Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Barbara is a life long resident of Mecklenburg County. Barbara attended Mecklenburg County Schools and Kings Business College. Her working history has been in all forms of accounting.

In 1989, after being unemployed, she decided with the encouragement of friends, family and business associates to purchase Happy's Grill in Mint Hill. She realized that becoming a business owner was going to be the biggest challenge she had faced.

Her determination to make the restaurant successful with little advertising money meant that she needed to walk the neighborhoods, emphasizing quality, consistency and service to her customers. It was a successful fourteen year business.

Barbara has her sights set on improving Mecklenburg County! Getting the budget balanced and cutting taxes. She will do it with the same enthusiasm and determination she used when making Happy's Grill successful. The same principles work! Build our revenue base, keeping an eye on expenditures, especially waste and fraud. She will be committed to holding herself to the highest possible standard of work ethic and professionalism.

Barbara loves her county and believes in the determination of all the people of Mecklenburg. She believes it's the same determination Mecklenburg residents showed to Cornwallis during the Revolution when he and his troops marched into Mecklenburg. We're not called the Hornets Nest for nothing!!

The $80 million dollar deficit we are facing in Mecklenburg County did not happen over night. The local, state and federal government has lost respect for the taxpaying citizen. My common sense solutions to resolving the debt and restoring integrity to our county are as follows:

Taxes
Mecklenburg is the highest taxed county in the state! I support reduction of personal property, sales and food preparation taxes. This reduction will provide an environment that encourages growth for small businesses and will make us more competitive with the surrounding lower taxed counties and South Carolina.  Businesses and citizens need a reason to stay, work and shop in Mecklenburg County!

Spending
In addition to cutting taxes, spending must be reduced and kept in line with revenues. It is imperative that we protect our AAA bond rating. I am also in favor of zero based budgeting. I will work with the commissioners to review privatization options, independently audit "at risk" agencies and eliminate others if necessary. Eliminate taxpayer dollars to private non-profits and put an end to funding wasteful special interest projects.

Jobs
Reducing taxes for citizens and businesses creates an environment for private sector job growth. Businesses need a reason to stay and new businesses need incentive to relocate to Mecklenburg County. I will work with the other County Commissioners to get our North Carolina General Assembly to reduce our state corporate taxes.