Chip Lucas

What are your top three priorities for enhancing economic growth opportunities throughout your town?

The top priorities for enhancing economic growth opportunities throughout our town are (1) alignment with the changing infrastructure of the northeastern part of Cumberland County,  (2) strengthening our quality of life, and (3) investing in community resources. 

For nearly two decades, our community has known that the Department of Transportation’s project to widen the I-95 corridor, lift our bridges, and create quicker access between the Western and Eastern sides of the county would bring changes to our area. That time has arrived. We are already experiencing exponential growth and increased interest from businesses and potential residents in our part of the county. Moving forward, our leaders will need to carefully consider how best to support our community's growing and changing needs while doing all we can to preserve and protect the charm and uniqueness of our historic town. 

With this growth comes an increased and expanded demand for services like our town park facility. Partnering with the Fayetteville/Cumberland County recreation department to expand the footprint and design of our facility will attract community interest as new residents seek to relocate to the area and enjoy all our community has to offer.

Additionally, we must carefully consider our water system. Although our current system is debt-free, it is aging and needs preventive maintenance and smart expansion plans designed to meet the needs of current residents and future neighbors. By investing wisely in technological advancement for the water system, we can be adequately prepared to accommodate those who want to relocate, start a business, raise a family, or retire to our community.

What are the most pressing issues facing your town, and how will you work to solve them?

As I mentioned, we must promote smart growth strategies to accommodate the many residents moving into the community and our town. To foster a smart growth approach, we should make every effort to intentionally engage our local community members and seek input from our residents regarding the future. At the same time, we must do our homework by talking with experts who understand the multifaceted options and challenges before us. With proper information, we can develop the best plan to expand our services and be well-equipped to seek additional funding to support our needs for healthy growth and quality of life. By building our decision-making around prioritizing the community members’ needs and best interests, we can seek to avoid unnecessary risks.

To meet the demands set before us, the Falcon Town Council must use multiple communication strategies to ensure all residents are well-informed. Also, we should foster trust and positivity by using best practices to support respect and healthy dialogue between council members and the community members we collaborate with. Accomplishing this goal will require a great deal of transparency, alongside proper decorum, to ensure all input is received in time for adequate consideration, so dialogue between council members and the mayor will flow constructively to expedite considerate progress.

What makes you the best candidate to represent your town?

I have lived in Falcon my whole life, have raised my family here, and have a sincere interest in its people and future. Although I have been encouraged by previous elected officials to run for office, other obligations, including my role as a father, church commitments, and my position overseeing elections of the Black River Precinct and Falcon Municipal Elections as its Chief Judge, have prevented me from doing so. Circumstances have changed, and this year seemed like a good time to exchange one type of civic duty for another. With rapid growth, change, and infrastructure expansion reshaping much of northeastern Cumberland County, including Falcon, I would like to get more involved in local community planning and politics.  If my fellow citizens and neighbors will trust me with the task, I am willing and ready to serve.

In addition to my personal connection and long-term commitments to Falcon, my role as a central services school administrator has allowed me to be involved in many tasks that can help our town's operations. Three transferable skills that make me the best candidate are: (1) accountability, (2) fiscal management and compliance, and (3) community partnerships. I am well-versed in developing and implementing local applications for state and federal accountability, including assessing the needs of various groups to ensure compliance with state and federal law. Likewise, I am skilled in planning, developing, directing, and monitoring local, state, and federal budgets to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, procedures, and policies. Lastly, my work has required me to have strong networking skills and build partnerships within our community and the region. I would be ready to develop further relationships with local, state, and community agencies to strengthen our footprint in the county and advocate for our town’s constituents.