Blackwater Reports Inc. maintains a neutral stance and will neither endorse nor oppose any candidate for political office. Questions posed to political candidates will be uniform and consistent across all individuals running for the same political position.

BlackwaterReports asked:

1. Who are you, and why are you running?
2. What are your top three priorities?
3. Will you commit to your voters that you will fight for your priorities?

These are Paul O’Neals’s unedited responses:

Paul O’NealWife Sharon O’NealDaughters- Paige, Rachel, Emily, sponeal@yahoo.com Towne Insurance Agency- VP, County Commissioner 1994-2006, 2008-2016, NC Legislature September 2022-December 2022; completed unexpired term of Bobby Hanig. College of The Albemarle Trustee 2000-2022, South Hampton Roads YMCA 20016-Present, College of The Albemarle Foundation Board, appointed January 2024

I think growth is probably issue number 1. We have to look at our UDO comprehensively to see what changes need to be made to better manage how the county develops. I think the first step is to host community meetings to get input from the people we represent, the regular scheduled commissioner meetings don’t allow for the needed time to discuss the complex issues around growth. We have to look at how we are going to pay for schools and services going forward, people can’t afford more taxes; I believe we need to go back to the “pay as you go” way of doing business with a 5-10 year capital plan. When taxes are raised, it puts more farmland in play because of the increased taxes, it self-perpetuates the problem of growth. We adopted several years ago the Adequate Facilities Ordinance, which gave commissioners a means to deny and delay developments to give us time to build the needed infrastructure and facilities to meet the needs of our citizens, it was challenged in court and upheld to be legal. 2.  I think we need to develop an economic development plan that goes after the types of businesses our residents would like to see, however, we have so many small businesses here already that could become large employers if we spent time helping them as well. They deserve just as much attention as the big businesses. 3. I think we need to work with our regional medical providers to increase access and service in Currituck, no one should have to wait weeks to see a doctor or have to go to the emergency room for basic services. Our public buildings need to open back up to the public, I understand the need for security and have no problem with metal detectors, however, no one should have to make an appointment to access our public offices, I hope to get support from the other commissioners to make that happen. 

Will you fight to achieve them? I think we have enough fighting going on right now, I will look to provide leadership to prioritize the things that are important to our constituents. Sometimes we lose sight of what we are supposed to be doing and need a little correction. Leadership provides solutions to problems and allows issues to move to the agenda to be voted up or down. We have to figure out how to disagree and still do the work we are elected to do.

I am accessible, approachable, and work problems through to the end. I have the experience of working with others to find solutions, we have to be able to respect each other and present workable solutions. It is my goal to give the residents of Currituck a reason to vote for me, together we can keep Currituck the place we want to raise our families and grandchildren.