RICHMOND COUNTY DAILY JOURNAL, Grooms aims to represent the working class as commissioner

RICHMOND COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA, Meet Our Commissioners

Andy holds a General Educational Development (GED) from Richmond Community College. 

Andy works as a miner for the mining company, Covia. He previously worked as a contractor in the construction industry. 

Andy Grooms is currently a Richmond County Commissioner. He was elected to this position in 2020 and is serving his first term. 

As of June 14, 2024, Andy Grooms did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Said when running for county commissioner in 2020, he wants to work with Richmond Community College to find ways to attract " career-based jobs..." to the area.

- Said when running for county commissioner in 2020, he wants to work with Richmond Community College to find ways to attract " career-based jobs..." to the area.

Economy

Education

The Richmmond Observer, Richmond County Commissioner Grooms calls out Tillis for supporting gun legislation

Public Safety

Housing & Urban Development

Promised to vote against any attempts to construct a new sports complex using taxpayer dollars.

- Promised to vote against any attempts to construct a new sports complex using taxpayer dollars.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Andy Grooms

Andy works as a Miner for the mining company, Covia. He previously worked as a contractor in the construction industry. 

Andy Grooms is a Richmond County Commissioner. He was elected to this position in 2020 and is serving his first term. 

As of June 14, 2024, Andy Grooms did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Local Democrats share their visions for the future

DeeDee was raised in Philadelphia and Beaverdam, Virginia. 

As of June 23, 2024, Cassandra (DeeDee) Wall did not have a website or publicly available contact information in order for us to send them our questionnaire.

Cassandra (DeeDee) Wall's campaign for Richmond County Commissioner is her first run for public office.

As of June 14, 2024, Cassandra (DeeDee) Wall did not have a website.

Cassandra (DeeDee) Wall

Cassandra "DeeDee" Wall was raised in Philadelphia and Beaverdam, Virginia. 

As of June 23, 2024, Cassandra (DeeDee) Wall did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

As of June 14, 2024, Cassandra (DeeDee) Wall did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

As of June 23, 2024, Cassandra (DeeDee) Wall did not have a website.

Yahoo News, Preview local candidates appearing on November ballot

As of June 23, 2024, Deborah Washington Crumpton did not have a website or publicly available contact information in order for us to send them our questionnaire.

Deborah Washington Crumpton ran for Richmond County Commissioner in 2022, but did not win. 

As of June 14, 2024, Deborah Washington Crumpton did not have a website.

Deborah Washington Crumpton

As of June 23, 2024, Deborah Washington Crumpton did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

As of June 14, 2024, Deborah Washington Crumpton did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

As of June 23, 2024, Deborah Washington Crumpton did not have a website.

Preview local candidates appearing on November ballot

Ballotpedia: Jamie Gathings (North Carolina)

As of June 23, 2024, Jamie Gathings did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Jamie Gathings' campaign for Richmond County Commissioner is their first run for public office.

As of June 14, 2024, Jamie Gathings did not have a website or any information online.

Jamie Gathings

As of June 14, 2024, Jamie Gathings did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

As of June 23, 2024, Jamie Gathings did not have a website or any information online.

Facebook

Jeff was born in Richmond County, North Carolina. He currently lives in Richmond with his wife, Jani, and two children. He is a loyal member of the Baptist Church.

As of June 23, 2024, Jeff Smart did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Jeff Smart is currently a Richmond County Commissioner. He was elected in 2020 and is serving his first term. He was the mayor of Hamlet County from 2007 to 2013.

As of June 14, 2024, Jeff Smart did not have a website or any information online.

Commissioner candidates speak on ad valorem issue

Said, "Raising taxes is bad for both the municipalities and the county."

- Wants to "protect small businesses."
- Said, "Raising taxes is bad for both the municipalities and the county."

Twitter

Jeff Smart

Jeff Smart is currently the County Commissioner in Richmond County. He was elected to the position in 2020. He was the mayor of Hamlet County from 2007-2013.

As of June 14, 2024, Jeff Smart did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

- Wants to "protect small businesses"
- Said "[It's] all business, nothing personal"
- Said, ""raising taxes is bad for both the municipalities and the county"

- Wants to "protect small businesses"
- Said "[It's] all business, nothing personal"
- Said, "raising taxes is bad for both the municipalities and the county"

As of June 23, 2024, Jeff Smart did not have a website or any information online.

Richmond County, Meet our Commissioners

Linda  was born and raised in Richmond County. She earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from Richmond Community College, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina Pembroke, as well as a bachelor's degree in theology from Lighthouse Christian College. She serves as the Pastor of Faith Assembly Outreach Ministries and is involved with Impact Community Outreach Center in Laurinburg.

Linda retired with 28 years of service from the Department of Corrections, where she worked in various positions, from a correctional officer to correctional lieutenant and later served as a classification coordinator. She also worked at Sara Lee in Rockingham for 3 years. After retiring, she worked in the Office of Staff Development and Training.

Linda Ross ran for Richmond County Commissioner in 2022, but did not win.

Candidate website

Supports creating more active community centers and parks, and plans to increase programs for children to foster personal development.

Believes in incorporating programs that assist seniors, raise positive awareness among children, and promote brotherly love. Plans to increase awareness of existing beneficial programs.

Believes in incorporating programs that assist seniors, raise positive awareness among children, and promote brotherly love, and plans to increase awareness of existing beneficial programs.

Believes in fostering "Common Unity" by encouraging empathy and support within the community. Plans to listen to the voices of the people to strengthen community bonds.

Believes in fostering "Common Unity" by encouraging empathy and support within the community.

Supports operating with "equality, transparency, and integrity" to positively impact lives, including feeding the hungry and providing necessary supplements for children and seniors.

Supports community involvement in public services, addressing spiritual, physical, and natural needs.

- Supports creating more active community centers and parks, and plans to increase programs for children to foster personal development.
- Believes in incorporating programs that assist seniors, raise positive awareness among children, and promote brotherly love, and plans to increase awareness of existing beneficial programs.
- Believes in fostering "Common Unity" by encouraging empathy and support within the community.
- Supports operating with "equality, transparency, and integrity" to positively impact lives, including feeding the hungry and providing necessary supplements for children and seniors.
- Supports community involvement in public services, addressing spiritual, physical, and natural needs.

As of June 14, 2024, Linda Ross’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Linda Ross

Linda S. Ross was born and raised in Richmond County. She completed high school at Dunbar in Baltimore, Maryland, and went on to earn an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice at Richmond Community College and a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice at UNC Pembroke, as well as a bachelor's degree in Theology from Lighthouse Christian College in Beebe, Arkansas. Linda Ross serves as the Pastor of Faith Assembly Outreach Ministries and is involved with Impact Community Outreach Center in Laurinburg.

Linda S. Ross has a background in corrections, having retired with 28 years of service from the Department of Corrections, where she worked her way up from Correctional Officer to Correctional Lieutenant and later served as a Classification Coordinator. She also worked at Sara Lee in Rockingham for 3 years. After retiring, she served as a Correctional Training II in the Office of Staff Development and Training. Additionally, Ross holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from UNC Pembroke and has been the Pastor of Faith Assembly Outreach Ministries for 20 years.

Linda Ross serves as a County Commissioner, responsible for adopting the county's annual budget, setting the property tax rate, and appointing county positions. She was elected Vice Chair for the Democratic Party in December 2023. Specific durations of her tenure as County Commissioner or any past electoral runs are not provided.

Believes in programs that assist seniors, raise children's awareness, and promote community unity. Plans to increase awareness of beneficial but overlooked public services.

The candidate's website says, "The church sponsors a Soup Kitchen and Pantry, which is supported by The Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Healthy Pantry, Restoring Hope Ministry, in Laurinburg. Food Lion and Aldi of Rockingham."

Believes in changing how we perceive each other to make a positive difference in our lives. Plans to aid in feeding the hungry and supplying necessary supplements for children and senior adults.

Believes in fostering "Common Unity" by promoting empathy, integrity, and community support. Plans to listen to and amplify the voices of Richmond County residents.

Certified as a Correctional Instructor, Linda Ross is trained in Firearms, Unarmed Self-defense, Baton use, Pepper Spray, Rope courses, Sexual Harassment, First Aid, and CPR.

RICHMOND COUNTY DAILY JOURNAL, Meet your 2022 candidates

NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS: OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - RICHMOND, 2020

Ballotpedia, Michael Legrand

Michael is from Richmond County and attended Richmond Senior High School. He is married to his wife, with whom he has children. 

Michael works as a business owner and minister. 

Michael Legrand ran for Richmond County Commissioner in 2020 and 2022, but did not win either race. 

As of June 14, 2024, Michael Legrand did not have a website or any information online.

Said during his 2022 campaign for County Commissioner, he wants to prioritize attracting jobs to the county.

- Said during his 2022 campaign for County Commissioner, he wants to prioritize attracting jobs to the county.

Said during his 2022 campaign for County Commissioner, he wants to join the North Carolina’s Southeast (NCSE) regional partnership, which markets the state's southeast region to promote economic development, highlighting Richmond as the only county that is unaffiliated with NCSE.

Plans to prioritize encouraging young people to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education in an effort to establish the next generation as globally competitive.

- Said during his 2022 campaign for County Commissioner, he wants to join the North Carolina’s Southeast (NCSE) regional partnership, which markets the state's southeast region to promote economic development, highlighting Richmond as the only county that is unaffiliated with NCSE.
- Plans to prioritize encouraging young people to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education in an effort to establish the next generation as globally competitive.

Michael Legrand

Michael works as a Business Owner and Minister. 

Michael Legrand ran for Richmond County Commissioner in 2022 and 2020, but did not win either race. 

As of June 14, 2024, Michael Legrand did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

The Richmond Oberver, Unaffiliated, Libertarian candidates among those to file in Richmond County opening day

As of June 23, 2024, Richard Robinson did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Richard owns and operates a local bar, Double Vision. He served in the U.S. Army. 

Richard Robinson's campaign for Richmond County Commissioner is his first run for public office.

As of June 14, 2024, Richard Robinson did not have a website or any information online.

Richard Robinson

Richard Robinson owns and operates a local bar, Double Vision. He served in the U.S. Army. 

As of June 14, 2024, Richard Robinson did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

As of June 23, 2024, Richard Robinson did not have a website or any information online.

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Richmond County Commissioner

Candidates (8)
Choose 3

Compare candidates

Public Services

Economy

Education

Public Safety

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Richmond County Commissioner

Candidates (8).css-1e5j0e1{margin:0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.4;font-family:"HouschkaRoundedAlt";font-weight:400;color:#22034F;} Choose 3

Compare candidates

Public Services

Economy

Education

Public Safety

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Candidates (8)
Choose 3