Dutton in race

By MIKE HELM

Columbus County Commissioner David Dutton has a commanding physical presence and personality and is relentless at providing constituent service. When he’s not helping someone who stopped by his business, he’s talking to another constituent on the cell phone. It is not uncommon to see Dutton in his smoke-filled office talking to three or four residents while being interrupted by phone calls.

Columbus Auto Sales partner Terry Ward sometimes threatens to chase him off the lot if he doesn’t stop politicking and start selling cars. Dutton is seeking a fourth term on the Board of Commissioners.

“I like helping everybody, Dutton said, “especially the kids in Dixie Youth in Nakina and the rest of the county.” Dutton helped secure $20,000 in funding that allowed Nakina to build a new ball field.

“Everyone can get to me where my business is located,” he said. “I’ve helped a lot of people over the years. All they’ve got to do is ask me and I’ll try the best I can.”

Since first being elected to the board in 1994, Dutton has become one of the most powerful politicians in the county. The source of his power lies in relentless politicking and constituent service and his involvement in the East Coast Hunters Association.

Dutton, an avid hunter, helped organize the group, which promotes deer hunting, fox hunting and coon hunting. Dutton raises foxhounds and when he’s not politicking, he’s usually off running his dogs.

Dutton can draw several hundred East Coast Hunters Association members to political meetings, a show of power that attracts politicians such as state Rep. Dewey Hill and state Sen. R.C. Soles Jr.

Dutton’s father died in military service in 1958 when Dutton was 3 years old. His mother, Mildred, who supported the family by working as a waitress at the Southern Kitchen, raised him. The family was poor but never went hungry because his mother’s job always provided food.

Dutton was a star athlete in football and basketball at Whiteville High School, graduating in 1969 and attending Southwood Junior College in Salemburg for two years on a scholarship.

A native of the Antioch community, he worked construction for 10 years before settling into the business of selling cars. His wife Rhonda works for Whiteville City Schools and the couple attends New Hope Baptist Church.

In 1994, he stepped into politics and defeated incumbent county commissioner Mike Richardson.

“I ran to try to make a difference,” he said. “I take pride in speaking my piece on every issue.

Dutton likes to say that everyone might not agree with him but they know where he stands.

Dutton defended his position on a number of controversial issues, including last year’s controversial property tax revaluation and tax hike.

“State law says you have to revalue property every eight years,” he said. “We did what we had to do. We had to build a jail and spend $2 million to help rebuild Williams Township School. The hike in gas prices had a big effect on the county budget. Medicaid costs keep rising and we need relief from Medicaid from Raleigh”

Dutton said he’s optimistic about the future of the county’s economy.

“I see a lot of growth coming because of the planned state port,” he said. “I see growth coming from the beaches. Some investors are already buying large tracts of land in the south part of the county. Things are going to turn around for Columbus County.”

Dutton wants to move carefully on developing additional water districts.

“People in my district want water but it’s got to stand on its own,” he said. “I’m all for progress as long as it doesn’t hurt people.”

At board meetings, Dutton has often expressed concern about the impact county policies have on the poor and elderly.

“Economic development and growth are my main goals,” he said.