Bringing industry to Brookhaven and Lincoln County, improving infrastructure and diligently serving the needs of the people are common goals of the two Democratic candidates running for District 5 supervisor. There are seven candidates seeking the District 5 seat at the table of the one body that supervises almost everything that goes on in Lincoln County government.

Lincoln County Board of Supervisors’ meetings are held twice a month on Mondays at 9 a.m. and are open to the public. The next meeting will be June 15.

The Democratic candidates running for the District 5 seat are Ronald “Ronnie” Durr and Gary Walker.

Ronald “Ronnie” Durr was born and raised in the Loyd Star community. He has worked with the U.S. Geological Survey for 27 years in water-related fields and has served as litter control coordinator for Lincoln County for the past 16 years. Durr said when he was hired as litter coordinator his task was to clean up all the illegal dumps in the county, and they have succeeded in doing that with a couple of exceptions being the ones he can’t see.

Durr said the position of supervisor means being able to serve the people of District 5 and Lincoln County.

“Each district has its own set of priorities and problems, and a supervisor is to do the best he can to take care of the needs of the district rather than a lot of the wants of the district,” Durr said. “You can’t solve everything with one wave of the hand. Being a supervisor is listening to people, being able to communicate with people and listening to their difficulties that they have and trying to work with them to solve those difficulties.”

Durr said as a supervisor, you must make yourself available to the people of the district and the county. He said when it comes to taxes, it’s about spending dollars wisely, because there isn’t a bottomless pit of money. “Each district has a budget, and you’ve got to work within that budget,” Durr said.

Durr said working with engineers to come up with the best prices for projects as well as putting out contracts for bids is crucial to spending money efficiently. Durr said he would work with the parties involved with economic development to support industry in Brookhaven, creating jobs and meeting the needs of the county.

“I think a lot of people that seek office, in a lot of cases it’s to move up the ladder,” Durr said. “That’s not my case. I’ve been around and worked in county government to see the difficulties in county government. And I do believe that I can make a difference.”

Durr and his wife Marilyn have a daughter and two grandchildren. They attend Philadelphia Baptist Church.

Gary Walker held the office of District 5 supervisor from 2000 to 2012. Experience in the position, Walker said, gives him an excellent opportunity to do some good.

Walker said for the past 31 years he has been building bridges and roads, a main aspect of the supervisor position. With that background, he said, he would very knowledgeable.

Walker said he wants to improve roads and bridges in District 5, and build them better from the start. Another one of his focuses would be education and improving everything related to schools that he can.

Economic development is a priority amongst many running for office, and Walker said he is no different. He said he wants to bring plants and manufacturers to the Brookhaven area, bringing more jobs and work for the people of Lincoln County.

Walker said if elected, he would do everything in his power to not raise taxes, and get creative with funding.

“Being supervisor again would mean I got the chance to get out and help people across the whole county as well as District 5,” Walker said.

He said working with the community and other officials is something he loves to do.

“I just get a kick out of being around everybody and helping people all that I can,” he said.

Walker and his wife Pam attend Mt. Zion Baptist Church.