Election 2015: Buckingham’s District Three Board of Supervisors Seat
Published 2:03 pm Thursday, October 22, 2015
D.R. “Don” Matthews Jr.
Republican candidate
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Buckingham and how do you intend to address it?
Buckingham needs sound economic development, reduced debt load and better communication with constituents. We have $650,000 earmarked for development not being used.
As a member of the Virginia Growth Association, an economic development coordinator should be hired to work on development and grant writing.
Grants offer resources to the community, the school division and strengthen economic framework. Without development, our future will be filled with tax increases to support the ever increasing expenditures.
Our debt load is an issue facing the county. We can’t continue to grow with approximately $47 million debt load and no new development within the county.
What is your opinion on the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline?
The pipeline is coming. We need strong support in negotiations to include additional outlets and accesses that encourage businesses to come.
We need provisions in place that put the full liabilities of the pipeline as their responsibility. We need the pipeline to be bonded and provide documentation that catastrophic needs will be covered in the event of a disaster.
This coverage needs to be part of legal documentation that any future owner of the pipeline will be responsible for such coverage. We need to know that our residents will be safe and our countryside will remain beautiful and inviting.
What new steps do you propose the county take to attract more jobs and businesses to Buckingham?
As previously mentioned, we need to allow the economic development committee to continue their work with the Virginia Growth Association and set target goals.
A coordinator/grant writer should be hired to work with this committee and be responsible for the day-to-day activities of seeking new businesses to the county.
We should welcome new businesses and offer them short-term tax incentives to relocate here in Buckingham. Strong schools will also support economic growth through an educated work force.
The [board] should be sure that the county has new accesses and outlets in the pipeline to attract businesses.
The county recently voted to remove the word ‘Buckingham’ from the annual vehicle decals. Should the county keep the decals?
The county recently determined that the decals were needed for collection of outstanding property taxes. This decal is in reality another tax.
The [supervisors] are currently entertaining the addition of a meal tax on prepared food, collected through businesses in the county that offer prepared foods. Instead of adding an additional tax, I would be in favor of keeping the decals and not adding additional taxes.
We need to become better at fiscal management and stop adding additional taxes to our citizens.
The county is considering options relating to a new public library. Do you think a new or renovated library is needed in Buckingham? Why or why not?
I support the resources that will encourage our community citizens to advance and I also support education. I am concerned that the resources for the library were reallocated.
Our county constituents may be faced with supporting additional tax increases to support the library project. Everyone can become more resourceful and work together to support and provide resources to our citizens without them constantly being left with a large price tag for their support.
There are options available to support the library project as recently approved by the [board], but we must work together to keep our taxes low.
Charles “Chuck” Meek
Independent candidate
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Buckingham and how do you intend to address it?
The lack of growing employment in our county for people coming out of high school, community college and or higher education is a pressing need.
We need to solicit companies to come here that match our county’s residents.
We should provide short-term tax breaks for businesses coming into our county to allow them time to start up, thrive and provide needed jobs for our residents.
I believe we need to hire a county coordinator who would explore possibilities for our growth.
Money is out there in the form of grants to help areas like ours grow and prosper.
What is your opinion on the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline?
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is a reality for Buckingham.
We, as residents and protectors of our lands, need to make sure guidelines are in place that ACP will have to follow to ensure the construction and noise have a smaller impact on our residents.
Residents whose land is crossed need to negotiate the best and fairest price for their land.
As a supervisor, I will do my best to protect our local area from possible negative effects when negotiating with ACP.
What new steps do you propose the county take to attract more jobs and businesses to Buckingham?
Our county website needs to be expanded and easier for residents to use. I would show off our area of Central Virginia as a great place that welcomes everyone. I believe we should have people working for the county who are actively seeking for business looking to expand or relocate here.
The roads, water and sewer lines need updating to make our county more appealing to prospective companies.
The county recently voted to remove the word ‘Buckingham’ from the annual vehicle decals. Should the county keep the decals?
I do not believe our county should have a decal. Each resident will continue to be responsible for their personal property tax and a portion of the funds should go toward allowing secondary roads to be updated.
The county is considering options relating to a new public library. Do you think a new or renovated library is needed in Buckingham? Why or why not?
The board of supervisors has just voted to fund the construction of a new library for our residents … I am glad the site was chosen because it will be convenient for all of us in the county and will not impact the county recreational department. I do question if a plan has been made to maintain and provide for the upkeep of our new facility.