Lincoln County isn't perfect, and neither are those who run our county government and law enforcement. But we're pleased with what they have done on our behalf. Sheriff Bill Beam served this county as a law enforcement officer for many years before deciding to run for County Commissioner. He did that well, too; then decided to return to law enforcement running for Sheriff four years ago.
Former Sheriff David Carpenter had served very well for eight years, but he decided to retire. He endorsed Bill Beam as his successor.
As Sheriff, Bill has fortified his department's resources with new and better equipment. He pushed for on-the-lake signage identifying lakefront homes so that if law enforcement got a call, they could easily identify the location from the water. The idea has spread and other counties are doing the same kind of signage.
Sheriff Beam also recognized that with all the growth that has occurred, the eastern part of the county needed more officers on patrol. He sought and got permission from Commissioners to make his C districts into two--C & D--to serve the fastest growing area of the county.
Perhaps the biggest reason we're endorsing him is that neither of the other candidates has given us a satisfactory reason why he should not be re-elected. It is likely that he will serve one more four year term and then retire. Erin Long might have chosen better to run in four years rather than now.
As for the two incumbent County Commissioners, they have been a part of the biggest growth period in recent decades in county services and facilities. The water system is being expanded and the sewage treatment capacity is about to be doubled. Some other area counties don't have a county water and sewer system. While the expansions may have made the burgeoning residential developments possible, they will be much needed to provide opportunities for industrial and commercial growth.
Lincoln County is about to open a new courthouse that will likely serve our needs for another hundred years. It cost $31 million--but if you were to start building it now, the price would be double that. We have a new Senior Center that is far, far better than the one on the second floor of the Lincoln campus of Gaston College. The Health Dept. now has adequate space and its former location will soon be used for a new Emergency Services building. Our Communications Center is now as up-to-date as any in the state. All of this has been accomplished without any big increase in property taxes.
While they may have watched online, none of the other candidates has regularly attended County Commission meetings--and not one of them attended any of the budget workshop sessions (which were not shown online).
It is not that we're questioning the qualifications of the other candidates, but in our opinion, our current group of County Commissioners has done a good job. No one has produced any sound argument that shows otherwise. Being a good Commissioner requires much more than attending the twice monthly meetings and voting on issues. Done right, it is a time-consuming part-time job. Cesena and Sigmon have attended School Board meetings, Library meetings, and more. Unless someone can show something they've done wrong--and so far, nobody has--they, too, deserve to be re-elected.
We're not at this time endorsing any candidates for the Lincoln County Board of Education. We do believe making the School Board race partisan was a big mistake. If any board ought to be non-partisan--dedicated to the education of children and not to the leanings of any political party, it's the School Board.
Whether you agree with our choices or not, be sure to vote. Turnout so far during Early Voting has been pathetic. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about the choices made by those who did.
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