Milton Byrd, Democrat, candidate for chair, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners

Milton L. Byrd
Party: Democrat
Slogan: It’s time to rebuild the public’s trust.
Profession: Retired respiratory therapist
Residence: Barnardsville
Funding: No funding, and it can be done!
Endorsements: “We the People”

1. Do you favor A) creating a regional water authority, B) giving the existing system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District or C) leaving it under Asheville’s control? Why?

A), because water is a regional resource of “We the People” and is funded by the people. … This requires a reframing of governance. … I do not want the state to determine this. I want the citizens to determine what is suitable for regional balance of this regional resource.

2. Do you support granting domestic-partner rights and/or benefits to Buncombe County employees? (Yes/No) Why?

Yes. I support domestic-partner rights because it is the constitutional right of us all. Remember, “We the People!”

3. Do you favor offering tax breaks and other economic-development incentives to companies that agree to move here or expand existing facilities and hire local workers? (Yes/No) Why?

I favor offering tax breaks and other economic-development incentives with a very, very limited approach [using] suitable, sustainable and supportable strategies. This requires adaptability to each situation that is first by, for and with the people’s needs in mind, first and always!

4. Do you think the county should make funding the Connect Buncombe greenways a high priority? (Yes/No) Why?

I favor partial funding, via tax breaks and economic-development incentives that link local economic resiliency with suitable strategies. … As the economy gets stronger, more funding may be appropriate. If supported by “We the People”! Also, greenways need an economic-development strategy that is geared to funding the greenway system.

5. What’s the most important role of county government in job creation?

Today’s economy demands a “reframing” of job sourcing for “We the People.” Jobs are mostly created by local entrepreneurs, and that means a networking of jobs defined by suitable, sustainable and supportable strategies. [Also], economic protocols that tie in job development with local economic resiliency.

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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