2004 County Commission Archive Economic Development As a Libertarian, I believe in a free market economy, free from governmental control or influence. The only legitimate role of government in regards to the economy is to protect citizens from fraud. That includes the enforcement of contracts based on Common Law. As your county commissioner, I will fight to lower tax and regulatory burdens on all county businesses. The best way government can help the economy is by getting out of its way. I will fight to abolish corporate welfare, better known as tax incentives (rebates). It is wrong for our county government to grant big businesses tax rebates. It is wrong for our county government to favor certain businesses over others. I will fight to lower tax burdens on ALL county businesses, big and small. Speaking of tax rebates, Corning, owner of the “mothballed” plant in Midland, received a large one! During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003*, Corning received $2,313,108 of their tax payment back. How fair is that to the businesses that pay their tax bill in full while receiving nothing! Having the lowest tax and regulatory burdens in the region will attract new and expanding businesses to Cabarrus County. That is my mission. *Taken from the Cabarrus County Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, page 50 Education Our children deserve the best educational opportunities available. As a Libertarian, I believe a truly free market would provide just that. Imagine parents reclaiming the right to educate their children the way they see fit. Parents should be able to choose the school, the curriculum, and the teachers. Unfortunately, over the course of several generations, parents have given up the responsibility of their child’s education to government bureaucrats. Government educational funding relies on the Marxist system of redistributing wealth. The redistribution of wealth means stealing money from one person to give to another person. “Robbing Peter to pay Paul” certainly comes to mind! As your county commissioner, I will seek ways to encourage free market education alternatives such as private and home schools. This will help reduce the problem of overcrowded public schools. I will lead an effort to recruit volunteers to donate labor, money and other gifts to build our own schools. Churches and other voluntary associations don’t use government coercion to fund their building projects. Why can’t we do the same with our schools?  The county commission is required by state law to provide funding for adequate public school infrastructure. As county commissioner, I will abide by that law. However, in doing so, I will never vote to increase the size and scope of government. The voluntary free market in conjunction with the loving, giving spirit of Cabarrus residents, can provide our children with superior educational facilities! Zoning and Property Rights The right of private property is a common law tradition recognized by our Founding Fathers. The right of private property means you can use it in any manner you choose, so far as your actions do not endanger the rights of your neighbors. No one has the right to pollute or damage another’s property. Originally, zoning laws were created to protect the safety of the public. How things have changed! Today, zoning laws are being used to erode our fundamental right to use our property as we see fit. Zoning laws such as the Unified Development Ordinance, or UDO, serve as a prime example of government gone to far. As your county commissioner, I will fight to protect the property of all Cabarrus residents. I will seek to repeal all unconstitutional zoning laws. I will make sure the county does not adopt the UDO or other socialist property controls! It’s your property!