A political newcomer is the third Republican candidate to file for the District 6 seat on the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. Mike Powell of Cleveland Road, Smithfield filed Monday at the Board of Elections Office. Powell says he will campaign on responsible growth and development, and being fiscally conservative with taxpayers money.
“I want to be the voice of responsible growth and responsible spending. I pay taxes just like everybody else does. I want to be responsible with taxpayers money and be forward thinking so we don’t get overrun like Flowers (Plantation area). I am not a politician, but I can be the voice for my community. I have seen it all grow up around me. I am not against people coming in. I’m not against growth. I just want responsible growth,” Powell said.
Powell graduated from Smithfield Selma High School in 1990. In May of this year he received a Business Administration/Human Resources Management Degree from Mt. Olive College. He is currently a supervisor at Caterpillar in Clayton, where he has been employed 23 years.
“Something just told me I needed to run. I’ve lived in Johnston County all my life. I’m a sixth generation Smithfield native. I live on Cleveland Road near the Airport. There is a lot of growth going on out there. I am a firm believer in responsible growth. I work at Caterpillar and have seen what has happened to the Flowers area, and the afterthought of infrastructure. I don’t want to see that happen in my community,” Powell told JoCoReport.
Mr. Powell is a fourth generation member at Pisgah Baptist Church on Highway 210 near Smithfield. He currently serves as Deacon Chairman. He is also a founding chairman and chapter chairman of the Middle Neuse River Delta Waterfowl.
Powell joins former County Commissioner Lee Jackson of Smithfield and current Commissioner Tony Braswell of Pine Level who are seeking the District 6 seat subject to the March 2020 Republican Primary. As of today (Thursday), no Democrats have filed for the seat. The filing period ends on Friday, Dec. 20th at 12 Noon.
