By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Cleveland Commissioner Travis Summitt, a Democrat, has filed to run for Rowan County Commissioner.
Summitt, 38, of 105 Smith St. in Cleveland, is currently in his first term as a town commissioner after being elected in 2009. He works as a mechanic with Daimler Trucks North America.
Summitt also has served with the Cleveland Community Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years as a firefighter and medical responder.
“I am a life long resident of Rowan County, and have been serving Rowan County in some capacity since the age of 16,” he wrote in a prepared statement. “If given the opportunity to serve the citizens of Rowan County I will do so with integrity, honesty and respect.”
Summitt filed Feb. 28 as one of 15 candidates running for two open seats on the Board of Commissioners.
He said one of his top priorities if elected is bringing jobs to the county.
“We have to find new creative ways to attract new businesses and grow the ones we already have,” he said.
Regarding education, Summitt said he wants to lobby the state government to use N.C. Education Lottery Funds in the way they were intended. The county also should make sure the schools get the funding they need, he said.
“We need to support our school system in their capital needs such as renovations to our existing schools and new schools if necessary,” Summitt said.
Also, he said the county should continue to support its emergency services to provide the highest level of service.
Travis Summitt
Office sought: Rowan County Commissioner
Age: 38
Address: 105 Smith St., Cleveland
Phone number: 704-433-7425
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Mechanic, Daimler Trucks North America
Education: West Rowan High School, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Previous elected office: Cleveland Town Commissioner, 2009-present
Community involvement: Member, Cleveland Community Volunteer Fire Department; former member, Cleveland Fire Department Board of Directors, Cleveland Zoning Board and Cleveland Planning Board.
Family: Wife, Joy Summitt; one daughter, Tinley Summitt.
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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