Former EMS boss to run for office

Hemphill wants seat on County Commission

Caroll Hemphill

By: Staff Reports | McDowell News
Published: January 24, 2010

Carroll Hemphill, the former director of McDowell County's Emergency Services, will run this year for county commissioner.
Hemphill, 68, announced Friday that he will be a Democratic candidate for one of the three seats up for election on the McDowell County Board of Commissioners. A resident of the Glenwood community, Hemphill is retired from his work as the county's director of emergency services and the EMS. He is also a former small business owner.
This is not his first attempt at seeking elected office. He ran for commissioner before back in 1968 but was not successful.
Hemphill said he's running to serve the residents of McDowell County and help move the county forward. If elected, he would seek to develop a cooperative working relationship with local, regional, state and federal partners to create jobs. He said every effort should be made to assist existing businesses and industries already in McDowell.
In addition, Hemphill said he would work on maintaining a low property tax rate, expanding utility services and enhancements to the public school system and the community college. He added he would help the farming community, support public safety agencies, senior citizens programs, the arts, tourism, historical preservation and other groups "for the common good of the people."
In his prepared statement, Hemphill said he understands the role of a county commissioner and knows the county's budget process. He said he has managed three county department budgets, totaling well over a $1 million, and his business experience of making payroll and operational expenses qualifies him to be a commissioner. He is also a longtime member of the board of trustees for McDowell Technical Community College.
Hemphill said he has no axes to grind or a hidden agenda. He added his campaign slogan will be "counting every penny and making every penny count."
His volunteer work includes being a charter member and 30-year volunteer firefighter with the Glenwood Fire Department, former trustee of The McDowell Hospital, American Red Cross, former school advisory committee member for Glenwood Elementary, Glenwood Youth Activities Association, McDowell Fire-Rescue Training Committee, McDowell Rotary Club, former member of the N.C. Fire Rescue Commission, former trustee of the N.C. Fire-Rescue Pension Fund, former president Little League baseball coach and former president of the N.C. State Emergency Management Association. He was coordinator of the McDowell County "Jesus video" project.
Hemphill said he is pro-life and believes that Holy Matrimony is a union between a man and a woman.
He received the Citizenship & Service Award in 2008 from the McDowell County Chamber of Commerce and Duke Energy. He also received the William G. Countiss Memorial Award and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2008.
He is married to the former Jeanette Morgan. The Hemphills have three children, Jan Branton, Van Hemphill and Fran Hemphill. The family attends Glenwood Baptist Church.

Former EMS boss to run for office

Hemphill wants seat on County Commission

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Most Popular

More Ways to Connect

Most Commented

Things to Do