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he stage of Oriental’s Old Theater had a long lineup Wednesday night, as 11 of the 12 candidates running for seats on the Oriental Town Board and Mayor took part in a Candidates Forum. The event was co-sponsored by the Pamlico News and TownDock.net.

Candidates taking part in the October 16 forum. The 9 Commissioner candidates taking part were seated in alphabetical order – incumbent Commissioner Michelle Bessette, Ben Cox, Gail Good, Bob Maxbauer, Charlie Overcash, Peter Ritchie, incumbent Commissioner Barbara Venturi, David White, and Sandy Winfrey. The two Mayoral candidates were seated, also in alphabetical order, incumbent Bill Sage and Lori Wagoner. Incumbent Commissioner Larry Summers was out of state and did not take part.

The candidates responded to 15 questions ranging from jurisdiction of the waters off town — and on the land a mile out of town — to their views on a bike path to link Oriental’s neighborhoods, the hiring of a new Town Manager, spending public money, Walmart, the roofless building on the harbor, giving the public more input at Board meetings, the new Town Hall and its costs, and the dais at which the Board now sits above the audience at the meetings.

The forum was moderated by Pamlico Community College President, Cleve Cox. About ninety people attended.

Cleve Cox President of Pamlico Community College moderated the forum.

Audio Recordings of Candidate Responses

For those who could not attend — and for those who wish to hear the candidate responses again — audio recordings of the candidates’ responses to each question are available here.

The format called for each candidate to answer each question and for the first question to be answered first by the candidate seated farthest to the left and with the next question starting with the candidate next along the line, and so on. That is why, in these recordings, you will hear different voices being the first to answer before the rest in the lineup answered in order.

From left, Town Commission candidates Charlie Overcash, Peter Ritchie, Barbara Venturi, David White (at mic) and Sandy Winfrey, then Mayoral candidates Bill Sage and Lori Wagoner.

The candidates were asked to take no more than 60 seconds to answer the 15 questions compiled by TownDock.net and its readers. As moderator Cleve Cox noted, a light would come on when the candidates were approaching their time limit and a bell would sound when the time limit was exceeded. As is heard on the recordings, the bell was used on several occasions.

Opening Statements Each candidate had 30 seconds to introduce themselves.

Question 1
What are the 3 biggest issues that you see in town?
(The question was posed first to incumbent Michelle Bessette who said she needed more time to think about it. The question then went to Ben Cox.)

Question 2
If elected, how will your representation of the citizens differ from what we have experienced during the past several years? And to the incumbents, the question would be, what, if anything in the past two years would you do differently?
(Responses start with Gail Good.)

Question 3
Should the town have jurisdiction the waters off its shores and put a time limit on how long vessels may anchor in the public anchorage?
(Responses start with Bob Maxbauer.)

Question 4
Moving away from the Harbor itself, but on to another water issue. Recent high water reminds us of the ongoing problem downtown of flooded streets.
What, if anything, would you suggest the town do to remedy the situation? (Responses start with Charlie Overcash.)

Question 5
The new board will have to hire a new Town Manager. What would you look for in that person? A reader further asks if that Town Manager should be able to move funds from one budget item to another after the budget has been agreed upon?
(Responses start with Peter Ritchie.)

Gail Good responds to a question. To her left are fellow candidates Bob Naxbauer, Charlie Overcash, and Peter Ritchie.

Just ahead on page 2, questions and recorded responses from the candidates about the new Town Hall and its cost, Walmart, ETJ, the GMO, the dais on which the Town Board sits in the new Town Hall, getting a bike path connecting both parts of Oriental, the landswap lawsuit, the roofless building on the harbor, the candidates’ philosophies on spending public money and letting the public speak up more at meetings.

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The candidates.

Question 6
The new Town Hall cost more than its $300,000 budget. What are your views on the construction of that building and its cost?
(Responding first, Barbara Venturi)

Question 7
Walmart plans to open just outside of town. What are your thoughts on this?
(Responding first, David White)

Question 8
If Oriental had Extra Territorial Jurisdiction for a mile up Hwy 55, it would have more say on how that entryway to Oriental is developed. Pamlico County is the only county in NC where towns such as Oriental have to ask the legislature for permission to have that ETJ control. What, if anything, should the Town do?
(Answering first was Sandy Winfrey)

Question 9
What do you think of Oriental’s Growth Management Ordinance?
Are there changes you would want to make to it?
(Responding first, Bill Sage)

Question 10
If elected, you would sit on a dais which is a new addition to the Town Hall meeting room. What is your opinion of the dais?
(Responses start with Lori Wagoner)

Question 11
A dedicated bike path through the woods between the old part of Town and White Farm Road has been discussed for many years. Should the bike path be a priority?
(Responses start with Michelle Bessette)

Ben Cox responds to a question. At left, Michelle Bessette. At right, Gail Good and Bob Maxbauer.

Question 12
The Town was sued for the Board’s decision to trade 13,000 square feet of waterfront right of way in a land swap. Should the Town continue to defend itself in that suit, or instead build a dock as originally planned at that South Avenue right of way?
(Responding first, Ben Cox)

Question 13
On the harbor, a building has stood with an unfinished roof for more than a decade. Your thoughts on that roof?
(Responding first, Gail Good)

Question 14
If elected, you will be involved in planning the town’s budget. What is your philosophy on spending public money?
(Responding first, Bob Maxbauer.)

Question 15
Oriental is a town of 900 people. Should the public be given more opportunity for input, and given the opportunity and to have the Board answer their questions at Board meetings?
(Responding first, Charlie Overcash)

Bob Maxbauer, with mic and Charlie Overcash and Peter Ritchie.

Closing Statements
(Starting with Peter Ritchie)

Posted Saturday October 19, 2013 by Melinda Penkava