Candidate Profile: Melissa Neader For Board Of Commissioners

MOORESVILLE, NC — Iredell County voters have a number of votes to cast in the state’s upcoming primary election on Tuesday, March 3, from presidential candidates to school board candidates. Mooresville Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming days.

Melissa Neader is a Statesville Republican and life-long resident of Iredell County who is running for for the Iredell County Board of Commissioners.

Are you running for office in Iredell County? Contact Kimberly Johnson at kimberly.johnson@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Mooresville Patch.

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Melissa Neader

Age (as of Election Day)

51

Town of Residence

Statesville

Position Sought

Iredell County Board of Commissioners

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Husband, Mike and 1 grown daughter 1 teenage son 1 teenage daughter

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Mt Mourne, Brawley Middle, South Iredell High School, Mitchell Community College Business Associates Degree

Occupation

McDonalds - Almost 30 years owner/operator with my husband Mike

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Alternate on the Iredell County Planning Board

Campaign website

Needneader.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I’m proud to be a life long resident of this great county, a business owner with my husband Mike and a community volunteer. I am active in school classrooms throughout the county, support law enforcement & community events, spend time with multiple veteran groups plus many nonprofits & other community organizations.

Mike and I are proud to have raised our children here. Over the years, I have watched with pride as positive change has continued to improve our county. And I cannot think of any where else I would want to live.

And that is why I am running for Iredell County Commissioner because I have a passion for Iredell County. Through my daily activities, I find that I am largely aligned in direct communication with a variety of county residents. I am able to see the needs, hear the concerns, and personally speak with individuals in the community.

The single most pressing issue facing our (country/state/district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There is an overlap with challenges, keeping the growth balanced and providing the services and schools our citizens want and need with the historic draw of low tax rate. Issues such as opioid crisis impact the first responders, families and schools, etc. Connecting our schools with business and industry to make sure we have a readied workforce that ensures good quality workers. A strong factor is workforce development, this starts in Pre K, ensuring every child has an opportunity to reach his/her academic and vocational potential. Focus where students need the extra help and developing more technical/specialized programs for middle and high school students.

The county has power with business and industry recruitment through incentive offerings as well as through planning and zoning. Land use is key and it is important to plan ahead where growth will be and plan infrastructure around it, in addition to insuring County services and protecting the beauty and the health of Lake Norman.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

We all have something we can bring to the table. What sets me apart is the amount of my direct community involvement, daily interaction with a variety of people, easily accessible, positive energy level and creativity, including the notoriety gained from my costumes at schools and community events. I am dedicated to making a positive impact on my community through hard work and smiles. I host 2 radio shows, WSIC, Why Should I Care and WAME, Motivational Monday with Melissa. Both of these shows center on the positives of making an impact in your own community. Awareness is good but action is necessary, I have learned so many important lessons from my interactions with non-profits within the community. I have spent over 30 years volunteering in the Iredell County community, with a wide variety of organizations. I feel that my diverse experiences with the people of Iredell County strengthen me to have a seat at the table as a County Commissioner, as I feel that I can adequately represent the public’s essential needs, while also striving for a better, more prosperous future

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

In suggesting one improvement, I feel that there should be a stronger connection between non-profits and local government. Non-profits and other community agencies that assist citizens with daily needs should have a stronger, more effective and direct communication with elected officials. I strongly believe that with these two types of entities working more closely together, their improved communication would strengthen the county and further improve the ability to drill down to direct needs and wants of the community.

I have been so inspired by the individuals I have met throughout the years, heard their stories, watched them overcome hardship, and watched others helping others just because it’s the right thing to do. These are real people’s stories. And I feel that it is important to hear an individual’s personal story. Finding a topic that someone feels passionate — something that ignites the fire that propels an individual to share their ideas for improvement, feel pride for the place in which they live, and feel inspired to take action in improving their own community.

With this experience, as an Iredell County Commissioner, I promise that I will continue to help make connections that will help individuals express ideas to their elected leader: ideas to improve their community, thoughts that they are passionate about, in an effort to more specifically address Iredell County residents’ needs and wants while also helping to inspire individuals to take their own action in improving our community.

Awareness is good, action is necessary. I will strive to provide opportunities for people to get involved because together is how we grow and improve as a community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Unfortunately, in my adult life, I have grown to feel that there is a divide among our Iredell County residents, with accusations and disagreements about those who live on either the northern or the southern end, concerns about the way money is delegated among the county, and why one end seems to be getting richer while the other remains in a rural state. I’d like to first say that we are all neighbors and we can all benefit from the progress of our county. As an Iredell County Commissioner candidate, I feel that we, as a county, must find the most fiscally responsible way to resolve our differences, and continue to move forward. All county residents contribute to the same tax base, and it is the responsibility of commissioners to ensure that those dollars are distributed throughout the area. Our current commissioners have worked to do so — but I would like to be a pair of fresh eyes, ensuring that we take care of the concerns at hand and those who are in need.
As an Iredell County Commissioner candidate, I can assure my fellow residents that I am always willing to learn and grow, to listen to others, and to display an utmost transparency in the process. I am also concerned that we as individuals may sometimes reject information that we are not comfortable with, or that we disagree with. But I feel that it is healthy and necessary to ask questions, while respecting others thoughts, and in doing so — we can identify problems and concerns

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a restaurant business owner, I spend time working directly with customers — an interaction that has enabled me to engage in face-to-face conversation with individuals, providing them with a listening ear. I believe that encouraging someone to think for and inspire themselves, while also enabling them to believe in their own ideas, is a great first step in helping conversation move forward.

This is especially true when it comes to discussing new and opposing ideas. As an Iredell County Commissioner candidate, I will strive to listen to all views and concerns from all of our Iredell County residents. Even though views may not align, a fair conversation can be eye-opening and thought-provoking.

I have learned so many important lessons from my interactions with non-profits within the community. I have spent over 30 years volunteering in the Iredell County community, with a wide variety of organizations, including:

Rainbow Kidz - trained volunteer
School PTO (parent teacher organization) 10 years as president plus classroom volunteer in schools throughout Iredell County
Purple Heart Homes - community volunteer
Love United Iredell - United Way - steering committee
Girls on the Run - coach
Habitat for Humanity -previous landscaper
Salvation Army - volunteer
Taught youth at church for 11 years

I have had the opportunity to both lead, and to simply be a helping hand for these life-changing organizations and non-profits. I have been an active part of board meetings in which I have listen to other conversations, learned from others’ experiences, and have shared some of my own ideas. I have been a part of break-out groups with take away assignments, which have permitted me to do committed and creative research, in an attempt to bring back constructive and useful feedback to the group.

My experience with volunteer work has inspired me to find ways to improve the means in which individuals communicate and express what is on their minds while also providing them a variety of ways to do so.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My entire life, I have lived throughout Iredell County, growing up in the southern end and spending the majority of my adult life living in the northern end. I frequently travel the entire county through my business ownership, with my husband Mike, and have grown quite familiar with it — but my passion for this county has never faded. My life has certainly led me to embrace all that Iredell County has to offer. And over the years, I have watched with pride as positive change has continued to bless Iredell County. I cannot think of any where else I would want to live. But I can think of ways we can improve our beautiful county. For 18 years I grew up on Lake Norman and because of this I will always have a fondness of the area. I still spend lots of time there, though I do become concerned with the vast popularity of the area - admiration that while flattering can also lead to an uncontrollable expansion of urban settings. This further raises my concern on how this overcrowding has and will continue to have negative affects on Lake Norman such as loss of habitat, erosion, fuel and septic leaks into the lake, a decrease in native wildlife and vegetation. Plus, overcrowding can lead to large volumes of “traffic” on the lake, an issue that could lead to unsafe situations and accessibility challenges for Wildlife and Sheriff’s office officials. As an Iredell County Commissioner candidate, I hope to inquire more into the planning efforts of the southern end of the county. Perhaps we should work on creating mandatory areas recreational or landscaped park... areas that encourage green space. I understand that grading is cheaper and easier but there has to be solutions that encourage and preserve the beauty and nature of our county - a balance.

My goal is to let every potential voter know how much I care about Iredell County, how dedicated I am to advocating for education and workforce development, as well as my commitment to standing up for our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first-responders, as well as veterans.

I support matters that benefit our local public health, safety, and educational needs, while also bringing prosperous workforce development and compatible industry for the creation of good jobs throughout our county. My campaign centralizes on representing Iredell County residents of all ages by considering the needs and interest of all our residents.