Early Voting: County Commissioners Race Heats Up

The race for Davidson County Commissioners has gone into high gear with the primary election looming. The primary election is on March 3, with early voting beginning on Feb. 12. 

The top four Republican candidates with the most votes will be on the ballot for the General Election in November.  The two Democratic candidates will also be on the ballot on Nov. 3. 

Candidates were asked why they wanted to run for county commissioner and what are the issues they would want to address if elected. These are their responses. 

Robbie Beasley (R) 

My primary reason why I decided to run for Commissioner is that I want to return the voice back to the citizens of Davidson County.  Davidson County is strongest when every voice is heard.  Leaders may not always agree with the suggestions to address citizen concerns, but every citizen deserves respect in how these concerns are handled.  The perception of our local Government is not very highly thought of with projects and decisions made that a lot of citizens feel like their concerns are not being addressed.  Also there is an increasing concern of how the Commissioners will handle such issues as the DSS takeover by the state, aging school buildings, and EMS shortages of employees.  These issues and a multitude of others have made the citizens lose trust in how the current board is operating.  Leaders need to try to involve citizens as much as possible when making decisions that affect them directly. We are on the precipice of change with a growing population in NC and Davidson County.  Citizens need to know that our leaders are operating with integrity and transparency to give them confidence we are moving in the right direction for a positive future of Davidson County.  If elected, I want to ensure that integrity and transparency is made the highest priority on how I operate as a Davidson County Commissioner so that citizens trust that I am making the right decisions with their best interest. 

Tim S. Bryan (R) 

I have lived in Davidson County for more than 30 years and consider myself blessed to have been part of this beautiful county. I have chosen to run for County Commissioner because I have a passion for serving.  I am a Christian, and believe it is my duty to serve God and my fellow man.  I have been involved in many fundraisers through my church and Jaycees to help meet the needs of those who are having a difficult time.  Through my church I have participated in fundraisers to support our local schools and needs of students, such as glasses or school supplies, raising funds to help with school lunch debt, helping families who have had a family member who has become ill, support of a local family who lost their home to a gas explosion, gathering funds and supplies to help with the heating needs of families in Western North Carolina, hurricane relief for Jamica, raising funds for Davidson Medical Ministries, Hospice, Davidson Senior Services, supporting the BEAR Closet at church which supports needs for infants in the community, support for the Davidson County Crisis Ministry, college scholarships, purchasing Bibles for children, and supporting my church Angel Tree.  Through the Jaycees I developed leadership skills and embraced fundraising and civic activities to help those who were less fortunate than I.  With this strong sense of a desire to serve my fellow man, I chose to run for County Commissioner of Davidson County, to address the needs of the members of our county and to help ensure decisions were being made based on the betterment of Davidson County with the needs and wishes of its citizens in mind and to be sure the resources of the county were being distributed in a manner that was benefit the County. 

Shirley Algiere Byerly (R) 

First of all: I prayed for several weeks, and the Lord and I decided to follow this journey for a commissioner's seat. As the President of God's Will Inc. and retired from Thomasville City Schools, I knew a lot of children and their struggles with physical and mental wellness, including bullying from not having hygiene items. GWI has been a Christian Non-Profit since 2015, with 11 years serving the children, families, veterans, seniors, and homeless in Thomasville and Davidson County with the Backpack Healthcare Program. My knowledge gained by serving as the president of GWI is the social and economic struggles of our families in Davidson County. I desire to make a difference for those struggling on a daily basis. I will be the voice for Davidson County. Several avenues need to be addressed, as far as needs versus wants, including Social Services, EMS response time and trades, such as mechanics, bricklaying, HVAC and welding, to be taught in our high schools to give our children a solid start when the graduate. I want the citizens of the county to be involved and heard as their needs change, in our community. I stand with Davidson County as a whole.  

Dwight D. Cornelison (R) 

 I am a conservative Republican who believes our county deserves leaders that will work to protect taxpayers, support student success, and protect and promote local small businesses. I do not believe that taxpayers should fund speculative investments like the Sportsplex and I will work to defund this project, reducing the burden on taxpayers. Being a lifetime resident of Davidson County, it’s concerning that county leadership is out of touch with local communities. The following examples demonstrate this. The need for the state to assume control over DSS because of no follow through of the plan of correction submitted by the state and the flip flop over Special Olympics are signs of lack of leadership. Davidson County can do better. I am an experienced small business owner of Cornelison Heat/AC in the 90’s, 20 years Program Coordinator at Forsyth Technical Community College, and eight years on the Thomasville City Council from 1999-2007. I received an Honorable Discharge from the NC National Guard. Should I be elected, I pledge to work towards increasing the discount for early payment of property taxes. This gives homeowners and small businesses some relief from record property reevaluations while improving cash flow to the county. I will vote to defund the Sportsplex because of the bad location, lack of support in the community, and forcing taxpayers to fund speculative investments. Ensuring student success, promoting small businesses, public safety and safeguarding our farmland and forests are top priorities for me. 

Tony Downs (R) – Mr. Downs did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. 

Vic Jones (R) 

My background can be described as military, business, and local government. I spent 13 years in the United States Marine Corps before returning to the Triad and pursuing my degree in finance, insurance, and real estate. I started my insurance agency as a junior in college and opened Royal Limousine a few years later. From 2017-2023, I served on the High Point City Council as the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee overseeing a 400+ million-dollar budget. During that time, we were able to manage a very fiscally conservative budget and lower the tax rate. I also helped create the Public Safety Committee and served as the Chairman. My focus and passion have always been on the business and economic development side of the local government. Davidson County needs more high-paying jobs and industries to locate here. This will be the rising tide that raises all ships. This will provide the county with the opportunities for its citizens as well as revenue to fund improvements to the schools, public infrastructure, and the needs of our law enforcement departments. I have the education, background, and experience to lead Davidson County in a direction for prosperity. 

Tonya A. Lanier (D) 

I decided to run because I feel a change of leadership on the commission is needed.  New voices, new faces, and new mindsets can always be a good thing.  The citizens of Davidson County deserve to have representation from all walks of life and experiences. When elected, I would like to focus on the pressing needs of the people, which I will continue to identify.  Currently, I’m hearing about economic mobility, affordable housing, quality education, transparency in leadership and governmental oversight, just to name a few. I feel that the smart voters in Davidson County are ready for a change.   

Dana Loomis (R) 

My personal experience with my grandparents and mother who needed assistance in this county allowed me to understand the gap between the affluent and the disadvantaged. Given the multitude of social issues that need to be addressed, my goal is to stand up for those who feel marginalized and provide them with a voice. Adding to this, our county determined to spend $65 million on the Sports Plex (aka gopher hole) is a travesty of funds that could of and should have been used on essential issues such as EMS and Social Services, as well as, the small businesses and the citizens of Davidson County which has been a standing issue since the first time I ran for office two years ago. Also, the opioid settlement funds which our county holds are to help with the Opioid crisis in Davidson County to save lives and educate. My nonprofit worked with Davidson County Schools for nearly two years to make a policy to have Naloxone in all the middle and high schools. I believe politics should not hurt any citizens; it should benefit them. 

Matt Mizell (R) 

I decided to run for County Commissioner because Davidson County is my home. I grew up here. I went to school here. The church I attended was built on my great-grandfather’s farmland, and my wife and I hope to raise a family here. We have deep roots here. This is our home — and it’s yours. When you care about your home, you are intentional about it. You build a strong foundation and plan for the future, and I care deeply about the Davidson County we are building together. As a common-sense conservative, my approach is simple: to question, reassess, and listen — to communicate openly and engage in respectful dialogue, even when we disagree. I’m here to serve the citizens, not an echo chamber. I do not believe commissioners should fall in line for the sake of conformity or practice a “go-along-to-get-along” mentality when important decisions are at stake. That does not serve the people we represent. If re-elected, my focus will remain on the issues I hear most from residents: maintaining a low tax rate, especially as property revaluation approaches; supporting strong schools through critical facility needs and the first teacher supplement increase in nearly two decades; ensuring safe communities by recruiting and retaining quality law enforcement, EMS, and 911 personnel; and promoting balanced growth that preserves our county’s character while avoiding the excesses of overbuilding. I have supported a “needs over wants” approach — prioritizing education, public safety, and fiscal discipline before costly projects — and I will continue working to reduce unnecessary spending and keep government accountable to the people. My goal is simple: to serve Davidson County with independence, transparency, and steady, common-sense conservative leadership. 

Steve Shell (R) – Mr. Shell did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. 

Steve Shook (R) 

I am running for the Davidson County Board of Commissioners. I am a conservative Christian that believes that God should be first in our lives and that we are here to serve. I have watched our county leaders for several years, and I just don’t like the direction they are going, so rather than just complain about it, I have decided to be part of the solution.  I want the Board to be more transparent and use common sense. I will be a good steward of the county’s resources. I will prioritize the needs of the county before looking at the wants. Wasteful spending needs to stop. I will push to preserve our farmland and limit the subdivision building that is changing our county’s landscape. In closing, with your support, I think that this can be accomplished. 

Dexter M. Short (R) 

I am running for County Commissioner because I believe the majority of our present commissioners have misplaced priorities in many aspects.  I also believe they have lost touch with the citizens of this county.  The Sports Complex is just one illustration.  I think they have ignored the many citizens who think this is a bad plan.  Also, there are so many more important needs that should be addressed before the Sports Complex.  We need a jail urgently.  We need to reward and retain valuable county employees.  We need kids out of mobile classrooms.  We need to solve the problems that created the State of NC taking over the Department of Social Services. These and a host of other issues are avenues where the reallocation of the funds for the Sports Complex could have made a major difference. We need to elect Commissioners who will fund the needed priorities and not concern themselves with speculative ventures.   

Andrea N. Tate  (D) - Ms. Tate could not be reached for comment. 

Karen Watford (R) 

I am seeking reelection, not because I am worried about the direction of the county, but because I am proud of the recent successes that have enhanced the quality of life of our citizens. We have new industries reaching out to us on a regular basis with the potential to add to job opportunities. The airport is offering new services and is adding hangar space for rental that will increase the tax base. We have committed to assisting Davidson Davie Community College with financial help to run sewer so that they may build a fire service facility to benefit the region. We have increased the teacher supplement and plan to increase it again.  We are remodeling the Davidson County educational administration building and we are on track to build a new jail when the Post Office vacates its current property. We are building a sports complex for all our citizens and school students to enjoy year-round. Our county manager has planned our financial structure so that we can continue services without a tax rate increase. Who would not want to be a part of improving the lives of Davidson County citizens? If I am re-elected, I will be able to be a part of the process of providing quality services so that we can all happily live, work, and play here.