Charlotte Observer Candidate Questionnaire
April 22, 2012
The Observer asked candidates competing in the primary races for seats on the Mecklenburg Board of County commissioners a series of questions about county issues. Below are the responses of Harry Taylor, a candidate in the Democratic primary for an at-large seat. Some answers have been edited for clarity.
Q. What issue in county government do you feel merits more attention? What will you do as commissioner to address that issue?
Public education. We must assure the children entering Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are prepared to learn, and understand they are expected to become part of community – whether as a doctor, house painter, teacher or construction laborer; are excited and enthusiastic about the possibilities of their future, one removed from poverty, homelessness, or a struggling home life. Nothing can improve their chances more than learning to read at the earliest possible age. Children exposed to books learn about ordinary and incredible feats, different cultures and foreign lands, the natural world, both remarkable and terrible history, humor, and courage. It arouses curiosity, and improves vocabulary and critical thinking. Reading has the potential to become not only a skill to master but a lifelong fascination. Local efforts are afoot to encourage this, but if Mecklenburg County leadership focused more directly and steadfastly on it I’m confident we can find a way to make our home the “early reading capital” of the country. As well, I would 1) build a powerful collaboration to force NC General Assembly to provide appropriate funds for teachers’ compensation, and 2) use my voice to recruit support for CMS versus the criminal justice system as an alternative for those who fail.
Q. What services or programs do you believe should receive top priority in the budget? What areas would you cut?
My top priorities are schools, mental health, the Department of Social Services, children & families. With regard to cutting areas of the budget, I fear there are few options, if any. Since the onset of the recession in the fall of 2008, the county staff and board of county commissioners have reduced expenditures by more than $217 million dollars. While some of those reductions were directed toward waste and inefficiency, most have reduced important services that have impacted us all, especially Charlotte’s poor and middle class, and especially children. I believe in good financial management and austerity, but I don’t believe it realistic to envision substantial additional reductions without major impact on things that we all should care about. For example, on the issue of homelessness, Mecklenburg County taxpayers spend more on hospital and jail care than we would on progressive solutions with long term impact such as job placement and drug treatment.
Q. The county has faced some criticisms over its handling of the 2011 revaluation, including communication with residents. How would you assess the county’s performance and what, if any, changes would you like to see in the future?
Mecklenburg County is required by law to revaluate every eight years. The tremendous market growth of the past several decades, followed by the worldwide economic crash, should have been an indicator that this revaluation might invoke unprecedented challenges. If the staff had anticipated that possibility, and communicated their concern to the public, much of the present turmoil might have been avoided. As well, the staff might have marshaled more resources to cope with what was likely going to be both problematical and unpopular. Instead there was a disconnect that might have been avoided. It would seem appropriate to consider more frequent revaluations, perhaps every two to three years. A more frequent schedule would result in less radical fluctuation in values, would make it easier to identify and manage emerging issues, and the appeals process would not risk becoming bogged down.
I favor reviewing how the Board of Equalization and Review is staffed, and how the appeals process functions with an eye toward making the process more user-friendly and transparent.
Q. The current board has, at times, drawn more attention because of conflict among commissioners than their work on policy issues. How will you build consensus with other members of the board? What will you do to reach out to members of your opposing political party?
Early on in my nearly four decades as a commercial real estate broker I learned that it is not possible to complete a transaction – and thus get paid – without a keen ability to bring people with varying objectives and goals together to find acceptable solutions. By necessity, it has become my nature to find ways to make viable, intelligent “collective” decisions. That means listening well and respecting the views of others with honesty, and without prejudice, regardless of what political party the other people may favor. Having said that, I have long pondered why so many community issues, with ramifications for everyone, are treated as political issues. For instance, disinterested and poorly educated youth are a problem for us all, not just for one political party.
Q. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is in the midst of a search for a new superintendent. What would you say is the top issue or initiative that should be at the top of the new superintendent’s to-do list?
It is imperative that CMS and the school board gain the confidence of the entire community in order to stop the dissention, criticism and constant bickering. Issues of testing, teacher compensation, class size, closing schools, equity between schools, the Broad Foundation influence, and splitting the district have resulted in citizen confusion, anger and apathy. To educate with excellence requires great teachers, small classes, and proper learning resources. Without these, the future of Mecklenburg County will suffer. The community MUST get behind CMS and support it with passion and pride, but we cannot do this blindly. That will require finding a definitive path, one that will work, that we can all believe in, and one that isn’t going to change five years from now. This isn’t a new coach with five years to recruit his own players and teach a new system. These are our children. Lack of a superior teaching system damages them. And, whatever that definitive path becomes, it must honor teachers with compensation befitting the enormous task before them i.e. influencing and impacting our children toward self-sufficiency and greatness.
Q. Why should voters pick you and not your opponent?
This job, this challenge, begins and ends with community. While we are different in many ways, most of us have immense pride in our home here in Mecklenburg County. At its core, this is about leadership, helping others envision how our community can be more successful, less divided, more prosperous, more compassionate. As I travel around Charlotte and all the communities that make up Mecklenburg County, I am touched and grateful that its residents see me as a leader who has the ability to speak for them, who is not afraid to stand up for them. One of my core beliefs is to speak the truth even when it is unpopular to do so – speak out “even when your voice shakes.” I am fair, civil, and respectful. I believe my fellow citizens are and can be as well, if led by people whom they trust.
