Running for County Commissioner
A Neighbor You Can Trust
Thank you for taking a minute of your time to visit my website. My name is Rob Stetson and I am the candidate for Buncombe County Commissioner, District One. I was once told that the more somebody talks or tries to explain themselves, the more they are hiding something. Therefore, I will be brief.
Why I'm Running We need change and we need it now. For twenty years I’ve listened to citizens from all over our county express concerns about the direction we are going in. The silent majority continues to be underrepresented. For those of you who have made “pro’s and con’s” lists, I encourage you to make one for our area. Like me, if your “cons” have outnumbered your “pros” its time to do something about it. Don’t get me wrong, I have not given up on the most beautiful place on earth. I simply want to help change the trajectory of this area while I still can.
What I Stand For
Real priorities for real families.
Qualifications
Over thirty years in business. My education is in strategic management and economics. I've helped both acquire businesses but I have also been on the downsizing or liquidating side of the equation. This is important because I understand how to manage a budget. Most importantly, I know how to make tough decisions about cutting expenses. Remember, when your local government spends more money, THIS IS YOUR MONEY—and when it spends beyond its means, you're the one left holding the bill.
Three Areas of Focus
I'll work to maintain your current property tax expense. Ultimately, my goal would be to lower your property taxes. I know this won't be easy but I promise to give it my best effort. Yes, this can be done. It's a mindset that starts with not spending money you don't have and not saying yes to everything. You understand this because you practice this at home with your personal finances. Why can't county government practice the same precepts? 2) Not take an adversarial role with my fellow commissioners. We need to work together for the common good of all. If I had a spending problem, I would greatly appreciate the guidance of a fiscally conservative person. 3) Small business, medium business, and large business. We need all three. We need to position ourselves to be a business friendly community. The more business thrives, the greater the wages are and the middle class flourishes. The middle class is the lifeblood of any prosperous community. Government can't make your life more affordable but government can facilitate you making more money by being business friendly. The more money you earn, the more affordable things are. Funny how that works.
Voices from the Community
Neighbors supporting neighbors.
Rob is the kind of person who shows up — to community meetings, to neighborhood events, to your front door when you have a concern. That's the kind of commissioner we need.
As a small business owner, I need a commissioner who understands that every dollar of taxes is a dollar that could have gone to my employees. Rob gets that.
