Candidate Questionnaire: Richard Royal for Holly Ridge Council

1) What 3 changes, if any, would you like to see in the community you will be representing over the next four years?

I would re-institute the Ordinance Review Committee, which I was a member of, to allow those members to complete the work that was being done with oversight from the School of Government. We need to update our zoning ordinances and our requirements for developments. There needs to be a "builder packet" that provides step-by-step procedures that need to be completed before documents are submitted. We need to have on-line permits to keep things standard across the board, this includes online payments for permits. This will provide fairness and equality in the permitting process.

We need to focus on supporting the Fire Medic program at the Holly Ridge Fire and Rescue. With the current lack of ambulances throughout the county, supporting this program and enhancing it will only benefit those who need emergency medical help and will cut down on response time which could be the difference between life and death.

As someone who has been an active part of this community since 1971, I would like to see more emphasis on the historical element of Holly Ridge and Camp Davis to include signs and building markers and possibly a military display on Hwy 17 that people could stop at and learn about our town's history.

2) What strategy will you implement to respond to public concerns and criticisms?

People need to be given a chance to voice their concerns at town events and meetings and to be shown respect by members of the council as well as town employees. Council members and town employees work for the community first and foremost. We have an obligation to listen and understand and to do our best to assist with any concerns.

3) How do you plan to measure and evaluate your success in office?

If I am able to work to update our zoning and permitting, including getting all the ordinances reviewed in the two years I am in office, I will consider my term a success.

4) Can you give an example of how you have supported a community project in the past?

Years ago, when I was contacted by the Parks and Recreation committee, that was made up of volunteers including Anna Gaskins and Luann Hooper, I was asked to build a large, covered pole barn in the park to be used as a picnic area. It was done on time and on budget. We built it for the price of the materials and volunteered our labor. This was the park where my children were playing almost daily, and I wanted to make it as nice as possible for them and the community.

5) What personal or professional experience do you have that makes you qualified to serve your community?

I have grown up with many of the people who still live here today and remember when the town had so much more to offer. We had a grocery store, a furniture store, restaurants, a lumber company, a hardware store, an ambulance, sidewalks, streetlights, a dance hall (the Paradise Club) that was used for beauty pageants, square dances, prom parties, town plays and an auction house. We had a water tower that was located behind the current town hall. We had a racetrack located off Hwy 17 (near Evolve apartments). For my first real job as a young teen, I worked at the Camp Davis restaurant that had walls covered in photos and displays of Camp Davis, not to mention the world-famous Clam Chowder (with Mary Elizabeth Ottaway's secret recipe). I remember when Slim Wilson was the chief of police, and we only had one cop. He was a big man, about 6'4" and intimidating. He kept the marines in line and the kids out of trouble. We had a group of about 30 kids that rode bicycles everywhere and the guys wore blue jean jackets with cut off sleeves. We need to bring back that feeling of a harmonious community.