Doug Brannon

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Name: Doug Brannon

Age: 55

Address: 301 W. Pine St., Pilot Mountain

Previous Political Experience: none

Community Involvement: Chairman for Mt. Pilot Now

Family: Mother, Florence Brannon

Occupation: Former restaurateur and full-time caregiver for his mother.

Education: Bachelors of Economics from UNC-Chapel Hill; Prep school at McCallie School in Tennessee.

1. Why are you running for commissioner?

Answer: I want to give back to the community. I grew up here and have a love for the community.

2. What could the town be doing to stimulate economic development that it isn’t doing already?

Answer: They could put parks and greenways in to make the town more appealing. We need to give tax incentives to companies who want to relocate here. And, we need to offer those companies cheaper water rates. Pilot Mountain has such an excess water capacity.

3. What do you think the town should do to get its financial problems under control?

Answer: They are making progress and are getting the general reserve funds up. If they (the board) sell part of the Pilot Center to Sport Badgett’s company, Otay, that will alleviate a lot of the town’s problems.

Editor’s Note: During the Oct. 22 meeting of the Pilot Mountain Board of Commissioners, the board agreed to go forward with selling part of the Pilot Center building in which condominiums will be built to Badgett’s company, Otay LLC.

What are your goals if elected?

Answer: To make the town more financially responsible and to oversee spending to make sure that there is no frivolous spending that is not needed.

5. What do you like best about Pilot Mountain?

Answer: I like the small-town atmosphere. It’s a very friendly town. It’s very walkable. I grew up here, so it has a place in my heart.

6. Do you see any problems with the town? And if you feel there are problems, how do you plan to fix them?

Answer: There are not really any problems. We can make improvements in the town. The town has commissioned a pedestrian walkway with the state and the town has laid out plans for more sidewalks around town. We need more greenways and bike trails. I think that fits in with Pilot Mountain State Park. Also, we need to get people more involved in the community.