Candidates for Haysi mayor, the only contested race in local town elections, were given the opportunity to let voters get to know them a little better. Four of five candidates participated. E.J. "Bink" Rush was the only one who declined to participate. Other candidates were asked the same questions. Here are their answers.
The questions:
1 Why do you want to be mayor of Haysi?
2 What are the biggest issues facing the town?
3 What are your goals? What is the most important thing you want to accomplish if elected?
4 In local government, there are always more needs than money to address them. How do you intend to address that problem?
■ Age: 47.
■ Street address: 330 Main Street, Haysi.
■ Home phone: 276-865-4688.
■ Educational background: Graduated from Haysi High School in 1978; certified welding certificate from Wise Skill Center.
■ Employment background: Worked in the coal industry from 1979 until 1986; owns and operates C & C Farm Supply in Haysi for 16 years; works as a corrections officer for Red Onion State Prison.
1. Why do you want to be mayor of Haysi?
I’ve lived in Haysi all my life. I own a business in Haysi and believe the town has quality that isn’t being addressed. I don’t want to see the town dry up. Haysi is a unique, small town close to the Breaks Park; it is such a good place to live.
2. What are the biggest issues facing the town?
I believe the biggest issue the town is facing is that businesses are closing down. The town has nothing to offer to encourage new businesses to open. The town doesn’t offer business owners an incentive to locate and remain here.
3 What are your goals? What is the most important thing you want to accomplish if elected?
I want to encourage people to live and have businesses in the town and to shop in town. I would like to see a teen center or place for young kids to go. I’d also like to clean up the town’s appearance and make it more appealing. Some little things could make a big difference, like clearing off the river bank behind businesses and weed-eating from the road to the river line. Rebuilding the walk from the bridge to the high school is the most activity I’ve seen in town since the Dollar General Store and New People’s Bank opened. Just the walkway makes you feel different about the town. I hope whoever wins election has the town’s best interest at heart. I want to encourage people to come into the town.
4. In local government, there are always more needs than money to address them. How do you intend to address that problem? I can’t answer that question honestly because I really don’t know. There are grant funds we could pursue. I believe if there is a will there is a way. If you are a hard worker and you believe in something, you will create things that will help make that money available.
5. What makes you the best choice for the job? I won’t say that I’m the best choice, but I will work hard and show progress in the town to make it a good place to live or come visit. I may not be the most educated or qualified candidate, but I am a hard worker and will get things done.
6. Is there anything else you want voters to know?
I’ve lived my life in Haysi, and raised a family here. I’m always willing to hop in there and get the job done. I won’t ask others to do something I’m not willing to do myself. I’m always open for suggestions, and my door will always be open.
Doesn't know how to get money. No grant writing experience whatsoever.
Even admits himself he's not the best candidate.
Branham is better suited for the town council or a community group where he can get out and get his hands dirty. He isn't a good fit for a high leadership position like mayor.
this is very personnel to me, when my family said that carter was running for mayor...my family told me about this site and some of the things that were being written on the blog of course alot about his personnel life of course during an election personnel things do come up but i read these. and was told i honestly don't care anymore everything happens for a reason..when interviewed he states that his door is always opened, yet his son, jessee has tried to open this door for 15 years and it has been slammed in his face...i have never understood why jessee kept trying to get to know carter but, he does and probably always will, this is so sad,i always wished i could take this pain away, jesse has struggled with problems i think because of this, i have never had to experience this i mean to know you have a father and he doesnt even acknowlege you would have to be hard. my family always tried to give him i think extra attention and probably everybody else. but , i have to say jessee has grown INTO a strong young man, that i'm so proud of despite this, it has been hard but we made it. Now that jess is a father i hope he see's what a difference a dad makes in a childs life and continues his relation with her and is always there for her.Haysi made the right decision obviously in the election. What kind of character does that make him, he missed out in one of the most wonderful things in the world fatherhood..........i feel sorry for him., we all should, i feel very blessed..................
■ Age: 68
■ Street address: 199 Bartley Street, Haysi
■ Home phone: 276-865-5651
■ E-mail: genecounts@hotmail.com
■ Educational background: graduate of Haysi High School; associates degree from Hiwassee College; bachelors degree from East Tennessee State University in psychology and history; masters degree from ETSU in teaching; gradate in AT&T Long Lines Engineering School.
■ Employment background: Sales engineer for Teletype Corp. for nine and a half years; Pittston Co., superintendent’s training program for seven years, Pittston Co., assistant to division manager; school teacher and principal for 22 years.
■ Civic involvement: Served on Haysi Town Council, served as Sandlick District Supervisor on the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors; founded a non-profit group called Mountain Rivers and Trails, Inc.; wrote grant to get $399,000 for hiking/biking trail; heads up Friends of the Russell Fork; worked with litter control officers to get probationers along highways and to use probationers for river cleanups; wrote grant to pay for full-time VISTA volunteer in Haysi; worked with congressman to get Haysi Sewer Plant expanded and funding for water projects in Tom Bottom and Little Lick.
1. Why do you want to be mayor of Haysi?
Since it’s founding in 1938, the town’s annexation attempts were always defeated. Four years ago, Haysi was told by Paul Buchanan, then chairman of the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors, unless the town annexed, it could never have a senior citizens assisted living facility. But if an assisted living facility was located in the county rather than in the town of Haysi, AA Senior Citizens could not get any grants. With this in mind I vowed to annex despite any odds.
For the past several years, I have been negotiating with Forestland Group at Haysi Mayor Norman Mullins’s request to purchase the Splashdam property. We acquired this property at a bargain. Now we can locate an assisted living facility and town park there with the help of grants, grants, grants. Last Fall I had concrete aprons poured in front of the fire department and rescue squads. I would like to finish what I started. there.
In the past eighteen months or so I have gotten almost $100,000 (thanks to my fellow supervisors) to renovate the old Haysi Clinic into a library. I would love to get grant funding to build sidewalks and make improvements to the parking area and the building’s exterior.
I’ve also appeared in front of Coal Road Committee several times to acquire $59,000 in funding to replace the sidewalks between downtown Haysi and Haysi High School. I would like to continue rebuilding sidewalks throughout Haysi.
I’ve worked extensively to fully fund a supplement to ninth grade earth science classes that highlights the aquatic life in every river in Dickenson County and collates to the night grade science Standards of Learning test.
2. What are the biggest issues facing the town?
The three most important issues are business climate, grant writing and overall cleanliness.
I feel it is very important to work with business owners to ensure we don’t lose any businesses in the hard economic forecast ahead. I managed to hire a full-time grant writer who will be helping our Friends of the Russell Fork this summer. This needs to be applied to the town of Haysi to give them extra help. Our present mayor is doing a good job in this regard. It is encouraging that the town secretary has been attending grant writing classes.
I go to neighboring counties to help them with clean-up campaigns and they promise in return to come over here to help me. I helped organize a very successful cleanup effort here in town last week. This could be a monthly or even weekly event.
Another important issue is the town should have a voice on the "county" PSA.
3. What are your goals? What is the most important thing you want to accomplish if elected?
I want to get future business voices on the town council. If our charter won’t permit a non-resident business member, then we should have businesses appoint one business owner each year to be the voice of the merchants. This person would be allowed to sit at the town council table and have a voice, although they would be a non-voting member.
Another goal would be to work with our fire department to try to get our status moved from an ISO 7 fire code to an ISO 5 for property insurance purposes. The town of Clintwood is an ISO 5 fire rating.
Explanation: Three years ago I asked the manager of Turner Chevrolet and the old Donnkenny plant if they wanted in or out of the new annexation in town. If their properties were included in the town limits, they had to pay ten cents more per hundred in taxes. Finally, after checking insurance, both property owners came back and told me they wanted their property included in the annexation. I was later told the Chevrolet dealership would save around $4,500.00 in insurance premiums because their ISO rating changed from nine to seven. It makes sense to pursue grants to improve our fire department.
Another goal is to investigate and get rid of the foul odor that permeates our town. I’ll be leaving the PSA board in June. Thank goodness the PSA board approve $40,000 to spend on our odor problem. A company hired to investigate the problem worked some a few days ago and will be back shortly. We need to follow through with the tests they are conducting and attend future PSA meetings.
4. In local government, there are always more needs than money to address them. How do you address that problem?
Grants. Business owner representation on the Haysi Town Council, albeit as an ad hoc member. Also through coalitions and communication.
As mayor, I would walk the fine line of managing the town’s assets and liabilities, listening to everyone before consulting the council to make the best choices.
5. What makes you the best choice for Haysi mayor?
I believe I am the best choice for mayor because of my experience, my grant writing ability and my proven track record. I also have years of administration experience and lots of energy. I have a strong belief in the late Jim Valvano’s motto, who was so sick he could barely totter to the podium. “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”
Long list of accomplishments. Proven grant writing experience. Leadership experience on town council and bos. Long history of public service. Many contacts around region and state to help build up the town.
Counts is the best candidate with the experience, ability, and vision to bring new things and build up the town and to continue the already planned improvements (park, elderly living facility, sidewalks) because he's been pushing them forward from the start.
Gene has good ideas but can never stay on topic very long. He seems to drift from one agenda to another w/o getting much accomplished. Sure enough he did work for the sidewalks but don't know of too many other things he accomplished in his 4 yrs as supervisor. He was voted out, so makes me wonder what type of job he done with the district voters.
One Stop Shop Education Center
Appointed to the commitee, just a formality for BOS members
Road Improvements ($209.00)
Rakes Ridge was on the books from the Sutehrland era (12yr plan), just happened during Counts tenure.
Each district gets $$ each yr form coal and gas committee
Hiking/Biking Trail
I love this one. He has been "working' on it since bout 1990
Public Water and Sewer
name me the water projects he was responsible for during his 4 years? I know of 1
Protection and Emergency Services
Formality, the EMS requests each year for a variety of things they need.
You left out a bunch sugar and you got a few wrong
May 5 2008, 4:05 PM
Splashdam land purchase, Elderly Assisted Living facility, getting Four County transit to bus college kids and save $72,000 per year, working with town and VDOT to get a speed study, fixing sewer lines from funeral home going up breaks road, new football practice field, founding Friends of the Russel fork, writing grant to get VISTA volunteer at HHS to work with county students.
Gene Counts has been working for this community for years. Before he was on the BOS, while he was on the BOS, and afterward. Thats a real public servant.
Now your trying to knock him for doing his job while he was on the BOS??? You talked about some formalities like getting appointed to some boards and getting needs in the community funded by the BOS. Your pretty naive if you think all requests get automatically funded.
According to the Star on June 6 '07 he was the only BOS member on the 5 person interview committee for the education center and their job was to interview and rank prospective engineering firms to build the place. Sounds like some pretty good experience to have under your belt as mayor if you ask me.
Wrong again on the cable ordinance honey. According to the Star on Sept 12 '07 the ordinance got an overhaul last August that actually put some enforceable rules in place.
Hiking/Biking Trail
I love this one. He has been "working' on it since bout 1990
I don't really know all the details about what happened in the past, but since I was brought into the loop several months ago progress has been made. A prof from Radford recently completed a required archaeological survey which was submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers. There's a lot of red tape and hoops to jump through with agencies like this, but it looks promising for things to continue moving forward.
When completed, there will be a trail head at the municipal park that's in the works for the town's Splashdam property.
The property is located at the end of Splashdam Road (Rt. 613), between the CSX railroad tracks and the Russell Fork River. I think it's about 22 acres.
You can see the river (left) and rail (right) boundaries inside the red circle on this satellite image:
You can explore the satellite imagery more thoroughly (e.g. zoom, pan, etc.) here: http://tinyurl.com/48d6f2
■ Age: 51.
■ Street address: 157 Bartley St., Haysi.
■ Home phone: 276-865-5337.
■ E-mail: dennis@redcabooseinn.com.
■ Educational background: 1975
graduate of Ervinton High School;
1979 graduate of Clinch Valley College.
■ Employment background: 29 years with the Dickenson County School System.
■ Civic involvement: Dickenson County Tourism Committee, Dickenson County Chamber of Commerce, Dickenson County Historical Society, Virginia Coal Heritage Trail Committee, Haysi Town Council, Kentucky Colonel.
Reedy’s Answers
1. Why do you want to be mayor of Haysi?
I have a desire to see Haysi become a better place to live and work through my commitment to the town and its citizens.
2. What are the biggest issues facing the town?
Obtaining revenue to carry out desired improvements.
3 What are your goals? What is the most important thing you want to accomplish if elected?
I want to keep citizens informed on decisions made by town council. I will work diligently to obtain funding for revitalization of the town. I also want to continue the sidewalk project and will work on getting a town park, including skate boarding. I also plan to work on ways to bring in more tourism, especially from those traveling the Crooked Road and the Coal Heritage Trail. I will encourage business owners and citizens to attend and participate in town meetings. I also want to get better TV service for Haysi residents. I want to have a museum to preserve and display items pertaining to the area’s local history and heritage.
I want to get an assisted living facility built on land the town has purchased at Splashdam.
4. In local government, there are always more needs than money to address them. How do you intend to address that problem?
The two major sources of revenue are grants and allocations from the local Board of Supervisors. My wife and I, along with Town Clerk Barbara Owens, have just attended a grant-writing workshop. I feel I can approach the Board of Supervisors and the new board will help our town as best as they are financially able.
5. What makes you the best choice for the job?
My educational background, having actually lived in the town, and my previous experience on the Haysi Town Council.
6. Is there anything else you want voters to know?
Behind every good man is a good woman, encouraging and working alongside him to accomplish his goals. My wife, as a lifelong resident of Haysi, will certainly see to this when she assumes my seat on the town council.
few new ideas, having wife on town council would be a conflict
May 2 2008, 7:47 PM
Leadership experience, but few new ideas here. Concrete suggestions like the assisted living center and the park have already been pushed forward and received some funding thanks to the efforts of the current mayor Norman Mullins and former BOS Rep and mayor candidate Gene Counts.
Idea to get funding from county won't pan out if you look at this weeks Star where they're talking about another budget deficit and plans to cut down funding in the future.
His wife is guaranteed to win election to the town council since there are 3 candidates for 3 open slots. This creates a conflict of interest and would consolidate 30% of elected power into the hands of one family.
■ Age: 53.
■ Street address: 142 Lazarus Branch, Haysi.
■ Home phone: 276-865-4452.
■ E-mail: ytctrk@verizon.net.
■ Educational background: 1972 graduate of Haysi High School.; 1994 graduate of Southwest Virginia Community College with a certificate in electronic servicing; 1995 graduate of SVCC with a certificate in computer electronics.
■ Employment background: More than 25 years experience in the mining, timber and trucking industries.
■ Civic involvement: Past member of the Clinchco/Haysi Lions Club; member of the Lonesome Pine Regional Library Board of Trustees, served as treasurer of the Lonesome Pine Regional Library Board of Trustees for five years; current chair of the Lonesome Pine Regional Library Board of Trustees. Also previously served on a committee to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to the children of Dickenson County.
1. Why do you want to be mayor of Haysi?
I’m running for mayor because I see a need for strong public leadership in our town. We need to build on our strengths and work together toward improving the quality of life in our town and community.
2. What are the biggest issues facing the town?
A few of the most pressing issues we now face include: public safety, economic development, recreational opportunities, revitalization of the town and animal control issues.
3 What are your goals? What is the most important thing you want to accomplish if elected?
I would continue support and improvement in the area of public safety, showcase Haysi’s strategic location between The Breaks Interstate Park and John Flannagan Dam, and most importantly, develop a comprehensive plan to guide in long term decision making for land use and other planning areas, along with a capital improvement plan to back that up.
4. In local government, there are always more needs than money to address them. How do you intend to address that problem?
I would actively hunt for every available revenue source from the Commonwealth and Federal Governments as well as work hard to seek competitive grants available to our town.
5. What makes you the best choice for the job?
Having been born and raised in Haysi, I have a civic pride in this community. I enjoy doing public work and feel I have a lot to contribute to our town and community.
6. Is there anything else you want voters to know?
I believe by working together and getting our town and community involved, we can make Haysi a much better place to live and work.
Former school teacher and truck driver. Musician. Dont know if he has any other experience. Refusing to answer these questions should automatically exclude him in the minds of voters.
