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Candidate in the Spotlight – Tom Toby – New Hanover County Commission

by | Sep 21, 2022 | 10 for ten, Candidates

With 26 years of service for the city of Wilmington, New Hanover County, and the town of Wrightsville Beach as a volunteer and career firefighter and EMT, Tom has impacted the lives of thousands. This unique perspective makes him an excellent candidate to represent local government as a Board Member of the County Commissioners. After retiring as a firefighter and EMT he started and now operates his own phenomenally successful business.

The New Hanover County Republican Party advocates a commonsense approach to governing. Tom Toby certainly embraces this philosophy.

SUPPORT 10 FOR 10

The current Board of New Hanover County Commissioners have not demonstrated an abundance commonsense in developing policy and making fiscal decisions.

  • On June 6, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners voted to give themselves and 82 percent raise. Perhaps warranted or not. One thing for sure with thousands of Wilmington residents out of work due the pandemic the optics of this decision was horrific. Tom’s commonsense approach to governing would be a definite “no” vote for this decision.
  • On May 2, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners voted 3 to 2 for a quarter-cent sales tax on the November ballot. Over a 10-year span, it is estimated that the tax would generate $144 million from goods purchased in New Hanover County by visitors, commuters, and residents. Tom Toby is not a supporter of any tax increases. Again, no commonsense was applied in this decision. Gas prices are the highest they have been in over fifty years and inflation for other goods and services are at historic highs. Now is not the time to consider a tax increase.
  • Commissioners will soon be considering preliminary spending of $68.5M from hospital sale funds and opioid settlement money. The County is considering making a $3.4M contribution to “The Harbor’s” potential new location. The purpose for this request is to provide “immediate crisis stabilization” for individuals and their families, to decrease the number of drug overdose patients from visiting the emergency department. There are five or six questions to be asked here and, on the surface, does give confidence that commonsense is being applied. It is for certain that Tom Toby would make and support informed decisions that the residents would agree.
  • The current Board of County Commissioners are likely to point out that they have voted to reduce property taxes in New Hanover County. This is clearly smoke and mirrors. One cannot argue they have not lowered the “mill rate” (the small number that is multiplied by your property value) used to determine your property taxes. Yes, the mill rate has been lowered. However, property values have increased on average thirty percent over the past two years. Bottom line, you are paying higher property taxes. Tom is not a supporter, nor will he vote to raise property taxes.

Issues that most Concern Mr. Tom Toby:

  • Accountability – He will hold our government and himself accountable for every taxpayer dollar.
  • Small Business –He will support New Hanover Business Owners, not regulate them.
  • Constitutional Rights – The Constitution and Commonsense must be applied before government issues mandates
  • Infrastructure – The update of New Hanover’s roads and bridges is a high priority. A detailed and commonsense approach must be applied to ensure infrastructure needs keeps pace with population growth.
  • Taxes – Any tax increase must be for a highly unusual and compelling reason.

There are three things you can do help us Restore American First Values in New Hanover and North Carolina.

  1. Be sure to REGISTER and then VOTE. Please note: Early Voting begins October 20, 2022, and Election Day is November 8, 2022.
  2. If you can spare one or two hours, we are always in need of volunteers to help out.
  3. If you do not have a few hours to volunteer, and most people do not, please consider taking just a few seconds to visit our website, newhanovergop.org, and click on 10 for 10. We are requesting that you consider contributing just 10 dollars for 10 months. The money collected will be used to support Candidates like Tom Toby.