Ray Gilbert to
challenge Hill

By MIKE HELM

Brunswick County Republican Ray Gilbert of Longwood filed Wednesday for the 20th District state House seat currently held by Democrat Dewey Hill.

Gilbert defeated Whiteville Mayor Dial Gray in the 2002 Republican primary for the 8th Senatorial District. His wife, Sheila, is a former employee of Southeastern Community College.

Nakina native Bobby Joe Long filed for the District 7 County Commission seat held by David Dutton. A 1957 graduate of Nakina High School, Long currently works as custodian at his old alma mater, which has become an alternative school.

Long said there are five generations of his family still living in Nakina, including his parents, Henry Joe and Geneva Long. Long has three children and attends Pine Level Free Will Baptist Church.

Long said he would never support a tax increase.

“I got out and talked to people in my district,” Long said. “They’re telling me we’re taxed to death. Trash fees and property taxes are too high. We need to get jobs in here to lower the tax burden on individuals.”

More than half of the people in his district drive to the beaches to work, Long said, and that has to be turned around by offering more incentives and “doing anything it takes” to attract industry to Columbus County.

Long said people need more of a voice in county government and promised to hold public meetings at convenient locations in the district.

Long faces Dutton and Ronald Gore in the May 2 primary. The winner will run against Republican Sammy Hinson in November.

Former County Commissioner David Lee McPherson of Beaverdam has signed up to run for the District 6 seat being vacated by Kip Godwin. McPherson signed up last week but it was not reported due to an error at the Board of Elections. McPherson announced his intention to run a few weeks ago.

McPherson said he decided to run after much prayer and encouragement from “good folks.”

He is a member of Beaverdam Church, past Sunday school superintendent and currently teacher of the adult men’s class.

A former county commissioner and Democratic Party chairman, McPherson is currently president of the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

McPherson has been both a farmer and 42-year employee of Holtrachem, a chemical plant in Riegelwood.

“Both these industries have taken very hard hits the past few years,” he said. “Good jobs are hard to obtain. It is so sad that we are exporting our most precious thing – our young people. They are leaving because of a lack of good-paying jobs.”

He said that economic development and jobs are his top priorities, along with working with government agencies to obtain grant funding.

“I make no individual or group promises other than that I am sincere and will be open for any suggestions from the citizens of Columbus County,” he said. “With the grace of the good Lord, I’ll help make decisions based on facts rather than emotions. I solicit your help and support and assure you that your consideration will be greatly appreciated.”

McPherson faces Cerro Gordo resident and Columbus County Board of Education member Ricky Bullard in the May 2 Democratic primary. The winner would face Fair Bluff farmer Howell Strickland, who is running as an independent in November.