Linda Rouse Sutton, a candidate for the At-Large County Commissioner seat in the upcoming November 5th election, shared insights into her qualifications and priorities as she campaigns for one of the two At-Large seats open against Commissioner Keith King and former City Council member Sammy Aiken.

With 13 years of public service experience, Sutton emphasized her dedication to addressing the needs of Lenoir County. “This will be my fourth term as a county commissioner,” she said. “I feel like I have a deep understanding of our community’s needs and have been dedicated to making positive changes.”

Her inspiration to pursue public office stems from personal experiences as a parent. Sutton recalled a time when she discovered inadequate conditions in her daughter's kindergarten classroom. “It was 91 degrees in the classroom, and my daughter was not used to that,” Sutton explained. “That experience motivated me to advocate for better conditions and led me to a career in public service.”

Sutton's career in local government has not been without its challenges. When on the school board Sutton spearheaded an unpopular decision to close a local school. “I had to make a tough call on closing Southwood,” Sutton said. “I spent a lot of time there volunteering, and it was a difficult decision. But it was about prioritizing the safety and well-being of the children.”

As a candidate, Sutton identifies economic development, education, and infrastructure as top priorities. “Economic development is crucial for our community’s success,” she stated. “We need to build up our local economy to provide opportunities for our citizens and keep our young people here.” Sutton also highlighted the need for continued investment in education and infrastructure to support community growth.

Addressing transparency and accountability in her decision-making process, Sutton emphasized the importance of clear communication. “We have an agenda review process that allows board members to examine information and ask questions before meetings,” she said. “This helps ensure that everyone is informed and that decisions are made with full understanding.”

Sutton also plans to engage with diverse community voices through civic organizations and public forums. “It’s important to listen to and incorporate feedback from all segments of our community,” she said. She encourages others to attend County Commissioner meetings and sign up for the public speaking to participate in the governmental process.

In her vision for the future, Sutton stressed the importance of balancing short-term and long-term goals. “We need to address immediate needs while also planning for sustainable growth,” she noted. Sutton is proud of the give year plan developed by the commissioners in the best interest of the county. Because of the plan in place, the county was able to address the disparity of county employee salaries and the condition of the county buildings.

 “Our employees were neglected, salary wise, for a long time, longer than it should have been,” said Sutton. “As well as our buildings they work in. You cannot neglect something for more than a decade and expect solutions in a year or two. It takes millions of dollars. We have started addressing the salaries of the employees and while we are not where we want to be, we have taken steps in the right direction.”

Linda Rouse Sutton's extensive experience and commitment to public service position her as a candidate dedicated to making meaningful contributions to Lenoir County. “There are two At-Large county commissioner seats open,” said Sutton. “I hope you’ll consider me when voting for one of them.”

North Carolina will hold its general election on Nov. 5th with in-person early voting beginning on October 17th. Neuse News will live stream the 2024 Election Results on Facebook starting at 7:15 pm.