By MIKE HELM

In June 1969, Ronald Gore graduated from Nakina High School. Three weeks later, his draft number came up and on Christmas Eve night 1969 the country boy from Seven Creeks Missionary Baptist Church was in the U.S. Army being flown into Camrahn Bay, Vietnam.

While his youth began with dramatic change, most of his life has been rock stable. He has been married to the former Rita Formyduval of Old Dock for 35 years. The couple has two sons and one granddaughter. For a time he ran his own business but for the past 20 years Gore has worked for Columbus County Schools as maintenance supervisor.

Gore said he’s ready to leave the quiet life and jump into the political arena, running for the county commission District 7 seat held by David Dutton.

Gore expects strong support in the Nakina and Old Dock areas. He is currently working four days per week, using accumulated leave time to take one day off each week to campaign. Gore said he would retire from his job, if elected county commissioner.

“(Being a commissioner) is going to be a hard job,” Gore said. “If I’m (elected), I will retire this fall. I’m not doing it for the money. It’s time to make a change and I want to try to make a difference.”

Gore said a lot of folks don’t think change is going to happen but he sees this as the year.

“I certainly can’t do it alone,” he said. “I have some people helping me who can make a difference,”

Gore is opposed to extending county water into his district. He said many residents fear the county would use development of the Riegel Ridge Landfill in the Green Swamp as an excuse to condemn wells in the area and extend the water system.

Gore said from an economic development perspective, the county’s emphasis on building water districts has been misplaced. Commissioners should have emphasized wastewater treatment and sewage disposal, he said, which is more important for attracting industry.

Gore said getting jobs in the county should be the number one priority of the board. Both of his sons work outside Columbus County. His eldest son, Ronald Gore Jr., lives in Oklahoma. His younger son, Kevin Gore, lives in Old Dock but commutes to Myrtle Beach for employment.

Gore said county commissioners must become more involved with economic development, along with the Economic Development Council and Committee of 100.

“We have a lot of intelligent people in Columbus County and need to have broader input,” he said.

Gore said that while interim Economic Development Director Jim Hinkle has done a good job, commissioners have to make a priority out of hiring a full-time director.

When asked if he would support an additional one-cent sales tax, which some are pushing, Gore said county residents are taxed enough. However, he said if Raleigh did allow the county to impose a sales tax, he would like to see part of the money spent paying the water district debt and part on both school systems.

Gore supports countywide voting for commissioners.

“We have a lot of good hard-working people in this county and commissioners need to be held accountable for their tax dollars,” he said. “If you’re going to raise my taxes, at least show me something for the dollars I pay. We have to go back to the drawing board and make commissioners responsible to everyone instead of spending money in their districts at election time.”

Gore said he’s not a politician. This is his first time running for office.

“Like a lot of people, I sat back and watched and thought nothing could be changed,” he said. “It does make a difference (when you get involved). It’s time for a change and I feel I could do the job.”