What is your overall vision for Polk County and please list your top three priorities and how you will accomplish these priorities? 
TOM PACK:

My vision for Polk County is too keep our rural environment but to also allow Polk County to grow economically so that we have good jobs for our neighbors, friends and families. By keeping Polk County economically strong, it will also reduce our tax burden on the citizens.

If we stop growth, then the people that remain in Polk County must bear the burden of paying for the costs associated with running the county government.  And as we know that these costs increase even if you don’t grow the size of the government.

So my priorities are working to bring good paying jobs to Polk County by making it business friendly.  We do this by not over regulating the businesses and working with private investors to have building sites and building shells ready.  We need to be able to say this is what we have to offer when businesses want to expand, start or relocate in Polk County.

I have the experience to make this happen by being a business owner and manager for more than 20 years. I know what businesses look for when re-locating, expanding or starting up. The results of our current restrictions were apparent when Isothermal Planning and Development made a report to the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 10.

In their “Announced Job Creation and Investment” for 2010 thru early 2012, Rutherford County reported 906 new jobs with $1,269,261,000 in investments by private industry.  McDowell County reported 256 new jobs with $38,489,250  in investments. Cleveland County reported 1136 new jobs with $1,569,713,000.

Polk County reported zero new jobs and $0 in investments.  Once we have remove the restrictions that hamper our ability to attract new business. We need to widen the range on the type of businesses we are trying to attract. We need to get serious about fostering an environment where we have economic growth.

We also need to continue to support our local schools as they are excellent and give our children an advantage in the competitive world we live in.  I have and will continue to support our schools in their goal to educate our children.