Plymouth. The Town will require proactive research into Grants to complete the entirety of businesses on Water Street. Contacting businesses and Human Resource officiers who are looking for affordable locations to expand their businesses.