Pitt County Board of Commissioners District B
Voters Choose One of Two Candidates
("B" combines Districts 3 & 6 . See map.)
Rochelle Brown
Your current job and title:
President of Rex Hospitality
Your highest level of education:
Master’s in Public Administration, University of Dayton, 2005
If you're elected or re-elected, what will be your top priority? Why?
1. Serve the great people of Pitt County. As I travel throughout the county, listening to various perspectives and challenges, I am committed to immediately becoming a strong voice for individuals and families, offering open, honest, and transparent governance with accountability.
2. Identify fiscal inefficiencies and redirect funds in a productive, results-driven manner. This will alleviate the tax burden on Pitt County residents and streamline county operations.
3. Economic growth and development: Set strategic goals in collaboration with key organizations and community leaders to support local businesses and attract new opportunities. I will focus on the unique challenges our rural areas face to ensure our communities not only grow larger but thrive and improve together.
4. Advocate for children and educators. As a mother of three children in our county schools I will work to provide the best educational opportunities and support for students and teachers. Classroom alignment and safety are crucial.
5. Promote public safety. A safe community is essential for a thriving county. I will work to stop the revolving door of crime, support law enforcement, and provide resources for emergency services.
If you're elected or re-elected, how will you involve your constituents in the process of making decisions?
Establish regular community forums: host monthly town halls across Pitt County to directly engage with residents’ concerns and suggestions.
Create a feedback platform: launch an online portal for residents to submit questions, ideas and concerns, ensuring ongoing dialogue and transparency.
Form advisory committees: include community members in advisory groups focused on key issues like education, public safety and economic development.
Enhanced communication channels: utilize social media, newsletters and local media to keep residents informed and engaged, encouraging active participation in decision-making processes.
Why should voters choose you for the position you're running for?
I bring a unique blend of business acumen and community advocacy to my candidacy. With experience as a business owner and a deep rooted commitment to public service I understand the needs of both the economy and the community. My focus on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and a holistic approach to economic development sets me apart. I am dedicated to representing all residents of Pitt County. My vision is to make
the county not just bigger, but better for everyone.Additionally, as a mother of young children in our county schools, I understand the challenges families face. I'm committed to
meeting people where they are, addressing their needs, and bringing firsthand experience to the role. My relatability and dedication make me the strong, empathetic leader Pitt County needs.
Which three things about you do you most want voters to know?
· Invested in our future: as a mother of children in our local schools, I understand the importance of quality education and will fight to support our teachers, ensure safe classrooms, and advocate for resources that give our students the best start in life.
· A forward facing voice for the people: I’m committed to being accessible and meeting voters where they are, whether that’s
in their neighborhoods, workplaces, or community events. I want to be a commissioner who truly listens and acts on your concerns.· Real solutions for real challenges: I know firsthand the struggles of balancing work and family. I will work tirelessly to
address issues that impact our daily lives – like reducing tax burdens, creating job opportunities, and ensuring public safety. I’m here to serve you, not the other way around.Is there anything else about you that you wish to tell voters?
To the voters of Pitt County: I am committed to being a forward facing leader with extensive experience as a liaison, representing the needs of our region. I have successfully managed a million-dollar budget and lead a task force of thousands of volunteers for the Eastern region, demonstrating my ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver results.
I am ready to be the strong voice we need to attract growth and create a community where people want to live and stay, by leveraging resources, connections and partnerships across party lines. I am equipped, anointed, and ready to serve. My passion is the people, and my purpose is to lead with integrity and vision, making decisions that impact us all positively.
Together we can make the county the thriving community we all know it can be. Let’s lean in and lead with greater purpose! I humbly ask for your vote starting Oct. 17. Come see me at the polls! Even if you do not live in my district, if elected, I promise I will still work to represent you and work hard for you.
Bob Edwards
Your current job and title:
On Aug. 1 I retired after 29 years as faculty in the Department of Sociology at ECU.
Your highest level of education:
AA in Liberal Arts, BA in Bible and Theology, MA in Communications, & PhD in Sociology.
I graduated high school and then completed an AA degree in Liberal Arts from the local community college in my hometown of Salinas, California. Planning to pursue a career in ministry, I moved to Chicago and received a BA in Bible and Theology in 1981 and an MA in Communications in 1983. In 1995, I
completed a PhD in Sociology at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC, specializing in social movements, non-profit and advocacy organizations, social capital, and democratization and joined the ECU faculty later that year.If you're elected or re-elected, what will be your top priority? Why?
Working to improve the quality of life for all people in Pitt County, in all parts of Pitt County. Ours is a vibrant and rapidly growing community that’s going to keep growing. So, we don’t need to put a lot of effort into just getting bigger. Rather, we must carefully weigh how to grow into the kind of place we want Pitt County to be. As Commissioner I will assess how proposals and projects that come before the Commission will affect the broad range of people living in our county. Who will benefit and who may be left out? How can we make Pitt County a place where newcomers want to stay and build their lives?
I believe accomplishing this rests on three foundations.
First, our county must be a place where strong, adequately resourced public schools educate a broadly skilled workforce of well-informed and engaged residents.
Second, we must manage and use our growth to rebuild the “Main Streets” of our communities that have been left behind in recent decades.
Third, we must ensure that voices from all communities are heard and that county services are accessible to everyone.
If you're elected or re-elected, how will you involve your constituents in the process of making decisions?
By being out in the community attending and listening and interacting at a broad range of local government, civic, or neighborhood events. Work with community leaders to better understand the needs and perspectives of often overlooked places and groups in our community. I will work with other county commissioners to identify and recruit emerging
leaders across the range of communities in the county to further broaden and diversify representation on county boards, commissions, and other community leadership positions.Why should voters choose you for the position you’re running for?
I believe that voters should choose me to be our next County Commissioner because of my faith in Pitt County and my service to it. I believe that Pitt County has grown so much, and I believe that we can continue to grow in so many ways. I made my home here in 1995 and I’ve never regretted it, and I’ve always fought to make it better. I currently serve on the Multimodal Transportation Commission for the City of Greenville, on the board of Community Crossroads Shelter and have served our community in many ways over the past 29 years.
Which three things about you do you most want voters to know?
· I have lived in Pitt County since 1995, when we moved here for me to begin a second career teaching sociology at East Carolina University. We built our lives here, raised our two children here, put down deep roots in the community, and have chosen to stay in Pitt County.
· Terri, my wife, taught for Pitt County Schools, and our two boys were educated in the North Carolina Public Schools from
Elmhurst Elementary through NC State.
· My professional experience and research have given me an understanding of how governmental policies affect communities and families and how grassroots people in them organize to advocate for and make social change. I have a unique perspective and appreciation of the needs and challenges of diverse peoples. I will bring that knowledge and appreciation to the Pitt County Commission.Is there anything else about you that you wish to tell voters?
I believe we can make Pitt County a place that people come and stay, just like I did. We have a vibrant community in so many ways, including East Carolina University students. Let’s keep Pitt County a place that they come for an education and make it a place that they stay and grow our community and culture and build their futures.
