MOTIVATION

Beginning in May, I spent many days going door-to-door visiting citizens’ homes and listening to their concerns. I learned a lot that I will take with me if I am successful in my bid to be your county supervisor.

My campaign has been devoted to citizens becoming more directly involved in county administration. I am beholden to citizens only, not any political or other organizations.

I am in this campaign as a Republican because I strongly support the party’s traditional conservative principles and emphasis on family values. I have a passionate commitment to making fiscal responsibility a high priority for our county. I maintain that I am the best advocate for citizens.

Qualification-wise, I am the strongest candidate; willing and able to pursue the position of county supervisor. I am a retired financial manager, am adamant that your voices be heard, and have time available to devote to managing county business.

I have been active in civic affairs, not politics, for years and evidence supporting my opinions can be found in various news sources. My opinions on how our county should pursue spending projects and utilize our tax dollars reflects a passionate desire to have our resources managed in the same manner most citizens handle their personal budgets.

My ability to oversee county actions can be exactly measured. I worked 31 years with General Electric as a financial manager with a concentration in cost accounting, financial systems, government contract accounting, contract negotiations and interfacing with government auditors. Additionally, I assumed responsibility for government quality assurance when our system was deemed inadequate to meet requirements and obtained certification of the highest level of quality system acceptability. Our business was also certified to the highest level of government accounting system requirements.

Candidates for the position of supervisor should demonstrate a prior involvement in civic affairs and be willing to devote the many hours necessary to fulfill the responsibility. Specific platform ideas should be revealed to citizens/voters for their perusal prior to casting their vote. I have demonstrated a passionate desire to attain better control of our expenditures, have the ability and experience to lend to the effort and strongly believe citizens should have their opinions reflected in county endeavors.

My approach has always been to work with customers and fellow employees to develop a cooperative approach to conducting business. Citizens of Roanoke County are customers and certainly supporters of all county aspects and deserve a strong voice in how their tax payments are utilized.

My experience as a business manager, and committed desire to see citizens’ opinions count, will be invaluable in the role of supervisor. I PROMISE TO BE THE CITIZENS' ADVOCATE!

Most Suited and Qualified for Supervisor

At this point in our county’s financial position, I am most suited for the position of supervisor. We have made serious commitments of taxpayers’ ability to finance large projects. Changes of a permanent nature need to be made to ensure on-going expenditures do not exceed a reasonable capability of taxpayers’ ability to finance the activities. Spend and tax is not how we should run the county—a reasonable level of taxation should be established and spending should only amount to the funds generated by that level. Excessive debt, although popular with governments, is not what citizens in Roanoke County desire. Having the highest tax rate in Virginia is not something to be proud of!

The county supervisor role is primarily one of administration of our tax payments. It is a very demanding and time-consuming responsibility. Managing county business has a direct effect on our tax payments and level of services. The ability to manage expenditures in a sound fiscal manner, listen to citizens and exhibit a great concern for their opinions is most important. Political games have no place in the management of our county.

In this time of economic uncertainty and, in particular, when we don’t yet have experience with the impact of current spending programs in our county, it is vital that we practice a very conservative approach to all spending. Major projects not yet initiated should be scrutinized closely for maximum benefit at the lowest cost or not pursued if the need is not of an immediate nature. All spending, no matter how small, must come under good common-sense review and curtailed when possible. We are seriously committed financially and must exhibit the utmost control of expenditures.

My intention as a candidate is simply to manage citizens’ tax payments and county services in a conservative manner and to include citizen opinions in decisions affecting those services and tax payments. I have no future political objective. My retiree income and health insurance is sufficient for my lifestyle and I do not look for economic gain from the position. I WILL BE A CITIZENS’ ADVOCATE!

VOTE FOR ED ELSWICK

Please call or email me with your concerns.

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