Candidates Full Name: Kirk Douglas Smith
Current Occupation/Position: US Army Paratrooper/Retired; Parts Sales Manager
Home Address: 3108 Avents Ferry Road
Sanford, NC 27330
Daytime Phone Numbers:
Home: 919-258-5689
Cell: 919-935-3197
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
Political Party Affiliation: REPUBLICAN
Candidate for: Lee County Commissioner District #2
Previously Elected/Appointed Position(s)
July – December 2007 Appointed Lee County Commissioner District #2
December 2012-2016 Elected Lee County Commissioner-At-Large
2012-2016 Lee County Commission Vice-Chair
Appointed to:
The Sandhills Center Mental Health Board
Lee County Fire Advisory Board
Fort Bragg Regional Alliance
Lee County Board of Health
Local Emergency Planning Commission
Alternate: Triangle Area Regional Transportation Organization
Alternate: Triangle J Council of Governments
Alternate: Lee County Parks and Recreation Board
Community Involvement:
Member and Sunday School Superintendent, Turner’s Chapel, Sanford, North Carolina
Middle School Sunday School, Volunteer for State and National Historic Sites located throughout the Southeast. Board Member of the Educational Non-Profit North Carolina Highland Regiment/71st Highland Regiment of Foot, Inc. Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, 82nd Airborne Division Association.
Community Endorsements: I have sought no Endorsements nor am I seeking political contributions.
- What NEW initiatives will you be working on once in office?Keeping Lee County Government’s taxing and spending in check is not a NEW initiative. That is what I will be working on once in office.
- What is the number 1 challenge facing the county? Is there a solution?
- The number one challenge for Lee County Commission is the combination of increased spending and debt placed upon the Lee County Citizens. We have the 21st highest property tax rate as per the 2017-18 budget year (21st in 100 counties) for a county that is 45th in population. We carry one of the highest tax payer burdens in North Carolina and that is the major reason our current Democrat board has to promote “corporate welfare.” In addition Lee County is about to surpass $100 million in total debt, buying and rebuilding a former school building. A building located in a crime ridden neighborhood at twice the cost of building two new schools on property the county already owns. I will focus on keeping spending and taxes in check.
- There is a statewide issue with unmaintained roads in county neighborhoods, recently referred to as “orphaned roads.” A bill was introduced in the General assembly two years ago but has not moved forward. What are your thoughts for solving this problem?Orphaned roads are also a problem in Lee County. Unfortunately the burden is too great for local government to solve on our own. There is a number of developers that went bankrupt and failed to properly transfer the road maintenance to the state. This causes a serious problem for financing and resale of properties on these unmaintained private roads. Solving this problem will require action by the General Assembly and the future legislators will have to address orphaned roads.
- Tell us about yourself and why you choose to run for office?My family settled here in Lee County back in 1992. From 1985-1988 while living on Fort Bragg, my wife did most of her horse business in Lee County, finding the proprietors of the business very warm and focused on customer satisfaction. While stationed in Germany we were preparing to move back to Fort Bragg and decided on buying enough property in either Moore or Lee County. We found our present home and location to meet our needs perfectly. Since retiring from the Army, I started paying more attention to local government and became an active opponent to “corporate welfare.” As it is not the government’s job to pick business winners and losers. Government’s primary job is to “protect life, liberty, and property rights.” Since the 2016 election to which I was not re-elected for the At-Large seat, my neighbors began urging me to run again for the Second District, as they are upset by the “tax and spend” record of our current commissioner.
- Would you accept REALTOR Political Action Committee funds from our Association?
No, I am not accepting political contributions so as to avoid any conflict of interest. My office is not for sale.
