The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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Charles Wagner |
Monday, November 2, 2009
By KEN BRADLEY - Staff Writer
Incumbent Rocky Mount District Supervisors Chairman Charles Wagner said Friday he will continue to work to bring more jobs to the county and be a strong supporter of quality education.
Wagner is facing Rocky Mount Town Councilman John Lester in the only contested race in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election for seats on the board of supervisors.
Wagner, who is seeking his fourth four-year term on the board, said he is running again because the board faces a lot of issues to deal with as a result of budget cuts.
"Because of my 12 years as a member of the board of supervisors, I feel I am best qualified for the job", Wagner said. He has served three years on the board of supervisors as vice chairman and two years as chairman.
Wagner said one of the things he will push for, if re-elected, is to eliminate the overcrowding at Franklin County High School.
"I realize we can't do it now, but we must start planning now to address this problem," he said.
Wagner said he will also work to get more diversified industries in the county with good paying jobs.
"We need to get people who have lost their job because of layoffs back to work," he said
But to attract more industry to the county, Wagner said the state has to help localities provide better incentives to industries.
"If elected, I will continue to work to accomplish this," Wagner said.
Wagner said the current board has accomplished a lot in having a good educational system and a well managed government, noting that Franklin County has the lowest tax rate than that of other surrounding counties.
"I have always felt that if I wouldn't invest my own money in something, then I shouldn't invest the taxpayers' money," he said.
Wagner said he will also continue to work to have good working relationships with neighboring jurisdictions and the Town of Rocky Mount.
"And I will also work on the challenge to maintain quality service by our fire and rescue volunteers. I am very proud of them and I would put them up against anybody," he said.
Wagner is a lifelong resident of Franklin County. He has lived in Rocky Mount for more than 40 years. He is a graduate of Franklin County High School and started his career as a police officer with the Rocky Mount Police Department. He retired as a lieutenant with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department in 1997 with 22 years of service.
Wagner is also a member of the Crossroads Ruritan Club, a member of the STEP Inc. board of directors and also serves on the board of directors of the Franklin County Social Services Department. |
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