Jerry (Jay) Gibbs Jr.
Provide information about yourself, including background and biographical data:
I am Jerry (Jay) Gibbs Jr. and I am currently running for the East Ward Alderman position. I am the grandson of the late Dorman L. Gibbs (former Dent County Sheriff) and I am the son of the late Jerry J. Gibbs Sr. I have one son, Jonathan M. Gibbs, who is 21 years old and one grandson, Ryker W. Gibbs. I work as a subcontracted rural route mail carrier. I enjoy getting out in my community and attending functions such as Trivia Night and you can always find me supporting Salem at local functions and parades. I am a member of the local Monday night church bowling league. I attend Redeeming Grace Ministries' church services and help the members of the church when I can. I can be found volunteering weekly at The Salem Community Center. I am involved with the Salem Economic Development and am excited to be part of bettering Salem's economy. My hobbies include spending time in nature, hunting and fishing, and taking pictures of our beautiful area.
Why should you be elected?
The people of Salem vote because they want their voice heard and want their community to be the best it can be. That is why I am running. I feel voters deserve a choice, they need a voice, and I want to give them that. If elected I will not be just another "yes man or a puppet". I will do my best to voice the concerns of all the citizens of Salem. I will advocate for this town and the goal to make Salem the town we all know and love for future generations to enjoy. Vote for me for East Ward Alderman; let me be your voice.
What should be done to attract new businesses and expand existing business in Dent County and Salem, creating more and better jobs?
I feel Salem should consider reaching out to other thriving communities to see what their benchmarks are for positive growth and economic wealth. Salem should use those and tailor them to the needs of our community. Salem should consider offers from companies wanting to open their doors locally and offer incentives to businesses for coming into the community and supplying jobs to the local people. The local businesses are struggling and in need of help. New companies are not going to want to come into a town that the local businesses are closing their doors frequently. I feel we should look at how to help the businesses already in Salem to be profitable. Be the close community that shows Salem is great while keeping our small town values. I want to continue to work closely with the Salem Economic Development to try and solve some of the issues businesses face and bring more jobs into the area.
There are many vacant and dilapidated buildings and homes in Salem. What would you do to help correct this problem?
I will admit that I do not know the ordinances for this well, so first I want to learn and become familiar with them. Then I feel the city needs to look at the ordinance codes, consequences for breaking them, and how and when to enforce them. One step should be to look at how the ordinances are going to be enforced and whether Salem has the proper personnel and resources available. I feel the city of Salem needs to be held accountable for the properties they own and lead by example.
I feel Salem should conduct a cost-benefit analysis for every property in question to decide what to do with each of them. For each situation, the big picture needs to be looked at, not only focusing on how everything will benefit the town but also how it will help and benefit the people involved. One example would be to look at all local resources in the area. One possibility could be to contract with the program at Salem R-80 High School to assist with the construction of new properties and/or rebuilding existing buildings. This program not only would better the buildings at a lower cost but it also teaches our young population a skill and a sense of pride in their community.
Discuss an area of the city of Salem budget you would attempt to change if elected.
I have a few different areas that I am passionate about. Salem sees many tourists coming through to enjoy the river ways and events in the area. They see the old buildings falling down. This makes them not want to do business in this area and leave as soon as possible. I would like to see funding moved to help the building owners when they cannot afford to make necessary repairs to keep the properties up.
Another idea I have is to have more funding for events to bring more people into the community. Having local vendors at the functions would bring more money into the pockets of the people of Salem. More tourist people shopping at local businesses helps the businesses stay profitable. This creates a circle of wealth for Salem's economy. Overall the funds and time moved into more events will help Salem.
I would like to see more lighting in the town. Moving funds into this area will help drive some of the drug usage, vandalism, and criminal activity out of the area. This would involve funding for the equipment, installation, maintenance, and utilities to run the lights. I feel this is extremely important to keep us safe.
Rachel (Apperson) Hinderliter
Provide information about yourself, including background and biographical data:
I was born in 1988 to Robert Apperson and Christine (Curley) Cottrill. I graduated from Salem High School in 2006. That is where I met my husband, Keith, and we have been married for 9 years. We have a son, Henry, who is one year old. He keeps us on our toes and is the biggest joy in our life. I have been a licensed practical nurse for two years and I am currently attending the RN bridge program at Southwest Baptist University’s Salem campus. I will graduate in May with an Associates of Science in Nursing and become a registered nurse. I love spending time with my family and friends, barbecuing, floating the Current River, and exploring local sites and learning their history.
Why should you be elected?
Salem is important to me because it has been my home for 31 years and is now where I am raising my family. I chose a career in nursing because I truly love people and want to make a positive impact in peoples’ lives by helping them. I have chosen to run for alderman for the same reason, to help. I love our small town, and I value the people in it. As alderman, I will listen to Salem’s residents and advocate for solutions to issues most important to them. I will promote our local businesses and do everything I can to help grow our local economy. I will be proactive in developing strategies that propel us forward, while also taking special care to preserve our history and those things that make us unique. I will strive for accountability in our city at every level, as we work together in recognizing our great potential. I want to build a lasting comradery among our residents that is centered on an ever-growing pride in our community.
I do not have all the answers. One person can not accomplish these things on their own. But if you will let me, I will serve tirelessly to make sure your voice is heard. I will serve honestly and earnestly in representing the interests of Salem’s east ward and the city collectively.
What should be done to attract new businesses and expand existing business in Dent County and Salem, creating more and better jobs?
I believe attracting and expanding businesses in our community will take effort on behalf of both our city government and our residents. We all must do our part to keep our community attractive and appealing so that new businesses and families want to become a part of our community. I am so impressed with all the work that has gone into making our city park, pool, and trails places that people of all ages and abilities may enjoy. I am also very excited about the renovations taking place at the Salem City Hall Auditorium to provide another staple of entertainment, education, and family fun while also preserving a building that has been a part of our community for 80 years. We need to do whatever necessary to draw new businesses into our community, while also helping existing businesses to grow. Appointing an Economic Director was a huge step in the right direction, but we need to look into what tax incentives we can offer as well as utility abatements that we would be able to extend. This pertains to existing businesses as well as potential new employers. Additionally, we need to take a close look at our industrial park and determine what more we might be able to offer there. As a community, we must do our part in shopping locally so that our current businesses have the revenue they need to continue serving our community for many years to come.
There are many vacant and dilapidated buildings and homes in Salem. What would you do to help correct this problem?
It seems this has been an ongoing issue for many years. Something needs to be done because dilapidated buildings and homes are not only unsightly, but they are also unsafe. It is my understanding that our ordinances are being looked at for reconfiguring. I know there are many properties and homes that are not receiving proper maintenance because owners may be elderly or disabled. I would like to help in compiling a list of resources for those residents as I believe there are churches and organizations in our community who would be willing to assist. I would also like to seek resources for those who are physically able to maintain their properties, but do not have the necessary financial means to do so, through possible non-profits and grants. I believe there are things the city can do to help individuals in the private sector that would be willing to invest in these properties as well. The city should offer incentives to local investors who could purchase an abandoned or foreclosed property and bring it up to par. Residents who are simply unwilling to comply with ordinances should be held responsible through due process. I understand this issue is not one that can be fixed over night, but if elected it would be a priority of mine to see that things are moving forward toward a resolution.
Discuss an area of the city of Salem budget you would attempt to change if elected?
I will be honest in telling you that I find this to be a tricky question, as I have not had the opportunity to be a part of the in-depth conversations concerning our city’s budget. There are projects our community would like to see better supported by the city. Too often, a project is presented, the community supports it completely, but there is a lack of follow through. This is sometimes due to trying to include too much in the budget. We need to determine projects that are most important to the community, and really focus in on seeing those through to completion before moving on to the next project. There is always room for improvement and, if elected, I look forward to becoming more informed and educated on the budgetary issues the city faces. I will work diligently to see that our budget is spent in a way that balances the best interests of maintaining and improving city infrastructures, providing jobs and needed resources for our departments, and useful resources to improve the quality of life of Salem’s current and future generations.
