Kiser, Fortenberry seek House seat

Candidate questions
1. What could you do in the Legislature to help Lincoln County avoid having to put the burden of growth (new schools, infrastructure to support rapid growth) on the property tax?
2.What is your position on a state lottery to benefit education in North Carolina? Would you support a referendum on a lottery even if you are opposed?
3.What would be your highest priority as a legislator.

Joe Kiser
Republican
Age: 71
Family: Widower. One adult son, Stan Kiser.
Occupation: Farmer, retired from duties as sheriff, teacher
Previous elective office: Five terms in the House; County Commissioner; sheriff.

1.Impact fees, facility fees, realty transfer fees that have been proposed haven’t passed because the legislature is overwhelming against them. They don’t even get out of committee. We have a long standing position on schools where the county provides buildings. We did make an exception a few years ago in Pumpkin Center and Middle School. two years ago for a bond bill that paid for two schools. There may be some support for a school bond issue. That may be the most realistic course. It would cover the whole state and the money would be divided by population .

2.I’m opposed to a lottery. I don’t believe the state should be in that business. Other states which have called it an education lottery have used the funds for other things. Studies have shown that when a state approves a lottery the sale of milk goes down. The referendum would only be advisory. The General Assembly would still have to vote for it.
3. There are many things that are important. My expertise falls in the criminal justice system. I’ve tried my best to look after Lincoln County and our court systems here. The budget has video conferencing for the court system her, the first time this has been done in North Carolina. SBI agents can testify from Raleigh and that saves the state money. We funded a new assistant district attorney and a new deputy clerk of court, both sorely needed. I serve as chairman of Corrections Oversight and criminal Justice Committee. I implemented a plan that saved the state over $100 million by identifying prisons that could be doubled celled.

Ken H. Fortenberry
Democrat
Age: 53
Family: Wife, Anna. Five children: Jonas, a sales executive in Chapel Hill; Angela, a first-grade teacher in Cherryville; Leslie, an advertising sales representative; and twins, Ben and John, students at Central Piedmont Community College.
Occupation: President, Media Development Co., publisher of News@Norman
Previous elective office: None

1. Too much of the burden of growth is being placed on current Lincoln County property owners. That is not only unfair, it is not practical in the long run. We can`t tax people out of their homes to make way for new homes. As your state representative, I would sit down with the other elected officials in Lincoln County and brainstorm ways to pay for needed infrastructure without further burdening property owners. We should consider a local option sales tax for school construction, a pay-as-you-grow plan for school capital needs and impact fees on developers among other ideas. Very little consideration was given to alternative ways to pay for the $47 million bond referendum other than the property transfer fee which penalized property owners, and buyers and sellers. The bottom line is that I will work with local elected officials to find new ways to pay for growth without putting all of the cost on property owners.
2. I am in favor of letting the people vote on an education lottery and I will actively work for their right to go to the polls. Our schools are under-funded, and we need new ways to help our teachers and school children.
3. To vigorously, effectively and ethically represent the concerns and needs of the citizens of Lincoln County in state government. I would put the people ahead of special interests and work to see that good things happen for our county. I won`t make excuses.