By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
Jim Sides is seeking his third term on the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
Sides, a Republican, filed Monday.
“I’m the little guy’s representative” on the board, Sides said. “I want to continue to be a voice for the people who feel they have no voice.”
He has a simple campaign plan: “If I’ve done a good job ó they certainly know what I’ve done ó I’ll get re-elected,” he said. “If I’ve not, I won’t worry.”
Serving his first term on the Board of Commissioners from 1980-84, Sides said the the business of county government, including complexities and complications, has grown. For example, in the 1980s, the county budget was around $10 million and the number of employees was 200. Now the budget is nearly $140 million with 750 employees.
Sides said he supports simple, basic government and believes there are ways to make government more efficient.
He said he has no long term, “grandiose” plan on how to solve the county’s problems, particularly those related to growth.
“There’s not a lot to do to prepare; we’re talking about other people’s property. I’m not a big proponent of how to use other people’s property,” Sides said.
In addition to serving on the Board of Commissioners, he serves on the Social Services Board, the Library Board and the Rufty Holmes Senior Citizens Board.
A 1966 graduate of West Rowan High School, Sides owns Today’s Trading, a T-shirt wholesaler.
Sides, 59, and his wife, Linda, have two children and four grandchildren.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette @salisburypost.com.