A shadowy group is attempting to influence the future of Union County—not by promoting ideas, but by attacking public servants who stood up to powerful special interests. A recent television and digital ad, and a mass mailer, funded by Carolina Strong targets incumbent county commissioners Brian Helms and Melissa Merrell, accusing them of “reckless schemes,” […]
County
You’re the Sponge: How Developer-Driven Growth Shifts the Taxpayer Burden in Union County
If you want to put the brakes on developer-driven growth in Union County, conservative decision-makers are the answer. Lately, we are being told to absorb growth while developer-first approvals stack more demand on the same roads, the same schools, and the same public safety resources. Here’s the part that rarely gets said out loud: They […]
You’re a Bigoted NIMBY!
Conservative decision-makers are a smart hedge against developer-driven decision-making I attended a local town council retreat this past week and heard a familiar line from staff: developers will not be interested in commercial development until we have enough “rooftops.” (This means the staff is in favor of developer-driven high-density residential building!) That line sounds practical. […]
The Property Rights Lie
Debunking the Myth: Local Zoning Is Not a “Violation” of Property Rights — It’s Representative Government Across Union County and North Carolina, a false narrative is gaining traction on social media: that local control over zoning somehow infringes on property rights. This claim is not rooted in law or in the historic understanding of property […]
Union County’s March Primary: Common Myths that Deserve a Second Look
There are a few things people say every primary season that sound reasonable but don’t hold up when you slow down and look at how local government actually works. Let’s talk about a few of them. Myth #1: “The general election is what really matters.”In reality, most decisions are made in the primary. By November, the direction […]
Union County’s March Primary: Continuity versus Disruption
In local elections, the loudest arguments are often about change.But the most important question is usually simpler: Change from what — and toward what? Continuity and disruption are not inherently good or bad. They are tools. The question is whether they fit the moment Union County is in right now. Union County is not standing still. […]