Responsibilities of the BOCC include:

• Adopt the annual county budget
• Set the property tax rate
• Define county priorities and policies
• Hire the county manager, a professional who manages the daily operations of the county

What does county government do?

• Community health and safety – courts, social services, health
• Education and economic development – CMS and CPCC funding, job training, libraries
• Growth and environment – parks and greenways, historic preservation
• County government operations – staffing, budgets, tax collection, code enforcement, elections, public information, property and more

How are commissioners elected?

• Mecklenburg County Commissioners members serve 2-year terms.
• There are 9 members of the BOCC, including 3 at-large members and 6 district candidates.
• The next election for this office will be in 2010.

Getting involved in county government

• Watch or attend BOCC meetings – generally the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 6PM at the Government Center
• Visit Mecklenburg County Government on the web
• Check out MeckGov on social media

Website: www.danmurrey.org

E-mail: daniel.murrey@mecklenburgcountync.gov

Phone Number: 704-372-1222

Facebook Page or URL: http://www.facebook.com/people/Dan-Murrey/1422693496

Current Occupation: Spine Surgeon and CEO of OrthoCarolina / Mecklenburg County Commissioner at-large

Education–Highest Degree: Medical Doctor, Master of Public Policy

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three): OrthoCarolina,
Park Road Baptist Church,
Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years. (150 word limit): My most important accomplishment is balancing the budget over the last two years while avoiding a tax increase, working within our debt policy, and still maintaining critical County services during the worst recession in a lifetime. Successfully negotiating with the Library Board, the City Council and the Mecklenburg towns to avoid closing 16 libraries in the County was also significant. As part of those negotiations we initiated a process to facilitate volunteerism in libraries and share resources between the County and library system to reduce operating costs long-term. The third is tough to choose but given the economy, my votes to bring over 4000 jobs to Mecklenburg through incentive grants edges out my role initiating a vote to reduce toxins emitted by a medical waste incinerator in Matthews, or authoring and championing a plan to bring together the funders and providers of human services to move the needle on poverty.

What qualities or experience do you bring that will make you an effective county commissioner? (150 word limit): Having served as County Commissioner during the worst budget crisis in years, I know how to balance a budget yet be sensitive to the critical services necessary to attract jobs and sustain quality of life. I’ve been responsive to constituents and worked hard to keep the public informed and hold County government accountable. As a businessman employing 800 people in the region, I understand how hard the economy is right now and the need to make Mecklenburg County supportive of business and workers. As the only physician to serve on the BOCC, I add insight into health and human service issues that others can’t. In meetings I’ve been thoughtful and prepared and I’ve listened respectfully to all sides. I’ve worked to avoid divisive confrontations and to build a collaborative body making decisions in the best interest of the whole community.

Do you think county government is living up to its responsibility to adequately fund education? Please explain your position (200 word limit): The county spends over half of its budget on education, providing a third of the CMS’ budget and significant support for CPCC. This year rather than cut the budget across the board, I decided to preferentially support the services most critical to our community – education, human services, health and mental health, and public safety. In fact one of the few areas of the budget that saw an increase was education support services, which are programs like Communities in Schools that work specifically to reduce dropout rates in low-performing schools. Over 90% of those students involved go on to graduate. And graduation means more often than not, they can get a job and lead a productive life that contributes back to society. When budgets are tight we have to be strategic with our spending, supporting programs that clearly produce results. Over the past 4 years, CMS has shown steady improvement in test scores and graduation rates both overall and in fragile communities. We have to continue to focus our attention there, with particular attention to bringing up those schools that are still lower-performing. They are producing results and I want to support them.

How can residents get involved in your campaign? Please include campaign manager or volunteer coordinator’s contact information.: I’d be honored to have your help and support. Please go to my website www.danmurrey.org to find out more. To volunteer, email Carol Gifford at bloomgiff@comcast.net or call 704-372-1222.

Website: www.jenniferroberts.net

E-mail: jennifer@jenniferroberts.net

Phone Number: 704 650 1673

Facebook Page or URL: Jennifer Watson Roberts

Twitter name or URL: CommishJennifer

Current Occupation: Commissioner

Education–Highest Degree: M.A.I.A., Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three): Governor’s Crime Commission;
Centralina Council of Governments;
Metropolitan Transit Commission (Chairman)

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years. (150 word limit): 1) Receiving the highest number of votes in the last two elections and serving as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, representing the County in local, state and national settings.
2) Achieving unanimous, bi-partisan board votes on important budgets in 2009 and 2010 and on the successful 2007 school bond package.
3) Initiating a successful Citizens Criminal Justice Task Force several years ago to improve public safety, support mental health treatment, and reduce criminal recidivism.

What qualities or experience do you bring that will make you an effective county commissioner? (150 word limit): I have a record of open, transparent, and inclusive governance that has been my hallmark during my six years of service. I am accessible and responsive to constituents and have been careful to include citizen input in every major initiative we have put forward over the past years. In addition, I have acted in the best interests of the citizens of the County even though on certain tough issues I have encountered fierce opposition because of it. People know where I stand on the issues, they have seen me lead with integrity, and they know that I will continue to be responsive to and respectful of all constituents. My positions are founded on facts rather than fear. I have a proven record of using a reasonable, balanced approach to problem solving that is what is needed to help pull us through these challenging economic times.

Do you think county government is living up to its responsibility to adequately fund education? Please explain your position (200 word limit): The County’s highest priorities should continue to be education, public health and safety, and economic development. The leadership of the Board this year placed a high priority on education, so we were faced with the need to cut libraries and parks to a greater degree than schools, which only took a 6% cut. We are providing the most we can within the constraints of the current budget. One of the ways we can continue to stretch our resources is through our continued emphasis on partnerships. This year, I was honored to work with many of our area philanthropic organizations, businesses, and houses of worship who have stepped up in the spirit of collaboration to support everything from schools to libraries and youth programs, and we have been able to stretch County dollars because of this. I have also worked with our Federal Government to find grants and funding to fill some of the current and projected budget gaps. I will continue to work with all groups to ensure the survival of vital programs, espcially in the area of education.

How can residents get involved in your campaign? Please include campaign manager or volunteer coordinator’s contact information.: I am happy to include volunteers in all aspects of my campaign, from phone banks to events. Send me an email at jennifer@jenniferroberts.net or call the campaign line (704) 650 1673, Thanks!

Website

E-mail: jpc@jimpendergraphcampaign.com

Phone Number: 704-588-4585

Facebook Page or URL: Jim Pendergraph for County Commission

Current Occupation: Consultant

Education–Highest Degree: AA Degree, Criminal Justice

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three): Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church
Major County Sheriffs’ Association
National Sheriffs’ Association

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years. (150 word limit): Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, elected to four terms.

What qualities or experience do you bring that will make you an effective county commissioner? (150 word limit): I have a long history working for Mecklenburg County and understand the county budget process. I am the only candidate who has been responsible for a large organization of 1400 employees and a large budget of 110 million dollars. I am also the only candidate who served in the armed forces, (U.S. Army).

Do you think county government is living up to its responsibility to adequately fund education? Please explain your position (200 word limit): In these tough times, the county is continuing to contribute a large percentage of the entire county budget to CMS. Our children deserve a good education but not without accountability from CMS for the tax dollars spent. CMS will need to tighten its belt like everyone else in order to provide the education we all expect.

How can residents get involved in your campaign? Please include campaign manager or volunteer coordinator’s contact information.: Go to my web site and volunteer to help. We need people at the voting sites and other duties.

www.jimpendergraphcampaign.com

Website: Dan Ramirez

E-mail: dan@danramirez.com

Phone Number: 704.277.1633

Facebook Page or URL: Dan Ramirez

Twitter name or URL: Dan Ramirez

Current Occupation: President Nova Didital Systems

Education–Highest Degree: BS Civil Engineering

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three): Salvation Army (Board Member)
BBB Foundation (Board Member)
CPCC Foundation (Board Member)
UNC College of Health and Human Services (Board Member)

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years. (150 word limit): Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners (At-Large) 2006-2008
Mecklenburg County Board of Co. Commissioners – Vice Chair (2002-2004)
Charlotte/Mecklenburg Planning Commission (2005-2006)

What qualities or experience do you bring that will make you an effective county commissioner? (150 word limit): Experience as a business person that is used to deal with budgets and execute recoveries in difficult economic times such as now.
A consensus builder that is not afraid to work across the isles to benefit the community at large when the community needs it.
I can bring some common sense and fiscal responsibility to our County Commission. We are throwing away or children’s future if do not exercise control on the tax spending attitude of the current board.

I want to apply the brakes on the wasteful spending of our tax dollars

Do you think county government is living up to its responsibility to adequately fund education? Please explain your position (200 word limit): I believe the County is living up to the responsibility to adequately fund the school system, the county has being cognizant of the fact that schools and education are paramount to the overall wellbeing of the community. What we need is a little bit more cooperation from the school system to be more transparent with the people as to the allocation of resources and the priorities they imposed on their budget.

How can residents get involved in your campaign? Please include campaign manager or volunteer coordinator’s contact information.: I need your help to make phone calls, visit your concerned neighbors, put up a yard sign, or even more importantly contribute financially to my campaign.
Citizens can get involved in my campaign by volunteering to put signs in their yard, emailing their friends and neighbors about the issues that are paramount today in our community, like higher taxes, stopping all unnecessary expenditures and fiscal discipline.

They can contact me at
dan@danramirez.com

or with my campaign coordinator;
cecy@danramirez.com

to look up my issues please go to my website:
www.danramirez.com

Website: www.coreythompson.us

E-mail: corey@coreythompson.us

Phone Number: 7045073875

Facebook Page or URL: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=301110939813&ref=ts

Twitter name or URL: Corey Thompson

Current Occupation: CMS Teacher

Education–Highest Degree: B.A.: History (The Citadel)

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three): – Chairman of Education: “CAUTION” (“Common Americans United To Inspire OUR Nation”)
- Former Vice-President: “Strengthen Charlotte” (Highly-decorated bi-partisan political think tank)
- Academic Liaison: “May 20th Society” (developed curriculum and literature for CMS students to promote the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence)

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years. (150 word limit): – Helping organize “Strengthen Charlotte”
- Being elected to (and serving as) the inaugural President of “CAUTION”
- Serving the community each and every day as a History and Journalism teacher at West Mecklenburg High School

What qualities or experience do you bring that will make you an effective county commissioner? (150 word limit): Mecklenburg County has always been my “home.” I am a man of faith, committed to my family and my country, and believe in the notion of accountability of elected officials to their constituents above all else. A graduate of The Citadel, I understand the concept of leadership through service.

I’m a teacher. In leading high school students to victories every day in the classroom, I have equipped many of them with the necessary skills for success in college and professional environments. As their teacher, I have the unique opportunity to coach our future community leaders, business professionals, and responsible adults who will raise families here in Mecklenburg County. Therefore, I would argue that I’ve already been working with the constituents of Mecklenburg County for the past 10 years. I have recognized their hopes, goals, dreams, and needs, long before ever making the decision to run for office.

Do you think county government is living up to its responsibility to adequately fund education? Please explain your position (200 word limit): I do. However, there seems to be a lack of accountability for how that funding is being spent by the school system. I’m calling for more transparency, and for the School Board to provide evidence that suggests that the programs in which they are investing taxpayer dollars are indeed producing sufficient results.

How can residents get involved in your campaign? Please include campaign manager or volunteer coordinator’s contact information.: Those interested in joining “the best team in town” may contact me directly, or any of the following staff members:

- Matthew Ridenhour (Campaign Manager): 704-880-4916
- Tariq Scott Bokhari (Campaign Strategist): 704-650-9958
- Abby Draxler (Campaign Volunteer Coordinator and Social Chair): 704-777-4825

The candidate did not answer the questionnaire. To learn more about the candidate, visit http://www.jackstratton.com/.