Thomas Hill

Questionnaire from The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus

Note: The responses below from the candidate have not been edited. 

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

Age-60. 1984 graduate of Central Cabarrus High School. Semi-retired journeyman electrician (44 years experience). Residence-Downtown Concord

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.

Voters should vote for who they believe are most qualified for the position.

I am running to provide a voice for the voiceless.

I am concerned with our growing unhoused population and the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse plaguing our community.

I am running to shine a light on the mental health crisis we are experiencing in our county.

We need to make sure local government is poised to tackle these problems as they increase in size and scope.

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.

My ability to manage and supervise fellow electricians as a foreman.

Being able to hold each other accountable while maintaining a positive and upbeat work environment.

I learned my trade working for my father’s electrical construction company, excelling in various roles that gave me a solid understanding of business management.

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

Earning the respect of my fellow board members as I become accustomed to serving as a public servant.

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?

All of my decisions will be dictated by my conscience and the oath I take as I am sworn in.

I will ensure the rights and dignity of everyone are respected.

Providing a level playing field for everyone is imperative.

Any rules or regulations should be transparent and applied equally.

Developers should be held accountable and required to follow through with the necessary amenities and infrastructure each project demands.

We need higher standards for our subdivisions and multi family projects.

Common sense should be the rule, not the exception..

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?

I will abide by the state constitutional requirements all school districts are required to follow.

The county commission should stick to their constitutional obligations and let the school board do the jobs they were elected to do.

I choose to trust the judgement and recommendations of the school board. As long as that trust is maintained, I will cooperate and help facilitate goodwill and mature relationships with our school officials.

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?

I would work with our school board to insure we are properly preparing our students for an ever changing job market.

Keeping taxes low helps our community compete against other counties in attracting new businesses while encouraging existing companies to stay and expand.

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?

Low taxes and common sense regulations help create the economic environment required for our continued prosperity as a county.

Local governments should help facilitate economic growth by insuring the playing field is equal for all economic actors. We should not be picking winners and losers by favoring certain corporations or industries over others.

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?

The government which governs least, governs best.

We should have common sense guidelines for construction and development.

However, we must hold developers accountable by making sure they follow strict environmental standards. We need to raise those standards as our county’s population continues to grow.