WILMINGTON—Election Day 2020 will determine a host of races, from the big showdown of the U.S. presidency, to state senators and house members, to county boards of commissioners and education, to the supervisor of New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District (NHSWCD).
NHSWCD board member David Dowdy and associate supervisor Matt Collogan are vying for the position, as are newcomers Jeremiah Tominack and Robert F. Allen Sr.
We reached out to all the candidates to ask questions regarding the importance of the department, and its effects on water quality and conservation in our corner of southeastern NC. Below is the interview with Jeremiah Tominack—a New Hanover County substitute teacher, as well as rugby coach and mural artist.
Early voting is underway. Same-day registration is available during the early voting period, which ends Oct. 31. Election day is Nov. 3. Check your voter registration and county elections office to confirm polling locations, dates, and hours.
Port City Daily (PCD): Have you served/are you serving currently on the board?
Jeremiah Tominick (JT): No.
PCD: First off, why is this department important to our region, in your opinion?
JT: It’s important to be a conservationist, committed to the long-term preservation and sustainability of the water, wildlife, and natural resources on the public and private lands in the area.
PCD: What qualifies you to be elected/continue your role in the district?
JT: Drawing on my non-profit experience, I hope to generate awareness and create involvement concerning topics, such as reducing litter and cleaner water. I have witnessed and experienced firsthand the negative impacts caused by the fracking and oil industry. I’m knowledgeable of their methods and will not be influenced by their lobbying or intimidated by their tactics.
As an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, I’m passionate about protecting the natural resources and wildlife in New Hanover County and its surrounding waters.
PCD: How would you rate the district’s functioning on a scale of 1 to 10? What impresses you most about the job the current board is doing and what do you think needs improving?
JT: I like the NHC Water Quality Improvement Program and hope to be a part of it. The current board is making a strong effort toward stormwater solutions as well.
PCD: How would you utilize the district to help strengthen the fight against emerging industrial contaminants in our water?
JT: If elected my goal is to partner with local universities, colleges, and even high schools, using grant-funded projects to protect the tax base. I feel the current board is missing out on outreach opportunities to work with the area’s academic institutions. To reduce industrial contaminants we must first create a platform to provide more resources and time for professionals to develop solutions to this issue.
PCD: What should the district be doing more of to prevent soil erosion and lessen flooding?
JT: It starts with accountability and communication. For instance, in my neighborhood just before Florence, it was vital the ponds be drained using pumps that had been installed—except no one did it, resulting in hundreds of homes being flooded. There were similar situations throughout the county.
PCD: What would be your top three items of focus, if elected—why and how would you propose to make them happen?
JT: I feel the biggest challenges are cleaner, less expensive drinking water, reducing litter, and protecting the beautiful, unique environment we are fortunate enough to live in. Cleaner water can be achieved with water purification measures funded not by the city, state, or county, but through corporate grants.
Reducing litter can be improved by activating groups like Plastic Ocean Project at UNCW, for example, to do litter cleanups around the county. But they need better sponsorships to do more. I’m not above approaching people I have seen litter and asking them to pick it up.
I went to Hong Kong and in a city of millions of people there was virtually no litter anywhere. We need that mindset and more respect for the town we live in now.
I hope to create more involvement in fostering an appreciation for nature and conservation among young people. More bike paths, equal less pollution.
