Moore County Commissioner Candidate Interviews
The Pines Preservation Guild reached out to the seven candidates who have filed for the 2022 Moore County Commissioner election. Our organization believes it is important to understand how each candidate values the history and preservation of Moore County. These values signal how the candidate might view and vote on ordinances and planning issues that directly impact the preservation of historic buildings and districts in Moore County.
The PPG has prepared a brief candidate survey with the following goals:
1-To educate our community about each candidate’s attitudes about preservation
2-To allow candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of local preservation issues
3-To introduce candidates unfamiliar with The PPG to our organization
The seven candidates were sent our questions via email to respond to in writing. If a candidate’s name is not listed, they either declined to comment, could not respond by time of publication, or could not be reached.
Responses are provided in full, may be edited for clarity, and appear in order of response submission.
The publishing of these answers does not constitute an endorsement by The Pines Preservation Guild nor its officers.
Kurt Cook
1. Please state your views on the role of historic preservation and our historic resources in the future of Moore County.
As a student of history, it is our duty as citizens to the past, present, and future to preserve history in its authenticity. Without well documented and maintained visual history, we will be lost in the future.
2. What will be your top three priorities to ensure the preservation of Moore County’s historic buildings, sites, and neighborhoods?
First, all documentation for historical integrity must be recognized by local, state, and federal statues in order to receive resources. Second, local historical sites should be taught in schools and sites visited to reinforce classroom instruction. Third, an effort to make Moore County historical sites more visual and obtainable to our population and the vast number of visitors to our great county. Moore County has a rich and industrious history, and all should be cognizant of our history.
3. Would you support the creation of an official Historic Preservation Plan for Moore County?
I see no reason not to support the production of an official Historic Preservation Plan for Moore County. As a future member of the Board of Commissioners, I believe it would be prudent to hear witness and formulate a collective opinion of the board.
4. What is your approach to making sure buildings important to our community heritage are protected?
Local and state ordinances provide protection for structures important to moore County history. Addressing developing concerns should be brought to the Board of Commissioners for consideration.
5. Would you support the establishment of a County historic preservation tax abatement? This could be a 10-15 year abatement to incentivize historic preservation anywhere in the county. Why or why not?
I believe an abatement proposition should be presented to Board of Commissioners to devote the proper research amount time, then concluding with opinion. Many historical buildings and foundations relay heavily on private donors and historical societies (501-(c)-(3), fund raising, etc.) for financial stability as well as state and federal grants.
6. What is your favorite historic building (50+ years old) in Moore County and why?
Page Memorial Library in Aberdeen is my favorite building in Moore County. The library is the second oldest continuously operating in North Carolina is remarkable itself. However, I have a love of architecture and the Page Memorial Library structure and materials drew me in. I have walked through the Vatican, viewed all the amazing churches and statues built by Bernini, Bramante, Maderno, and Michelangelo and still love seeing Page Memorial Library.
John Misiaszek
The definition of historic is : important in history, or potentially so. That does not mean just old. I am very much in support of the preservation of historically significant buildings or properties. I believe it will be important to coordinate with the County when they prepare their next County Land Use Plan, which could be soon since it was last updated in 2013, to insure historically significant parcels in Moore County which are under the supervision of the County, are protected. Each incorporated municipality in Moore County should decide which areas they might consider to be historically significant and designate them as such as appropriate. Those municipalities would be able to determine local tax abatement eligibility but I don't believe those parcels should be eligible for County tax abatement. My favorite Historic building in Moore County is the Historic Courthouse in Carthage which is not only beautiful but continues to be functional.
Phil Vandercook
1.Please state your views on the role of historic preservation and our historic resources in the future of Moore County.
I am absolutely in favor of preserving Moore County's historic sites and resources. Our historic preservation is rooted in a deep and continued understanding of the history that makes Moore County unique. Historic resources should be available to the public while also being protected from damage and overuse. Those who guide our historic preservation must leverage local knowledge and select, promote, and guide preservation of key sites, buildings, and areas.
2. What will be your top three priorities to ensure the preservation of Moore County’s historic buildings, sites, and neighborhoods?
1. If a historic building or site is County property, I will ensure that there is funding available to maintain it.
2. Use existing assets and resources such as the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office and the County Planning and Inspections department to ensure the preservation of historic sites and buildings, and improve on them as needed.
3. Work with our municipalities to help preserve the history and heritage of Moore County, including improving our County's appearance and instill community pride.
3. Would you support the creation of an official Historic Preservation Plan for Moore County?
Yes, and I believe that it could easily be done. At the County level, I would task this to the Planning and Inspections Department whose mission it is to plan for growth through long range planning and enforcement of all development related ordinances. This would also be captured in the County Land Use Plan and then defined in the County Unified Development Ordinance. To add to this, I would also capitalize on existing programs at the state and federal level that provide assistance to local governments and preservation commissions.
4. What is your approach to making sure buildings important to our community heritage are protected?
I would first go through existing channels that are provided through the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Their specific mission is to assist local governments, as well as private citizens, in the identification, evaluation, protection, and enhancement of properties that are significant to North Carolina history. One of the hurdles is that the majority of our historic buildings and neighborhoods are located within our municipalities; the County Commissioners do not have purview in deciding how these are protected or maintained. However, one option would be to create a historic preservation commission that involves all the municipalities within Moore County. This commission could help with the designation of historic building, districts, and landmarks.
5. Would you support the establishment of a County historic preservation tax abatement? This could be a 10-15 year abatement to incentivize historic preservation anywhere in the county. Why or why not?
I would need to do more research and have a discussion with all stakeholders to have a better understandings of the needs that are not already being addressed. Is there a gap in the need that can be identified? Currently, privately-owned historic properties can be eligible for income tax incentives for building rehabilitation; these are separated into income-producing and non-income producing. This would be a perfect topic for a newly formed Historic Preservation Commission to discuss and to submit recommendations to the Board of Commissioners as well as to the local municipalities to help preserve our historic buildings, sites, and neighborhoods.
6. What is your favorite historic building (50+ years old) in Moore County and why?
This one is easy--the American Legion Post 12 building on 350 Legion Hut Rd in Carthage. This is a WWII building that was moved from Fort Bragg in the 1940s and has since served as a meeting place for Veterans of many wars and conflicts. I am a little partial to this one because not only am I a member of this Post, I am also the Post Commander.
James Von Canon
1.Please state your views on the role of historic preservation and our historic resources in the future of Moore County.
I believe that our heritage and History will disappear when we no longer have the objects to look at or buildings to walk through. Growing up we often visited the House in the Horseshoe, Old Salem, Town Creek Indian Mound, The Shaw House, The Bryant House, Malcolm Blue Farm, Museums etc. and they left an impression on me. Unfortunately, now with the internet there are those that think they can change our History to something that fits their personal believes. We have to have someone whether it’s local government, private citizen or a private institution that works to identify significant objects or buildings with Historic value and save, restore, preserve and protect for generations to come.
2. What will be your top three priorities to ensure the preservation of Moore County’s historic buildings, sites, and neighborhoods?
I believe the first thing would be to get all resident experts or organizations in the same room and find out what our current base is and who is working on what issues and where the County could assist. I think having all parties working together gives us greater numbers as we go forward. We would look to try to find monies from Federal, State, or other larger entities that could support us financially or with laws or regulations that would support our preservation efforts. I would also encourage the schools to push our local history and heritage to spark an interest in our future preservationist as we age out.
3. Would you support the establishment of a County historic preservation tax abatement? This could be a 10-15 year abatement to incentivize historic preservation anywhere in the county. Why or why not?
Really not smart enough to talk about this issue now but would work hard to find us monies. Not sure if the plan listed below is still in place and if not we will work together for an alternative.
Income tax incentives for the rehabilitation of historic structures are important tools for historic preservation and economic development in North Carolina. A federal income tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic structures first appeared in 1976 and today consists of a 20% credit for the qualifying rehabilitation of income-producing historic properties. Since 1976, over 3,100 completed "certified rehabilitation" projects have been reviewed by the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office, representing almost two billion dollars of investment in historic properties. The spinoff from all this activity includes job creation, downtown and neighborhood revitalization, improved community appearance, and greater community pride. Historic preservation is smart growth, and smart investment.
4. Would you support the creation of an official Historic Preservation Plan for Moore County?
I 100% would and would still push for that if not elected.
5. What is your approach to making sure buildings important to our community heritage are protected?
Work with you our local experts to identify these structures in hopes they might be donated or acquired from the owners or work with the owners with some sort of agreement to preserve and protect.
6. What is your favorite historic building (50+ years old) in Moore County and why?
This is probably the most difficult question of all. I grew up in antique shops and locating 100 year old dumps in our county where we have found blown bottles, round bottom bottles, poison bottles and other artifacts we collected. As for my favorite old building I am prejudice and have to say the Seward Inn House ca. 1905. The house was built ca. 1905 for the Sewards, who accommodated overflow guests from the Lakeview Hotel across the street. It is said that the Seward Inn was the only hostelry in Lakeview between 1911, when the second hotel burned, and 1923 when the third hotel was built. I am prejudiced because we have lived in this house and raised our family for the last 30 years. My wife Kim and several other ladies in Lakeview worked extremely hard to get our little community of Lakeview on the National Historic Registry. Kim and I have acquired the D' Auby House which is the oldest house in Lakeview and will be restoring it as soon as we get three kids out of college. This was originally a log cabin which had some minor improvements over the years and is two doors down from our home.
I am also partial to the West End Methodist Church that my great grandfather James Bobbit Von Canon built and paid for around 1910+-. His original home is right up the street by the Presbyterian Church and is a top favorite as well as all our Historic site we visited during our school years.
