I moved from Wilmington to Botetourt County 4 years ago and worked as a physician assistant in cardiology. While there I was shocked by the number of young patients (particularly females) with heart disease. I had worked in Cardiology for a decade here in Wilmington and had never seen so many young women with heart failure. (Remember that heart disease is largely mediated by inflammation, and that mercury is known to cause inflammation).

Many of my heart patients had symptoms of undiagnosed Parkinson’s disease (also an environmental disorder related to a genetic weakness in removing mercury from the brain) that I was diagnosing Parkinson’s every week.

Moreover, I was struck by the number of women living in Botetourt County, who I knew personally, who suffered from an autoimmune disorder in their 30’s.

Finally, I became chronically ill while living there and finally decided to return to Wilmington where I have been feeling better and better. I don’t know what I will do if Titan opens another polluting plant here.

Titan will ABSOLUTELY make us sick!
Teresa
http://www.holler4health.com

As you know, the Titan Cement issue is complex and multifaceted. Philosophically, I don’t support incentives, I’m even more opposed when the benefit is questionable at best, and I’m just dumbfounded when (as in the case of Titan Cement) the benefits are questionable and the potential harm is significant.

It’s still not clear exactly the extent of the harm to the environment, wetlands, and infrastructure (ie road congestion, fire and ems, etc..), and it might be impossible to measure the future economic losses resulting from the plant (such as detering other businesses from locating here, decreased property values, etc). In three years of secret meetings, elected officials should have been researching these questions before rolling out the red carpet for Titan at taxpayer expense.

In reality, Titan wanted to come here regardless of the incentives. They don’t need the money, what they need is what the incentives deal represents: Evidence for state and federal regulators that the community WANTS and WELCOMES Titan, and therefore, regulators should not interfere in a local decision supported be elected officials and the community to such an extent that the community is PAYING them to locate in it.

It’s disingenuous when elected officials say “leave it to the regulators” when they know the incentives deal they approved will likely influence the regulatory action they say we can depend on to protect us from any potential harm.

So rescinding the incentives deal is just one step I’m proposing. To date, no other candidate has pledged to rescind the incentives deal even though the Star-News article indicated Barfield would go along. He has not committed to doing so and has sent mixed messages on his position on Titan just within the past week.

We also need to change the “economic development” process that is secretive, flawed and outdated. Its absurd that meetings were held for three years to cement this deal, yet nobody involved (the County Commission, Wilmington City Council, Realtors Association, Wilmington Star-News, UNCW, etc…under the “Committee of 100″) bothered to research any of these issues associated with Titan moving in to the County. It’s clear we need to change this process and also clear that nobody involved (which includes the four other candidates for the County Commission) shares these priorities or concerns and bothered to ask questions or seek answers until after they signed a contract, and only because there’s an election coming up. So another vital measure is changing the process and the people behind these decisions.

The economy is hurting now, but Titan is not the answer, its likely to make matters worse and jeopardize the long-term economic growth of the Cape Fear region. We need people in public office who understand the role the environment plays in the economy and if for no other reason, protecting the environment should be a higher priority. The record of our officials when it comes to the environment is…well…it speaks for itself.

I won’t go into all the policies affecting the environment that could use some wise reforms, but I’ve identified a handful to begin addressing the moment I take office. Even incremental changes in some of these areas would have positive benefits and not create onerous regulatory burdens for local businesses. Speaking of which, there is much effective ways to help our local economy than offering millions to foreign companies promising few jobs. Helping small businesses by reducing taxes would be a great place to start – enabling these businesses to hire more employees and increase pay for current employees.

Does that answer your question Ian?

From what I’ve read of your positions — and (again) what I infer of the basic position of libertarians about government and enterprise — I wonder what you would say to an un-’incented’ Titan Cement plan in the Castle Hayne area (?)

To identify legislators and contact them, go to the following website and on the “site map” click on either Senate or House. http://www.ncleg.net/homePage.pl

To quote a country western song, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.

Dave Thomas

We should all think critically and not mindlessly carry the mantra of the “Party line.” It challenges certain perceptions I know, and its even hard for me to believe, but before I became a “Libertarian” I was a staunch Reagan-Goldwater Republican. And, brace yourself, here I am as the only candidate for New Hanover County Commissioner who will fight Titan’s $4.2 million bribe, and seek answers to the impact of the cement operation on the environment, traffic, health and long-term economic growth of the region.

Look beyond labels, and look at each candidate, what they stand for, and respective records on environmental, infrastructure and corporate welfare issues, and you will find that I’m the only candidate for New Hanover County Commissioner who really intends to fight this. In this, I stand alone.

I hope you’ll visit http://www.electberger.com and consider volunteering to assist me in reversing this irresponsible lapse of judgement by our elected officials. If you feel as strongly as I do, I want and need your help in this uphill battle.
BB

“The environment is better protected under private property rights …. We as property owners can’t violate our neighbors’ property. We can’t pollute their air or their water. We can’t dump our garbage on their property …. Too often, conservatives and libertarians fall short on defending environmental concerns, and they resort to saying, ‘Well, let’s turn it over to the EPA. The EPA will take care of us …. We can divvy up the permits that allow you to pollute.’ So I don’t particularly like that method.”
–Ron Paul, Two-time U.S. Presidential Candidate (Libertarian and Republican), Congressman (R-TX)

Under what auspices would “changing business as usual” come about??

All of these implications should have been carefully vetted and studied during the past couple years, and should have given officials pause. Instead, our elected officials never even asked these questions and wrote a taxpayer check made out to “Titan America LLC.”

My vision of “economic development” for the Cape Fear region is based on attracting businesses and individuals with an eye toward long-term, sustainable growth, and protecting the environment and quality of life for residents is an inherent part of this model.

I’m the only candidate on the ballot who truly intends to use the weight of public office and my full energy to fight Titan’s proposed project (based on available information). That was my evaluation based on other candidates’ actions as political officials and influencers, and that’s why I decided to run at the last minute.

As a final note for now, I am not only opposed to Titan’s deal, but seek to change the process that brought us to this point. This “economic development” process is flawed, outdated, and secretive and unless it changes, there will continue to be similar environmentally hazardous projects proposed and the same reactionary responses required.

The process won’t change until the people in office change, and this certainly sets me apart from any other candidate. I invite you to take a look at http://www.electberger.com, and encourage anyone with information to send it to me (I’m always trying to become better educated since I don’t have all the answers). I also welcome the support of anyone interested in helping out.

Let’s change business as usual in New Hanover County.