NAME: Bob Sams
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired
EDUCATION: B.S., business administration, Quinnipiac University
CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS: St. Ambrose Episcopal Church; founding board member, N.C. Association of Housing Counselors, 1996-2002. Member: Episcopal Housing Ministries, board of directors, 1997-present; Wendell Redevelopment Commission, treasurer, 1998-2002; RTPnet, board of directors, 2000-present, CFO, 2005-present; Wendell Planning Board, 2002-present; Wendell Economic Development Committee, 2004-present; Wake County Housing Authority Board, January 2003-December 2006, chairman 2007; East Wake EMS Board of Directors, 2006-present
WHY SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED? Since moving to the town of Wendell with my wife, Melvena, I have volunteered to serve on many of the committees and boards that recommend policies to the Wendell Board of Commissioners that continually alter strategies that attempt to offer fair work, housing and leisure activities for residents. Having learned much about fair growth and preservation strategies, I feel prepared to exercise the judgment required of the commissioner position.
CONTACT INFORMATION: 365-4408; triaes@bellsouth.net; 617 Commander Drive, Wendell NC 27591
1. How would you balance Wendell's general need for growth with residents' concerns about specific residential or commercial development projects?
As a commissioner, I will do a better job to raise the level of citizen participation in many positive choices that are available for smart growth to occur. We must do a better job with the factions of this community that have legitimate concerns or fears about current growth. We must open the process to eliminate misperception to drive decisions and be the welcoming community we want to be for new neighbors. We must learn from the mistakes of the past with haphazard development and forge a new vision. I will work with other commissioners to create this positive change.
2. Do you support either a county wide property transfer tax or local impact fees to help pay for growth in Wendell? Why or why not?
Both the impact fee and transfer tax unfairly target one segment of society, the homeowner and the new homebuyer. These taxes also have a negative impact on a community like Wendell that is now poised to benefit from area growth patterns. These "taxes" raise the price of a new home sale and depress the equity when current residents want to sell their property. My other objections are that this tax falls on a relatively small group of people rather than extending to all citizens alike, and it may well eliminate some benefits of overall growth to the community.