Bob Henricks

The Gaston Business Association Questionnaire

Please provide a short introduction (50 words or less) highlighting your background and achievements.

I’m a proud Christian man, a husband, father, and proud grandfather. With over 30 years of experience as a business coach, I bring practical knowledge, strong values, and a heart for serving others. I’m committed to helping our community grow with integrity, purpose, and a focus on people.

What inspired you to run for city/town council, and what specific qualities or experiences make you well-suited for this role?

I’m running for City Council because I believe strong communities are built through servant leadership, faith-based values, and practical problem-solving. My Christian faith calls me to serve with integrity and compassion. After 30 years as a business coach, I’ve helped leaders navigate complex challenges, build consensus, and turn vision into action. I know how to listen, ask the right questions, and bring people together to find real solutions. I care deeply about this town and want to help it grow in a way that honors families, supports local businesses, and strengthens our shared future.

What are your top priorities for your city/town (specifically pertaining to the business community), and how do you plan to address them if elected?

Mount Holly’s business community needs smart growth, strategic support, and a city government that listens and taps into all resources via the county, state and federal partners.  My top priorities include:

Supporting Small Businesses – I’ll advocate for streamlined permitting, local business preferences, and stronger outreach so small businesses have a voice and access to resources.

Mount Holly History – I’ll support revitalization efforts that preserve Mount Holly’s character while encouraging foot traffic, new investment, and mixed-use development where possible and practical.

Infrastructure & Access – Businesses need solid infrastructure—roads, parking, to grow. I’ll work to align city planning with long-term business needs.  We need to address all the things that we currently do not because of all the reasons why we are told we can’t, I believe we confront those reasons and overcome them.  No obstacle is too big to be overcome.

Property Tax Reduction - Cut waste, grow our tax base through smart business development with new businesses, while prioritizing efficient spending to ease the property tax and utility rate burdens.

I will lead an aggressive pursuit of local, state, and federal grants to invest in Mount Holly’s infrastructure, businesses, and community services—maximizing outside funding to support growth and improvements without placing additional financial pressure on local taxpayers.  It is possible, regardless of what others suggest cannot be done.

Please select one of the following local issues, and provide a brief description of your stance on the topic: Economic Development, Public Safety, Transportation & Infrastructure, or Education.

Economic growth depends on strong and improved infrastructure—roads, utilities, schools, and public services must keep pace with one another. I support proactive work within the community and planning that aligns infrastructure investments that lead us in attracting desirable new companies into the city. We must also work closely with county and state leaders to bring a high school within Mount Holly’s city limits. This will not only serve our students and families better but also strengthen our workforce pipeline and attract new residents and businesses to our community.