Why Charles Evans Is Running for Cumberland County Board of Commissioners

Former Cumberland County Commissioner Charles Evans is one of four people seeking the two at-large seats on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.

A Democrat, Evans faces Democratic incumbent Veronica Jones, Republican community activist Ron Ross, and Republican Greg West, a member of the Cumberland County Board of Education. The ballots list all four candidates as a group, and ask the voters to choose up to two of them. The two with the most votes will win.

CityView sent an electronic questionnaire to the candidates to learn more about them and gather their thoughts on issues they will face if elected. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Evans, a retiree from Fayetteville, will be 66 on Election Day. He previously served as a commissioner from 2010 to 2022, and prior to that was on the Fayetteville City Council from 2005 to 2009.

How can voters reach you? 910-978-6643

What are your top three topics or goals if elected?

The lack of transparency. The lack of completion of projects. The question is where are we taking the county?

This is a concern of our citizens.

I will work with anyone on the Board of Commissioners, which means everyone is to be respected, treated with dignity, and fairness—with the understanding that there’s enough pie to go around.

The issue regarding countywide water needs to be addressed. The infrastructure needs attention.

The board will ultimately have to address the concerns of citizens paying higher taxes and seeing where their monies are going.

What sort of regulations do you want to see imposed on data centers in Cumberland County?

Time and time again at public hearings after hearings it’s been said by citizens that data centers aren’t welcome here in our county. Ways should be found to keep the citizens’ wishes.

As the county’s population grows, it will need more housing, commercial areas, and industrial development. Property owners in rural areas have sought to rezone their land to meet those demands and have met resistance from neighbors who want to maintain the rural character of the community. How would you address these competing perspectives?

First I would address the water issue and place a moratorium on building any homes until our water supply is improved. It doesn’t make sense to continue to place residents’ health at risk.

Some people are upset by the use of automated license plate readers, such as Flock Safety brand cameras. Meanwhile, county commissioners have discussed the use of speed cameras to automate the ticketing of speeding drivers in school zones.

What are the best policies and practices in the deployment of government surveillance cameras?

I believe that we have law enforcement for a reason. We as citizens wish to be safe. We depend on law enforcement to protect us. When it becomes alarming, using cameras, we should then have that discussion.

What are your thoughts on the initiative to extend public water throughout the county? And if you support the idea, what is the best way to make it happen?

I definitely believe in public water throughout the county. I do not have experience in making that happen, but I believe county staff would find out information to give the commissioners the direction we should go in order to make it possible.

What are your thoughts on the cancellation of the Crown Event Center in downtown Fayetteville, and now the push to instead rehabilitate the Crown Theatre and Arena and pursue a “Crown Corridor” district? If you would do things differently, what would you do?

I strongly believe that the Event Center should have been built downtown. I believe that this would have encouraged more diversity, a willingness to locate more businesses to the downtown area, and a sense of adventure to an area that could use it and appreciate a much-desired and deserved change.

Senior reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at pwoolverton@cityviewnc.com.