Landis needs change immediately. Our town has faced challenging times that, as we now know, nearly bankrupted Landis. With the right leadership in place, I’m convinced Landis has flourishing days ahead. Simply put, Nov. 5 is the most critical voting day in recent memory for our town.

Following a thorough review of all candidates, I emphatically offer my support for three candidates: Meredith Bare Smith for mayor and Katie Sells and Ashley Stewart for alderman. These candidates have done their homework and participated alongside state agencies as concerned citizens and potential leaders of our town. They have been active at board meetings and already shown solid propensity for getting answers (even prior to announcing their intentions of running for town offices).

Meredith Bare Smith has asked the tough questions to the board and helped kick-start a major investigation alongside an outgoing board member. Katie Sells has had many discussions with state agencies on the status of the town and has made clear her mission to represent the citizens of Landis in a fully transparent manner. Ashley Stewart wants to bring to bear his broad and successful business skills after sharing the frustration of recent decisions by the current administration.

We need all three of these individuals to initiate change. I’m concerned anything short of that will make it challenging to get the job done. The current administration’s politics continue to wreak havoc.

After reading a recent campaign letter from Darrell Overcash, it’s disturbing to consider the likelihood that Bobby Brown, Overcash and a write-in candidate are working at the behest of the current Mayor.

It’s simple: Landis needs your vote. We need new and fresh ideas with far greater oversight and transparency.  The Smith-Sells-Stewart formula is best to get us there.

— Fred Steen

Landis

Editor’s note: Fred Steen served as Landis mayor from 1995 to 2004 and as a member of the N.C. General Assembly, representing District 76, from 2004 to 2012.