VoteForPhillips.com

Thursday 8/28 the NC GOP Vicotory Campaign will be helping us setup a call center at the FCGOP hq, it should be a great night to get out the message to the voters that there is an alternative to voting Democrat in Franklin County. The Democratic party has been in control of Franklin County since the 1890s and as a result we’ve got the 16th highest tax rate in the state and our schools rank around 80/100, please help Ken, Jeremy, and myself get elected this fall so we can start to undo over a century of neglect.

Also been thinking alot about why the trash tax outraged the citizens of the county so much, I think the main reason is that it was a seperate line item on the tax bill. I propose breaking down the entire tax bill by department so if you pay 1000 in taxes a year your bill might have 300 for schools,  300 for public safety, 50 for steak and lobster, etc…. If we show every taxpayer where their dollars have gone maybe other spending can outrage the public as much as the trash tax did and we can move towards balancing the inequalites in our county.

Always open to any ideas from anyone,

Thanks for your support

-Stephen Phillips

Biographical Info:

• Full name: Stephen Michael Phillips
• Age: 30
• Occupation: General Motors Level2 System Administrator @ IBM
• Marital status: Married to an amazing wife
• Children: Dillan 11, Grant 10, Summer 8
• Previous public service: Current member of the TDA
• Community service or involvement: Active assisting with youth sports, Eagle Scout

General Questions:

1. Why have you chosen to run for office?

Because I’m a lifelong resident that thinks our community can be so much more than it is. I’m tired of seeing the mass exodus from our County each June when our youth graduate from high school. I’m one of about 10-15 of my graduating class from Louisburg High School that managed to find an opportunity that allowed me to stay around. We need to make this County the best it can be so that we stop bleeding our best resource, our children.

2. What do you hope to bring to the office, and why should people vote for you?

I hope to bring a fresh set of eyes to the commission; a set of eyes that knows how to think outside the box to get things done, a set of eyes that sees that doing what we’ve always done can only get us so far. People should vote for me because I promise not to be stuck in the past.

3. What are the short- and long-term goals that you have set for yourself once in office?

 Short - Term: Repeal the trash tax and find ways to make our tax-rate the lowest of those counties bordering Wake.

Long-Term: Get more public offices working as efficiently as private businesses must and make Franklin County the #1 place to live and do business in NC.

4. What do you see as the future for Franklin County and how will you a part of it?

In the immediate future we’ve got a few hurdles to get through with needed school, water, and jail expansions. I will be part of the team that works through these issues and gets us on the path to be the best place to live and do business in NC and beyond.

Board of Commissioners specific questions:

1. The county continues to deal with increasing financial burdens while residential growth - and the subsequent demand for services - continue to increase in comparison to stagnant commercial growth. What are your proposals to prepare for even more residential growth? What are your proposals to generate more commercial and industrial growth in the county?

For the first question; Look for ways to make what we already have run as efficiently as possible and look at new ways to serve our people. When you’re broke you can sulk, beg, or, innovate. I prefer to innovate.

For the second question; I propose a reorganization of our Economic Development Department to put the senior employees on commission based pay. To me that department should be the primary Franklin County sales force to the business community. If their main job is sales and enrichment of business, motivate them the way you motivate salespeople in the private sector. That WILL bring more business to the county or people lining up to take on the job.

2. What is your position on open government and abiding by the state’s public records’ and open meetings’ laws?

In today’s information age there is no reason why any and all public information shouldn’t be more than a few mouse clicks away. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for you should be able to just ask and get a quick response.

3. What are the top three challenges facing Franklin County government and how would you effect them if elected?

Challenges:

High tax rates: We’re number 16 out of 100,

Low school performance: We are number 80 out of 100 (based on 2002 graduation rates)

Water: We need to demand more bang for our bucks, never accept the status-quo, and explore every option available.

4. Do you support the $53-million school bond? Why or why not?

Yes. We’ve put off these improvements for way too long. If we don’t get this done the next bond will be for 106 million.

5. Which office(s) in county government do you think need improvement and which office(s) do you think are operating effectively? How would you improve county services within departments?

Every department needs improvement, as soon as you settle for the status quo you’ve set yourself up for failure. I think most county departments are doing well given the restraints they’re given. I will talk to all the department heads and find out what the commissioners can do to help them OVERachieve.

The department that needs the most improvement is the Governing Body. That is why I am running for office.

6.      Define your fiscal philosophy. Include ideas on taxation, state government responsibilities, budget process and which services need the most attention for funding right now in Franklin County.

I want the citizens of Franklin County to keep as much of their money as possible while still paying for the essential services the County must provide. For the budget process? If the program is successful and needs more money - ok. If not, don’t ask. For those items  required by state and federal mandates, the state and or fed should fund. As your commissioner I will seek ways to lobby for the attention due us.  My immediate focus will be  to secure our water supplies and fund school construction.

Some campaign points:

I know we’ve got to pay our bills but at the same time we need to find a way to have lower tax-rates than the other counties that border Wake so we can give more taxpayers a reason to move here.

We need to change our school’s focus from the percentage of students at grade level to the percentage of students at 110% of the grade level, and as soon as we meet that goal we need new goals that are even harder to achieve.

We need to find some way to offer more incentive pay to our county employees. If a teacher has 100% of her students above grade level, if our economic development department brings a 100 high paying jobs. I wouldn’t have any problem giving them extra taxpayer money. At the same time if they can’t perform I wouldn’t feel bad about not paying them.

We need for our municipal and county governments to work together more so that in the eyes of the county we butt heads less. For instance when the Louisburg town council and the mayor came before the County Commissioners and asked them to vote no on our trash tax. Then the commissioner that represents our town along with the other Democratic commissioners voted yes. I will never vote against the wishes of the town I will represent on the commission.

The county needs to become more transparent on how it does business, in the 21st century there is no reason that all government transactions shouldn’t be easily accessible to anyone via the web.

I just want Franklin County to be the #1 place to live and do business in the state, then the south, then the east coast. That isn’t too much to work for is it?

Any questions please contact me
Stephen Phillips
stephen@louisburgnc.com

Hello I’m Stephen Phillips, and welcome to my journey to become the next Franklin County Commissioner for District 1.