CHANGE STARTS AT THE BOTTOM! Vote for your municipal
representatives!!
The following list of questions was sent to all candidates running for office in Atlantic Beach,
Cape Carteret, Bogue, Cedar Point, Emerald Isle, Beaufort and Morehead City. We will update
the responses as we receive them.
Atlantic Beach municipal elections: October 8th
Towns of Beaufort, Bogue, Cape Carteret, Cedar Point, Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, Morehead
City Newport, Peletier, and Pine Knoll Shores municipal elections: November 5th
Mr. Tom Johnson - running for Atlantic Beach Commissioner
1. As an elected official, will you support and aid attempts to increase green spaces in the
community?
Yes, I would support and aid attempts to increase green spaces in the community. Having spent
some 37 years in the golf profession, I have always promoted green and environmental
responsibility.
2. What are your ideas for improving stormwater management?
There must be a topographical plan available to deal with storm water management. Water does
not run uphill. Due to development such as concrete surfacing, asphalt, buildings and houses
water that naturally perked through the soil now has no place to go. I would recommend
working in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Health and Natural Resources in
devising a plan to better manage storm water. I have had much experience with this issue during
my golf course design and operations career.
3. Do you support or oppose policy to allow additional hardened structures (terminal groins,
jetties, seawalls, etc.) for inlet and beach erosion stabilization?
If warranted and proven to be the only solution to problems facing the majority of our citizens, I
would support that approach.
4. Do you support or oppose the regulation of smoking on publicly held land including parks and
beaches?
Oppose. I am a smoker and feel it is a free choice that everyone has to make. I also feel you
must respect your fellow man and not infringe on their space while smoking. You cannot
legislate morality.
5. Do you support or oppose:
(a) oil and gas production off the coast of NC?
(b) increased funding for alternative energy research?
(c) clean and renewable energy for NC, such as wind and solar power?
6. Do you support or oppose opening the Mid-Atlantic Ocean region to seismic air-gun testing
for the exploration of offshore oil and gas drilling?
7. Do you support or oppose lifting the moratorium on hydraulic fracking in NC?
Regarding 5, 6 and 7: I support all mentioned, however, it must be done in a safe and regulated
manner.
8. Do you support or oppose these efforts to reduce single-use plastics:
(a) plastic bag ban?
(b) plastic bag fee at check-out registers?
(c) plastic bag return incentive?
(d) regulations on take-out food packaging?
I feel there are many alternatives to the high uses of plastic. I think we should go back to the
glass drink bottles and recycle. Government and big business have formed a coalition and it will
be hard to overcome. Where there's a will there is a way.
Additional comments: In summary, all of these views are my personal opinions and if elected I
will vote for the agenda that is the will of the majority of those I represent.
Commissioner Ann Carter - running for Beaufort Commissioner
1. As an elected official, will you support and aid attempts to increase green spaces in the
community?
I have and I will continue to do so.
2. What are your ideas for improving stormwater management?
This is a major problem—in order to deal with it effectively in Beaufort we are developing a
comprehensive engineered plan that can be staged in order to finance segments as money is
available. I supported and will again, the implementation of a stormwater fee for all residents in
order to generate funds to deal with this ongoing problem as well as ordinances designed to
reduce runoff as a consequence of development.
3. Do you support or oppose policy to allow additional hardened structures (terminal groins,
jetties, seawalls, etc.) for inlet and beach erosion stabilization?
I do not and have not supported efforts to build jetties, groins or other hardening structures. They
simply make the situation worse! Steal from one area to build up another. Makes no sense.
4. Do you support or oppose the regulation of smoking on publicly held land including parks and
beaches?
I am not nor ever have been a smoker so do not want to be around it. I have not actively
supported banning smoking on beaches etc but do have concerns about the problems created by
it.
5. Do you support or oppose:
(a) oil and gas production off the coast of NC?
I am of mixed feelings on this—if we need the fuel to be self-sustaining then only if sufficient
and strong safe guards are implemented and monitored. I would prefer not to have it but feel we
cannot always say ‘not in my backyard’ and then still use fossil fuel.
(b) increased funding for alternative energy research?
Yes—this is the only logical way to reduce/eliminate a need for fossil fuel.
(c) clean and renewable energy for NC, such as wind and solar power?
I am very supportive of alternative energy resource creation.
6. Do you support or oppose opening the Mid-Atlantic Ocean region to seismic air-gun testing
for the exploration of offshore oil and gas drilling?
I am not very familiar with this process but based on the little I know have concerns about the
impact or negative effects on sea life and potential possible earthquake activity.
7. Do you support or oppose lifting the moratorium on hydraulic fracking in NC?
I am very much opposed to removing the ban on Fracking! This is a dangerous practice and
currently is being rushed through the legislature without safeguards or adequate study just to
benefit a few. The dangers to ground water (and they want to dispose of it on the coast!!!) and
the potential to cause earthquakes is too high to justify the relatively small financial returns from
the operation.
8. Do you support or oppose these efforts to reduce single-use plastics:
(a) plastic bag ban? I would support this
(b) plastic bag fee at check-out registers? Just ban the bags and this is unnecessary.
(c) plastic bag return incentive? Always a good idea, but see (a).
(d) regulations on take-out food packaging? Good idea to reduce plastic pollution, will support
efforts to do this.
Mayor Richard Stanley - running for Mayor of Beaufort
1. As an elected official, will you support and aid attempts to increase green spaces in the
community?
Yes.
2. What are your ideas for improving stormwater management?
More rain gardens, less impervious surface.
3. Do you support or oppose policy to allow additional hardened structures (terminal groins,
jetties, seawalls, etc.) for inlet and beach erosion stabilization?
I support on a very limited, exceptional basis.
4. Do you support or oppose the regulation of smoking on publicly held land including parks and
beaches?
Our authority to regulate smoking is highly questionable.
5. Do you support or oppose:
(a) oil and gas production off the coast of NC? support if places at great distance
(b) increased funding for alternative energy research? support
(c) clean and renewable energy for NC, such as wind and solar power? support
6. Do you support or oppose opening the Mid-Atlantic Ocean region to seismic air-gun testing
for the exploration of offshore oil and gas drilling?
I have no problem with testing.
7. Do you support or oppose lifting the moratorium on hydraulic fracking in NC?
Oppose under present practices.
8. Do you support or oppose these efforts to reduce single-use plastics:
(a) plastic bag ban?
(b) plastic bag fee at check-out registers?
(c) plastic bag return incentive?
(d) regulations on take-out food packaging?
I support efforts to reduce use of plastic bags.
Commissioner Joel Fortune - running for Indian Beach Commissioner
1. As an elected official, will you support and aid attempts to increase green spaces in the
community?
No.
2. What are your ideas for improving stormwater management?
Don't support.
3. Do you support or oppose policy to allow additional hardened structures (terminal groins,
jetties, seawalls, etc.) for inlet and beach erosion stabilization?
Support.
4. Do you support or oppose the regulation of smoking on publicly held land including parks and
beaches?
Oppose.
5. Do you support or oppose:
(a) oil and gas production off the coast of NC? Yes.
(b) increased funding for alternative energy research? No.
(c) clean and renewable energy for NC, such as wind and solar power? No.
6. Do you support or oppose opening the Mid-Atlantic Ocean region to seismic air-gun testing
for the exploration of offshore oil and gas drilling?
Support.
7. Do you support or oppose lifting the moratorium on hydraulic fracking in NC?
Support.
8. Do you support or oppose these efforts to reduce single-use plastics:
(a) plastic bag ban? Oppose
(b) plastic bag fee at check-out registers? Oppose
(c) plastic bag return incentive? Oppose
(d) regulations on take-out food packaging? Oppose
Mr. John Brodman – running for Pine Knoll Shores Commissioner
1. As an elected official, will you support and aid attempts to increase green spaces in the
community?
Yes.
2. What are your ideas for improving stormwater management?
I am in favor of revisiting our impervious surface ordinances and other building codes relevant to
the issue. I am also in favor of protecting our wetlands, reopening natural drainage paths that
have been interrupted by development whenever possible, and using water retention ponds and
rain gardens.
3. Do you support or oppose policy to allow additional hardened structures (terminal groins,
jetties, seawalls, etc.) for inlet and beach erosion stabilization?
In general I oppose the use of groins and jetties, but there may be cases where some sort of
structure may help keep certain inlets open and accessible at a reasonable cost without much
adverse impact on the environment, so I can't rule them out entirely.
4. Do you support or oppose the regulation of smoking on publicly held land including parks and
beaches?
Yes.
5. Do you support or oppose:
(a) oil and gas production off the coast of NC? Yes, if it is economic and done with all the
appropriate environmental safeguards.
(b) increased funding for alternative energy research? Yes.
(c) clean and renewable energy for NC, such as wind and solar power? Yes, if it is economic
and done with all the appropriate environmental safeguards.
6. Do you support or oppose opening the Mid-Atlantic Ocean region to seismic air-gun testing
for the exploration of offshore oil and gas drilling?
I support it because I believe it is in our best interest to know what's out there. In addition, the
seismic testing undertaken for oil and natural gas exploration is far less harmful to wildlife than
the sonic testing regularly conducted by the military in the waters off our coast. If we are going
to prohibit it, we should prohibit all of it, including the military, but this probably won't ever
happen because of the adverse impacts such an action would have on NC's economy.
7. Do you support or oppose lifting the moratorium on hydraulic fracking in NC?
Hydraulic fracking is not likely to be an issue in my municipal election, as there are no known
shale oil or gas deposits in our eastern part of NC. Nevertheless, I am in favor of lifting the statewide moratorium if appropriate regulations and safeguards are put in place.
8. Do you support or oppose these efforts to reduce single-use plastics:
(a) plastic bag ban? Oppose
(b) plastic bag fee at check-out registers? Support
(c) plastic bag return incentive? Support
(d) regulations on take-out food packaging? Support
Mr. Donald J Wells – running for Emerald Isle Mayor
1. As an elected official, will you support and aid attempts to increase green spaces in the
community?
Yes
2. What are your ideas for improving stormwater management?
Emerald Isle is in the process of improving the current storm water runoff pipes. Additional
funds were approved this year to also replacement old storm water runoff pumps and add
additional new ones.
3. Do you support or oppose policy to allow additional hardened structures (terminal groins,
jetties, seawalls, etc.) for inlet and beach erosion stabilization?
Though I do not believe in adding hardened structures, I do believe in beach nourishment and
dredging in order to keep the inlets navigable and the beaches pristine. Beaches areimprtant to
our tourism and sea turtles. Emerald Isle brings in 60% of the county’s occupancy tax, half of
which goes to beach nourishment and the other to tourism.
4. Do you support or oppose the regulation of smoking on publicly held land including parks and
beaches?
No smoking on public lands.
5. Do you support or oppose:
(a) oil and gas production off the coast of NC? Oppose at this time.
(b) increased funding for alternative energy research? Support
(c) clean and renewable energy for NC, such as wind and solar power? Support
6. Do you support or oppose opening the Mid-Atlantic Ocean region to seismic air-gun testing
for the exploration of offshore oil and gas drilling?
Oppose. From what I have read, the results to the animals and environment are still being
determined. The sound produced would be the equivalent of a jet engine fired every 10 to 15
seconds for days, weeks, or even months to map the oceans sub-floor.
7. Do you support or oppose lifting the moratorium on hydraulic fracking in NC?
I oppose hydraulic fracking.
8. Do you support or oppose these efforts to reduce single-use plastics: Support efforts to reduce
single-use plastics.
(a) plastic bag ban? No ban – recommend recycling
(b) plastic bag fee at check-out registers? Yes
(c) plastic bag return incentive? Yes
(d) regulations on take-out food packaging? Yes