Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
Today’s segment advises patience as the warmer weather gets people thinking about their summer garden.
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Editor’s Note: WIZS contacted the candidates for the District 4 seat on the Vance County Board of Commissioners and asked them to provide written responses to a series of questions to give voters some insight about their experience and background as the March 3 primary approaches.
Incumbent Dan Brummitt faces challenger Kelley Wade Perdue. Early voting began Feb. 12 and continues through Feb. 28.
Following are the unedited responses in their entirety from the candidates. WIZS used AI to randomly select the order in which the candidates’ responses would be presented.
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Responses from Dan Brummitt
Why are you running for Vance County Board of Commissioners District 04?
I am passionate about making Vance County a better place. I grew up here and have committed a huge part of my life to making the county better.
What’s your platform?
I was elected county commissioner to District 4 in 2006. My passions are government efficiency, proper development of our youth, and protection of the elderly.
Government efficiency keeps money in the hands of the citizens. Development of our youth includes educating parents and providing resources to our youth so they can properly develop. This includes education, protection and exposure to community support. The elderly need to be protected from abuse, and keep taxes low so they can maintain the properties they own.
What are the top three issues that, in your opinion, this community faces in the next two
years? Five years?
Economic development is key to our success and our future. Fifty-seven percent of the population in Vance County receives Medicaid benefits. We must reverse that trend. We must look at regionalization in order to survive and prosper. This includes regionalization of utilities and services.
Education is the key to the future. We must stop competing at the public/private level and work together for the betterment of Vance County. We must use the resources of Vance-Granville Community College for career development opportunities and training.
We must also engage our communities to come together to work as “a village” to insure development of our youth. This includes churches and other resources.
As an elected official, how will you address these issues?
I currently serve on several boards in the community and at the state level. DSS Board, Vaya Board, Economic Development Commission, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Triangle North Regional Partnership and other committees offer us opportunities to come together to better serve the citizens of our county.
What’s your experience in the public sector? What’s your resume for being a commissioner?
I have history in banking, lending, real estate and construction. I have been a commissioner since 2006 and have served on many task forces and state committees and boards. I continue to serve on numerous local and regional boards. I am well attuned to the budget and waste that exists in our government.
If you are running for re-election, what are some highlights of your service in your role?
I am invested heavily in mental health for our citizens. We are beginning construction of a regional behavioral health urgent care (BHUC) in Vance County. This will enable citizens access to immediate care as needed. It will also free up law enforcement from the time it takes to monitor citizens in the Emergency Department.
We continue to expand our water system throughout the county. This enables growth in corridors for the future.
Please share any additional information that you want voters to know about you.
I remain committed to seeing Vance County move forward in a positive direction. We must have vision to change the past and move forward. We can not keep doing what we are doing and expect positive change. I want to be a part of that positive change.
People in general and media outlets sometimes look at a collective elected body or what an entity like Vance County is doing as a whole. Rather than that, what are some specific items or issues you see or would like to prioritize for District 4?
While we are elected by district, we serve all of the citizens of Vance County. District 4 sits along the southern portion of Hwy 1 and also 158 Business. These areas should have growth pressure before other areas. We want to make sure this growth is orderly and benefits our citizens.
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Responses from Kelley Wade Perdue
Why are you running for Vance County Board of Commissioners District 04?
I am running because Vance County needs experienced, accountable leadership that understands budgets, compliance, oversight, and long-term planning. My professional career has been built around managing complex systems, ensuring regulatory compliance, and protecting financial resources. I believe those skills belong at the county level – where decisions directly affect taxpayers, families, and local services. District 4 deserves a commissioner who is prepared, detail-oriented, and willing to ask hard questions.
What’s your platform?
My platform is built on accountability, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and strategic growth:
I believe education is foundational to the long-term success of Vance County. When we invest wisely in our schools and workforce development initiatives, we strengthen our local economy, attract businesses, and create opportunity for the next generation – all while maintaining accountability in how public funds are used.
What are the top three issues that, in your opinion, this community faces in the next two years? Five years?
Next Two Years:
Next Five Years:
As an elected official, how will you address these issues?
I will approach county governance the same way I manage large-scale enterprise programs:
My experience managing regulated environments and multi-million-dollar initiatives gives me the discipline to lead responsibly.
What’s your experience in the public sector? What’s your resume for being a commissioner?
For over 18 years, I have worked in highly regulated environments that intersect directly with public policy, healthcare regulation, audits, and compliance. As a Technical Program Manager, I oversee budgets, vendor contracts, regulatory mandates, and executive-level reporting.
I have:
In addition, I served as an Intern in the U.S. Legislature, giving me direct exposure to public governance and policy processes. My education — including a candidate of Doctor of Business Administration, Master of Project Management, and Criminal Justice degree — further supports my readiness to serve.
If you are running for re-election, what are some highlights of your service in your role?
As a first-time candidate, this does not apply. However, my professional career reflects how I would govern with measurable outcomes, accountability, and results.
If you’re a newcomer to politics, what role do you see yourself playing as a member of an elected body?
I see myself as a working commissioner. Someone who prepares, studies issues in advance, and contributes meaningfully to policy discussions. I will bring a professional, analytical perspective to the board, focused on solutions rather than politics.
Please share any additional information that you want voters to know about you.
I want voters to know that I am not running for office to build a political career. I am running because I care deeply about this community and the people in it.
I am a strong advocate for animals, for responsible government, and for doing what is right even when it is hard. I believe how a community treats its most vulnerable; whether that’s children, seniors, or animals; speaks volumes about its values.
I come from a background of service, faith, and family. Like many families in Vance County, I understand the challenges of balancing work, caregiving, and community responsibility. I’ve walked through difficult seasons that required resilience, patience, and strength, and those experiences shaped how I lead — with empathy, preparation, and fairness.
Professionally, I have spent my career ensuring accountability, compliance, and fiscal responsibility in highly regulated environments. Personally, I have shown that when something isn’t right, I will speak up and follow the process the right way — respectfully, lawfully, and with integrity.
If elected, I will bring that same heart and discipline to the Vance County Board of Commissioners. I will listen, I will prepare, and I will always put the people of Vance County first.
People in general and media outlets sometimes look at a collective elected body or what an entity like Vance County is doing as a whole. Rather than that, what are some specific items or issues you see or would like to prioritize for District 4?
While countywide policy matters, representation begins at the district level. District 4 deserves focused attention on the issues that directly affect our neighborhoods and families.
First, I would prioritize fair and accurate property tax administration. Every homeowner in District 4 deserves transparency and consistency in how property values are assessed. When valuations are incorrect or unclear, it impacts family budgets. Oversight and accountability in this area are critical.
Second, I want to focus on infrastructure and community upkeep; roads, drainage, public facilities, and maintaining the character of our neighborhoods. Preventative maintenance is far less expensive than emergency repairs, and strategic planning protects property values.
Third, I will advocate for public safety and emergency response resources in our district. Ensuring our fire departments, law enforcement, and emergency services are properly supported is not optional, it’s foundational.
Fourth, as an animal advocate, I would like to see continued evaluation of our county’s animal services policies; focusing on responsible pet ownership, partnerships with rescues, and humane, efficient shelter practices. A community’s compassion reflects its character.
Finally, I want to strengthen communication between District 4 residents and county leadership. Citizens should not feel disconnected from decisions that affect their homes, taxes, and quality of life. I will make myself accessible and responsive.
District 4 is not just a line on a map; it’s our homes, our churches, our small businesses, and our families. My role will be to ensure our specific needs are heard and addressed thoughtfully and responsibly.
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If you had to go outside today, hopefully you were bundled up enough to keep warm as the wind swirled and cold temperatures persisted. No doubt, you didn’t linger outside if you didn’t have to.
The City Road Center for Hope Shelter Manager Darryl Jones said the overnight staff hung around until mid-morning today to allow the men in the shelter to have a few extra hours inside.
Usually, the men who spend the night at the shelter, located in the former City Road Methodist Church at 903 N. Garnett St., have to be out by 6:30 a.m.
But Jones said that in “white flag” conditions – when the temperature is below 32 degrees – the men can stay longer.
During the recent bout of ice and snow a few weeks ago, the shelter remained open because daytime temps never got above freezing. “Several times this season, the shelter was open all day long,” Jones explained.
The shelter gives men a safe place to spend the night, offering meals, a real bed, a shower, and a place to do their laundry.
The shelter always appreciates donations to help offset costs. Monetary donations are most welcome, but donations of other items help defray costs, too.
If you can donate any of the following items, please contact Jones at 252.820.0701 or email manager@cp-hope.org.
Below is a list of much-needed items at City Road Center for Hope:
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The program called Faith in Mental Health is hosting an event on Monday, Mar. 16 and invites churches to become community partners to address mental health and substance use disorders.
Karl Johnson, PhD, is a team member of the Rural Academic Health Dept at Granville Vance Public Health.
The upcoming event is a continuation of a program that, so far, has had participation from roughly 100 people from about 40 churches in the area. The March 16 event will be held at The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
There are several different levels of certification, Johnson told WIZS’s Scout Hughes on Monday’s TownTalk.
The first level is more like an orientation to let participants know what types of services are available in the area for people who struggle with mental health issues or substance use disorder.
“The goal is to better equip and empower churches to address the mental health and substance use,” he said, whether within their own congregation or in the broader community.
Help needs to go beyond the biomedical aspects of clients’ issues, he said.
There simply aren’t enough medical providers to tend to everyone’s needs, so reaching out to churches seemed to be a natural next step.
The church is “one of those communities that people go to for a sense of hope, belonging, for a sense of camaraderie and support,” Johnson said. It makes sense, he added, to partner with churches to give them tools to help.
“It’s a way for others to care for and tend to their loved ones (or) neighbors who struggle with these kinds of challenges,” he said.
There’s been a tremendous response in the area so far, Johnson said. “Churches really are eager and willing to step up” with participation by pastors and lay leaders alike.
After completing that level 1 certification, Johnson said some churches have gone on to host forums, provide additional trainings and establish support groups.
Some pastors periodically devote sermons to the topic and even create ministries devoted to the work.
Different churches take different approaches to trying to help, and that’s just fine, Johnson said.
“The deeper goal is for them to become better equipped to address this need in their community,” he said.
If you’d like to learn more, contact Johnson at 616.298.5626 or email him at kjohnson@gvph.org.
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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
Blueberries can be grown well in the home garden with correct soil preparation.
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Listen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:
We wrap up our Valentines Day Series called – Love Starts at Home. We discuss loving those under your roof even beyond Valentine’s Day.
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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By the end of the American Revolution, the population of what was then known as Granville County was about 8,000 people. Of that number, 40 percent – or 3,200 – were enslaved.
The plantation system created by wealthy landowners was utterly dependent on that labor to get in tobacco and other crops.
But mostly, it was tobacco, said Mark Pace, local historian and North Carolina Room specialist at the Richard Thornton Library in Oxford.
In their tri-weekly discussion Around Old Granville, Pace and WIZS’s Bill Harris reviewed the lives of numerous prominent Black Americans who made a mark in their communities and beyond.
Up until the time of the Civil War, farms were getting bigger and bigger so owners could produce more and more tobacco. That meant the number of enslaved people grew, too. This was a common practice particularly in the northern parts of present-day Vance, Granville and Warren counties, Pace said.
But there also were many free African Americans living in the area before 1865, Pace said. He attributes that to this area’s proximity to the Virginia border. Virginia had passed a law in 1807 that said emancipated persons had one year to leave the state or risk being re-enslaved
“They didn’t want a lot of free blacks,” Pace said of the folks in Virginia, “so a bunch just came across the line.”
Some enslaved people planted crops on land given to them by their owners. They’d work on Sundays – their only day off – to tend their crops. Some planted tobacco, and over time, they saved up enough money to buy their freedom, Pace explained. Until Granville County passed a law in 1800 banning the practice.
One of the most prominent and well-known Blacks in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s was John Chavis. Born in Virginia to parents who were free Blacks, Chavis graduated from Princeton and Washington & Lee University and became a Presbyterian minister and a noted tutor to many children of wealthy White families.
“He was a brilliant guy,” Pace said. “He was very urbane, he was well read, knew the Greek classics. He had a lot in common with prominent wealthy landowners and by all accounts, was an excellent speaker.”
The Presbyterian Church was dedicated to the idea of improving the lives of black people, particularly those who lived in the pre-Civil War South. As a Presbyterian minister, Chavis was a key player in that mission.
Other prominent men included Henry Plummer Cheatham, James Hunter Young and George Clayton Shaw, all born between 1857 and 1863. Cheatham and Young both had white fathers. They became state legislators and their rise to prominence was well known.
Shaw, meanwhile, established Mary Potter Academy in Oxford in 1889 to educate African Americans. He was the principal until 1936. The school later became a private boarding school until the 1950’s when it became a public high school and later a middle school.
At about the same time that Shaw was establishing Mary Potter Academy in Oxford, there were similar efforts in Vance County as Henderson Institute and Kittrell College were being established.
“In the 1880’s, education is starting to become important,” Pace said, and it’s where many local African Americans made their mark.
Founded and operated by the United Presbyterian Church, Henderson Institute was originally established by the Freedmen’s Board. It was a four-year school – the only high school in this part of the state for African Americans, Pace noted.
John Adams Cotton led the school for 30 years. He was a Presbyterian minister and the namesake of Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church in Henderson.
“The school stayed in business in one form or another until 1971,” Pace said.
The N.C. Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church established Kittrell Junior College in 1885-86. The two-year school was housed in the old hotel building in Kittrell for the first few years before James B. Duke dismantled numerous buildings on the Trinity campus and sold the bricks to the Kittrell school as he made space for what would become Duke University.
Warren County native John R. Hawkins was a driving force behind Kittrell College, Pace said. Hawkins joined the faculty and later was elected president of the school.
“People from all over the world came to Kittrell College.”
Now the site of the Kittrell Job Corps, the campus had a series of fires in the early 1970’s that destroyed those structures that had their beginnings in Durham.
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