David Conrad

Questionnaire from The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus

Note: The following responses are verbatim from the candidate and have not been edited.

Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).

I am 49 years old and live in Concord, Cabarrus County, where I have been a resident for over 20 years. I attended college and built my career through hands-on experience rather than a formal degree.

I currently work as a marketing strategist and small business owner, with experience helping organizations grow through strategic planning, communication and fiscal discipline. I am actively involved in the community through volunteer work, local leadership roles and civic engagement.

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share any experience in an elected role that would be relevant to voters.

I’m running for Cabarrus County Commissioner because I believe county government should focus on core services, fiscal discipline and clear communication with taxpayers. As Cabarrus County continues to grow, we need smart, responsible planning that protects residents from unnecessary tax increases and government overreach.

I bring a private-sector mindset to public service. I’ve owned and operated small businesses and work as a marketing professional, where budgeting, accountability and return on investment matter. I currently serve as president of my homeowners association, where I oversee budgets, reserves and long-term planning while improving infrastructure and communication without raising dues. I also serve as a GOP precinct chair and county delegate.

Voters should choose me because I am practical, accessible and focused on results. My goal is a lean, transparent county government that manages growth responsibly and protects the taxpayers of Cabarrus County.

Tell us about 2-3 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.

1. Running real businesses: I’ve owned and run several small businesses, which means leading, managing expenses and fixing problems when things don’t go as planned. That experience taught me to be practical, make decisions based on facts and respect every dollar, because it was my own on the line.

2. Serving my church and community: I volunteer through my church and local community, giving back where I live and raise my family. Those experiences reinforced my belief that leadership starts with service, listening and showing up to help, not seeking attention.

3. Building plans that actually work: In my professional career, I’ve built and executed strategies that helped organizations grow revenue and improve how they serve customers. That means setting clear goals, measuring what works, fixing what doesn’t and staying focused on results.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish in the first six months if elected?

In my first six months, my focus would be restoring fiscal discipline to the county budget. Cabarrus County is facing a growing deficit and delaying action only increases the burden on taxpayers.

I would advocate for a line-by-line review of spending, cutting or delaying non-essential expenses and refocusing the budget on core services. The goal is simple: live within our means, protect taxpayers and make sure every dollar delivers real value to the people of Cabarrus County.

Cabarrus County includes both fast-growing communities and areas facing economic challenges. How would you guide county policy and investment decisions to support balanced growth and opportunity across the entire county?

Cabarrus County is growing fast in some areas while other parts are working to catch up. The county’s role should be to plan ahead, make smart infrastructure decisions and avoid growth that drives up costs for existing residents.

I would focus on basic needs like roads, public safety and utilities and support job growth that makes sense for the community. County investments should strengthen the tax base and improve quality of life without asking families to pay more to fix problems that could have been planned for.

County government plays a central role in funding public school facilities and long-term capital needs. How would you approach decisions related to school capital investment to ensure facilities keep pace with growth, support student success, and remain fiscally responsible for taxpayers? 

[Editor's note: Candidate provided the same response to this question as the one above]

Cabarrus County is growing fast in some areas while other parts are working to catch up. The county’s role should be to plan ahead, make smart infrastructure decisions and avoid growth that drives up costs for existing residents.

I would focus on basic needs like roads, public safety and utilities and support job growth that makes sense for the community. County investments should strengthen the tax base and improve quality of life without asking families to pay more to fix problems that could have been planned for.

A strong workforce depends on more than jobs alone. It is shaped by access to education, child care, and community resources. How would you use the county’s role to support workforce participation and quality of life for Cabarrus County residents?

A strong workforce starts with removing barriers that keep people from working or advancing. The county can help by focusing on the basics: good schools, reliable infrastructure and access to practical job training that matches local employer needs.

I believe the county’s role is to support partnerships with schools, community colleges and local businesses to prepare people for real jobs, while making sure county services are efficient and accessible. When families have dependable services, safe communities and a growing local economy, quality of life improves and more people are able to participate in the workforce.

The goal is simple: help residents succeed without growing government beyond what’s necessary.

Economic growth is essential to maintaining a strong tax base, supporting public services, and creating opportunity for residents. How would you approach county-level policies and investments to ensure Cabarrus County remains competitive in attracting and retaining businesses while managing growth responsibly?

I believe economic growth helps keep taxes low and services funded. The county’s role should be to make Cabarrus County a place where businesses want to invest because it’s stable, predictable and well run.

That means keeping taxes low, focusing on core infrastructure and avoiding unnecessary red tape. It also means supporting existing businesses so they can grow and hire locally, instead of relying on costly incentives that don’t always pay off.

If we manage growth responsibly and create a business-friendly environment, we strengthen the tax base, create jobs and protect the quality of life for residents across Cabarrus County.

While counties do not regulate businesses in the same way as the state or municipalities, county policies can still influence the cost and ease of doing business. How would you consider the impact of county decisions on the business community?

County decisions affect businesses through taxes, fees, infrastructure and how efficiently services are delivered. I would evaluate policies by asking whether they make it easier or harder for businesses to operate in Cabarrus County.

An efficient, predictable county government lowers costs, encourages investment and supports job growth, which strengthens the tax base without putting more pressure on taxpayers.