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Campaign website or social media page: www.facebook.com/lisa.soil.and.water/

Education:

UNC-CH Honors, NCSU High Honors (B.A.), UNC-G, Hood Seminary, Liberty Seminary (Masters Theological Studies)

Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)

2012 Dist 5 Meck County Comm. (46% in primary but lost) & 2014 Meck County Soil & Water (3rd out of 5)

Please list your highlights of civic involvement:

Festival in the Park (9 years old with Parks/Rec); Festival in Park 2022/2023/2024 Volunteer with Charlotte Folk Society Stage (including planning/board secretary) & performer; constant area church involvement--last 5 years at Calvary Church/Violinist & huge Christmas Program; Held food/clothing pantry through church 2 years; 5+ years giving out food to homeless downtown; member Foxhole Landfill Citizens Committee (3 years); Charlotte Community Relations Committee (civil rights--3 years); others

This is an office a lot of people scratch their heads over when they get to it on the ballot. In your own words, what do the Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors do?

The Soil & Water Conservation Supervisors define policy regarding conservation, promote and educate the public, assist in distributing grant funds to aid farmers and others in conservation efforts, and assist our county with efforts to conserve our most valuable resources (soil and water) through conservation programs such as rainwater collection, tree cover, prevention of soil erosion, ensuring the health and cleanliness of our water systems in the county, a vital role.

What in your prior work history and expertise prepares you for this role?

My academic background included excellent courses by outstanding teachers/professors especially NC State's agriculture/land grant college. My husband and I owned a small farm for over 20 years raising horses and animals. Both he and I worked at very large farms in North Carolina and Virginia, especially closely with NC's horse show industry. I am a Charlotte native with a lifetime seeing vast changes here. For 20+ years, I worked in PR/communications. Even preaching helps prepare me to educate.

What are the most significant threats, in your view, facing our soil and water resources in Mecklenburg County?

We, I think, are facing the maximum use of our Soil and Water resources in Mecklenburg County. The city of Charlotte reports that 120 people per day move here -- that's 43,800 per year. The fact is that not only are we using up nearly all of our available land -- of late, with multi-unit housing, further exponentially utilizing our residential land, schools, roads, and living resources -- but are straining the one river on which we all depend -- Catawba, with 2 nuclear plants and a million people.

How will you work to tackle development-related issues such as sedimentation in our waterways?

We need to ensure our government has adequate supervisors to oversee this issue by inspecting and fining violators.. Our river and streams are vital; we must not allow sloppy use. I would push for conservation areas within what is left of our undeveloped land in the county, and a moratorium on multi-unit zoning by our city/county permitting. Much more thoughtful use of land and water resources needs to take place for current and future residents to live here. This issue is serious.

What will your focus be, should you win this race?

A push for conservation zoning to preserve what land is left, and a push back against multi-units. This will require purchasing development rights like Catawba Lands Conservancy has done. Ensuring citizens adequate, usable drinking water takes priority over many other issues and plans. The Catawba is under too much strain. 17% of North Carolina's electric power is generated here. Yet I have seen sand bars in its shallow waters during droughts. Lack of planning has to stop, I believe.