PENDER COUNTY — Democratic candidate Jim Harris is running to serve in the district 1 seat on the Pender County Board of Commissioners.
He faces off against Republican incumbent Brad George. Harris, the second vice chair of the Pender County Democratic Party, has spent more than 40 years working with nonprofit, multi-enterprise healthcare organizations, enabling information technology and professional service solutions.
“I’ve mastered the ability to effectively plan, establish evidence-based metrics to monitor and measure success, while working in collaboration with other executives to develop strategic initiatives, capital budgets, and people,” he said. “I believe reasonable people can agree to solve almost any problem. Since settling in Pender County, I’ve supported non-partisan political processes as a poll worker, precinct captain, and precinct judge for both primary and general elections. I’ve spent years on the boards of multiple HOA’s representing hundreds of residents.”
Harris answered multiple questions about issues facing the county below.
| What Jim Harris is… • Listening to: Pender County residents, classic rock, jazz and blues, classical music • Watching: Local and national News, historical biographies, Netflix movies • Reading: “The Primary Solution” by Nick Troiano, “The Guarded Gate” by Daniel Okrent, “The Room Where It Happened,” by John Bolton | |
A few items to consider first: Election Day is Nov. 5, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m. All voters will have to go to their precinct to cast a ballot, as shown on their voter registry.
An ID must be presented to cast a ballot in the election. Acceptable forms of ID include NC drivers license or state ID, U.S. passport, college or student university ID, some state employee IDs and out-of-state drivers license or ID, as long as voter registration was done within 90 days of the election. IDs not in good standing can be expired by one year or less.
Port City Daily has compiled candidate questionnaires so voters can read up on contenders’ stances before heading to the polls this election season. All answers have been edited only for clarity; the candidates’ opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily.
The paywall is dropped on profiles to help voters make informed decisions ahead of the election.
Port City Daily: What are the top three items you’re campaigning on this season and why?
Jim Harris (JH): My top 3 issues, in order of priority, are:
NEW DEVELOPMENT: We must support sustainable growth, giving at least as much weight to Pender residents as it does to private interests.
INFRASTRUCTURE: We must proactively focus on identifying and addressing our most critical infrastructure needs (transportation/utilities, schools, and parks and recreation facilities) in a cost-effective way.
EDUCATION: We must prioritize Education in our budget decisions to ensure optimal resources for students, teachers and facilities.
PCD: Name an issue you struggle to find a solution for that affects your district and how would you go about determining a path forward? If you have a personal anecdote to share that has helped guide you in deciding how to move forward, please, share.
JH: A useful way to help solve problems and allocate scarce resources is to question the (existing vs. desired) balance between “who benefits and who pays.” My struggle to find a solution that affects my district has resulted in my commitment to run for office and offer all citizens a voice, and an alternative way forward.
PCD: With recent flooding experienced in Pender County homes and on roads from Tropical Storm Debby, there has been chatter among the current board of commissioners regarding clear-cutting and ways to prevent worse flooding, as development continuously grows. Amending the UDO has been considered and a tree ordinance has been floated; do you support either, why, and what else would you want to happen to balance development with current residents’ concerns and infrastructure needs?
JH: “Chatter” and “floating” ideas for ordinances is not the same as engaging with the public to deliver proactive results. Amending the UDO failed in 2018 — why do we think this time will be different?
I support prohibiting clear-cutting of treed land. I support the re-imagining of a UDO that balances private interests with local resident interests in at least each of the (3) top issue areas above.
PCD: According to the North Carolina Housing Coalition’s 2024 Housing Need Survey, 49% of renters and 21% of homeowners in Pender County are cost-burdened. What new policies or strategies would you advocate for to encourage affordable housing in the county?
JH: I will actively and routinely lobby and advocate for Pender County’s interests at the NC state level, in person, face-to-face. Please refer to my “reasonable people” comment above — this is not a partisan issue, it’s a non-partisan requirement.
I support the active development of new businesses, both small and large, in Pender County. This won’t happen without sustained effort on the part of the entire board, which, in my view, isn’t the same as contracting a mid-level advocate to take on this task. Pender can attract and sustainably support new business growth while developing a 21st century transportation network, expand our highly educated workforce, and create the attractive outdoor living spaces demanded by today’s families and businesses.
When available, I will support federal and state initiatives to supplement our efforts, such as the proposed new business development (at $50K, not the current $5K) and first-time homeowner assistance programs proposed by VP Kamala Harris.
PCD: Recently, it’s become known that a public housing development, Seven Oaks, in Pender County has experienced residents complaints for at least two years about mold, but they say it went unaddressed. What do you think should be done to prevent a situation like this occurring in the future and should Pender County also harbor some of this responsibility? Explain. Do you think there should be more oversight into the housing authority? How, if so?
JH: The Seven Oaks development in Burgaw is proof we have a lot more work to do. I understand that Sue Sava, appointed to the position of Pender County Housing Director, refused to comment about a recent WECT article discussing this debacle, which occurred while Ms. Sava was the Seven Oaks Property Manager. Pender should enact minimum housing standards, hold the developers accountable, and hold its elected and appointed officials accountable as well. Additional action and strict oversight are required.
PCD: Do you think schools are adequately funded? Where might it be lacking and how do you think the commissioners should address this shortage?
JH: In a word, no. Our elected representatives in Raleigh need to release the Leandro funds ordered by the courts. Additional funding diverted to private schools instead of public schools is fomenting a “race to the bottom” in public education, decreasing accountability for results, while providing a clear profit motive for private school stakeholders. Until we reverse course, Pender County must improve equal and equitable funding to all schools. This is not a progressive notion – it is a fundamental conservative investment in our future.
PCD: PFAS and 1,4-dioxane contamination in the region has been a major concern for residents in recent years. Would you advocate the county to lobby for any specific legislation or regulation on this issue, such as the Department of Environmental Quality’s proposals to enact surface and groundwater standards for eight PFAS compounds? Would you support efforts to expand local authority of environmental regulation, or advocate any other county action on this issue?
JH: Yes. I would also advocate for more enforcement of existing regulations.
PCD: Pender approved a $42,000 lobbying contract this year to advocate for issues including the construction of a new law enforcement center and PFAS regulation. Would you seek to amend or reprioritize Pender County’s lobbying efforts? How?
JH: Please refer to my answer above regarding new policies and strategies I would advocate for. In my opinion, Pender’s capital improvement budget, approved earlier this year and which totaled more than $140,000,000 with an annual carrying cost (loan repayment) of roughly $14,000,000 was done without sufficient public input to establish priorities.
PCD: What would you like to see the county do to further economic development and draw in businesses to the region? Are you a proponent of incentives? Explain.
JH: See answer above regarding new policies and strategies I would advocate for.
PCD: Take us through your process to decide whether taxes should be increased on constituents and what plays into that decision for you.
JH: Pender County has multiple proven methods to raise revenue, which currently heavily relies on property taxes. These include general obligation bonds, loans, grants, and donations. Routine operational expenses can arguably be satisfied.
In the future, we should consider innovative “gain sharing, mutual benefit, and public/private” capital spending programs, which are used in other locales, and can be used here.
I would not raise taxes unless and until Pender County has first explored every other best value, cost-optimized method and alternative first
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