Profile in Politics - Jack Beach

Family: Wife - Paula, Son - Wesley
Education: Newton-Conover Graduate 1985
Occupation: Production Manager - Shurtape Technologies, LLC
Elected positions held: None
Notable information: (This includes church and civic activities, awards, leadership positions, military service. It's generally a miscellaneous category for the candidate to list their interests and background. Keep to 6, please.) Member - North Newton Baptist Church, Vice-President Shuford Credit Union Board of Directors, US ARMY 1985 - 1992, Served in The Persian Gulf War with 1st Armor Division’s 1/1 CAV, also served 4 years (1986-1990) at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin California with 1/52 INF, before transferring to Ansbach, Germany.

For more information: (include phone numbers, web sites, etc) Phone # - (828) 461-2586, web site - www.beachforcommissioner.com, e-mail - jack@beachforcommissioner.com.

Why are you running? I am running to make a difference. This county is a great place to work, live, and raise a family and I feel that I can help lead Catawba County into the future by proving strong leadership to make it even better. There are many tough decisions that are going to have to be made and we need someone to ask the tough questions. Many residents do not feel their voice is being heard in government and I want to change that. I will be a voice for the residents of Catawba County.

What qualities make you the best candidate? Leadership - I have served this great country of ours by serving in the US ARMY which included leading men in combat during The Persian Gulf War and I would like to serve this great county of ours by serving on the Board of Commissioners. Business Experience - I have served as General Manger of Shurtape’s Canadian Division as well as Production Manager at the Hickory Tape Plant. Honesty - I believe elected officials should be honest and open, that is why I will maintain an open-door policy with the residents of Catawba County. They can ask me any question at any time and I will give them an honest answer. It may not be the answer they are looking for but they will know it is a well thought out and honest answer.

What is the biggest issue facing Catawba County? What would you do to address it? The economy and jobs are the biggest issue facing Catawba County, however; there are factors that go hand in hand with it such as property tax increases and illegal immigration. I will work to lower taxes and I will be looking to work with our elected officials that represent us in Raleigh to push for a crackdown on illegal immigration as well as pushing for changes within Catawba County. We must make sure that we are bringing new jobs to Catawba County but we also have to keep the jobs that we currently have here. We can’t expect businesses that have been in the area for many years to shoulder the entire tax burden. I will continue to pursue higher education for Catawba County as well as assisting the education facilities we currently have in place.

How do you see Catawba County growing/changing over the next 10 years? I see Catawba County growing in population; all we need to do is look at the Sherrills Ford area and see how it is projected to grow over the next few years. The big question will be what area will be next and what are we going to do to prepare for that growth as it pertains to schools and infra-structure and emergency services.