Meet the four candidates running for Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen

Oct. 8—Two of the five seats on the Maggie Valley town board are up for election this fall. Four candidates are vying for the spots. The following profiles are based on interviews with the candidates and a candidate forum hosted by the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce. Early voting starts Thursday, Oct. 14 at the one-stop early voting site, Haywood Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. It is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

John Hinton, 70, retired

Hinton has a vision for the future of Maggie Valley, and it doesn't involve more RV parks.

Hinton said he is an advocate for smart growth in the community, something that involves more permanent housing and takes a long view of what will most benefit the valley.

"We don't need any more unrestricted campgrounds," he said.

Hinton criticized the town's recent decision to allow an RV park on Soco Road, including a last-minute adjustment by town aldermen to allow all types of RVs — not just upper-end ones. The 11th-hour change overrode the planning board's previous motion, and was passed on a 4-1 vote, with only Mayor Mike Eveland opposing.

"What happened in August was awful," Hinton said. "That's not how we need to approach things — to push ahead without getting public opinion. It speaks to leadership issues on the current board to ramrod something like that through. You don't do an end-run around the town manager and mayor to get things done."

Hinton said he would advocate for far more listening and patience if elected to the board.

"We need to improve communication with the public," he said, adding "I have no agenda, no allegiance to any group."

Before retiring, Hinton's career was in management roles in the trucking and distribution industry, with the last 15 years spent with Harris Teeter where he was a mentor for younger managers, where he learned about patience and the value of listening.

On growth...

Hinton called himself a "pro-business" candidate and said he wants to make sure growth happens in the right way.

"Maggie Valley is the fastest-growing town in Haywood according to the last census," he said. "We need to guide this town through the process in a smart growth type of way. We don't have to be in a hurry to make it happen fast. We don't want to be another Myrtle Beach or Pigeon Forge."

Hinton doesn't support the RV proposals coming before the town lately.

"We need no more campgrounds within the town limits," he said.

On Ghost Town ...

As for whether purported Ghost Town developer Frankie Wood will make good on his promises to bring back Ghost Town, the jury is still out.

"I would love to see something happen at Ghost Town, but I haven't seen any plan that would benefit Maggie Valley at all," Hinton said. "I don't know what his plan is. It seems like pie in the sky, and I'm not going to hitch my star to that wagon just now."

Jeff Lee, 60, business owner, occupational therapist

As a small business owner and long-time community resident, Jeff Lee said he is passionate about both residents and snowbirds who want something to do in the valley.

"Hiking and outdoors, all that's great," Lee said, "but you've got to have businesses and attractions for people."

Lee is the owner of Fantasy Golf and Game Room in Maggie Valley, and his father started the once-booming Carolina Nights Dinner Theater years ago.

Lee is running on a platform that he calls Valley Values: "truth, honor and respect for all."

Lee said he is a balanced decision maker.

"I greatly appreciate an opposing opinion. It provides me an alternative way of looking at things," Lee said. "And I love facts. We must know these to determine the best solution."

Lee also serves on the county planning board, has been involved in development and is a licensed contractor, all factors he says would be valuable if he's elected as an alderman.

He said he wants every governing body he serves on to be above-board and transparent.

"It is clear we need to have affordable housing for a sustainable workforce in Maggie Valley," he said. "We also need to fill many current vacant staffing positions. This is a common topic among us local business owners."

On growth ...

Lee said he would love to work on pedestrian safety in Maggie Valley.

"My passion is the people in the community and keeping what Maggie is," Lee said. "I want to protect the mountains and the beauty of where we live. We do that by bonding together and having strategic economic development and structured growth."

Lee is not against more RV parks in Maggie Valley, but doesn't want to see them on Soco Road.

He said he agreed with the town board's decision to expand the type of RVs allowed at a recently permitted RV park on Soco Road to include all makes and models of campers, not just high-end RVs — even though that wasn't what he voted for when it initially came before the planning board.

"They made it more inclusive," Lee said of the town board's changes. "I think they made a good decision. I am not disagreeing with that at all."

On Ghost Town ...

Lee is a supporter of bringing back Ghost Town in some form or fashion.

"When we had a bigger amusement park here, we all benefited," Lee said.

And Lee believes that Frankie Wood, a real estate developer and newcomer to the valley, is the person who will finally make good on promises to revitalize Ghost Town. Lee has family in Myrtle Beach, the same community where Wood is from and said he asked around about Wood's track record.

"My understanding is he's legitimate. He wouldn't be putting millions of dollars into a community if he didn't develop something that worked well inside that community," Lee said.

Lee has met frequently with Ghost Town developer Frankie Wood, who on several occasions, instructed local residents to check with both Dave Angel, owner of Elevated Distilling, and Jeff Lee if they had any questions.

Lee said his association with Wood isn't a conflict as he has "no direct, substantial and readily identifiable impact with any developer in Maggie Valley."

Jim Owens, 78, retired vice president of The Biltmore Estate

If elected alderman, Jim Owens plans to spend much of his time talking with people in the community.

"I'd like to blend the needs of the residents, business owners and visitors because all three groups have a stake in what happens," Owens said.

Owens wants to increase transparency and make meetings more accessible to the public.

"If elected, I intend to propose that all town board meetings are streamed so that all residents can stay abreast of what is going on in our town," Owens said.

Owens said since he's retired, he would devote all his time to focusing on his role as alderman.

"This is an important election as it sets the stage for what progress or not happens in Maggie Valley for the next four years," he said.

Owens said he has a lot of experience, no other business interests, no agenda and is not in anyone's pocket.

Aside from 14 years as the vice president of The Biltmore Estate, Owens had a long career in leisure and destination development and management, including at SeaWorld of Florida.

"My entire working life has been devoted to the travel and tourism industry," said Owens, who's also a Navy veteran.

On growth ...

Owens said growth is inevitable, but that Maggie must "grow smart."

"You can't stop progress and growth, but you can manage it," he said. "But we need to make sure that we do it in a wise and careful way so that it doesn't lose its character."

Owens said Maggie Valley must preserve its main selling point: it's natural beauty.

"That's why we all live here. What's more important?" Owens said. "That charm and feel of Maggie Valley is what we have to preserve at all costs."

Owens said he does not support any more RV parks in Maggie Valley.

"I believe Maggie Valley has more than our share of campgrounds and RV parks within the town limits," Owens said.

Owens, like all the other candidates, said it's time to wrap up the rewrite of Maggie's zoning rules known as the Unified Development Ordinance, which has been in the works for several years.

"It's important we have clarified all the development regulations and requirements so developers will know exactly what they can and can't do," Owens said.

Adding a code officer to the town would ensure the rules are followed, he added.

Owens would like to see the town collaborate more with state, regional and county entities as efforts are made to grow Maggie in a way that will preserve its heritage and encourage appropriate, sustainable growth.

On Ghost Town ...

When it comes to the development ideas of Frankie Wood, the managing member of Ghost Town in the Sky LLC, Owens said it is important to not make decisions based on emotions.

"It disappoints me a little that I can't find anybody in power who has done any due diligence on Mr. Wood," he said. "All the years I was working for attractions, the first thing we did was check credentials."

Owens said he has heard a lot of claims and plans Wood has shared with others, but said nothing seems to be concrete.

"With Mr. Wood's plans so far, no money has changed hands, there are no concrete plans and no permits have been pulled," he said. "The conversation has been going on a long time. So far, all I've heard is speculation. I'm not anti-Ghost Town, but I'd love to see the right fit and something to benefit the community. I think we need to make sure we're not dealing with things emotionally, especially when it comes to Ghost Town."

Twinkle Patel, 36, current alderwoman and hotelier

Alderwoman Twinkle Patel has a resume with nearly four years of experience dealing with local government issues — two years on the town's planning board and two years as a town board member — and has spent her entire life in tourism.

"I was born and raised in the hotel/motel industry. I know the tourism industry and I know where we live," said Patel, who also has two elementary-aged kids. "Governing a town is both very different and similar to running a business. We have to look at providing the best services to our residents and our business owners."

Patel was appointed to the town board two years ago to fill the seat left vacant by Mike Eveland after he became mayor, and is now running for the first time.

Patel's career in hotel management includes service as an ambassador for a nonprofit national hotel association and comes with lobbying experience on issues such as tourism, tax reform and drive-by lawsuits, and a stint on the county tourism board.

While Patel's career is in tourism, she also understands what it means to raise a family in Maggie Valley.

"I am a representative for the entire community, businesses and residents," said Patel.

Patel wants to see town board meetings videotaped and made available to the public online.

"We definitely need to upgrade our technology so residents near and far can view our meetings," she said. "This can be done with minimal costs and it's an important benefit, so our community can stay engaged."

Patel said one of her top priorities is increasing pay for town employees. The town doesn't have competitive salaries and employees are being poached, she said.

She also sees herself as a problem-solver.

"I am a strong, approachable leader who listens, has conversations and who votes for what is right, and not what the rest of the board does," Patel said. "When the board is faced with a problem, I talk to each board member individually and see their thoughts and concerns. I also talk to our community, propose workshops, do background research and see what other towns have done that were faced with similar problems.

On growth ...

The key to Maggie Valley's future is controlled growth, she said. While she's pro business, she said development should occur in a way that protects Maggie Valley's beauty and character.

"We don't want to be a Gatlinburg. We want to preserve and build on our natural beauty," Patel said.

Patel said she doesn't not support more RV parks along Soco Road, but said there are some places within town where they would work.

"I don't think we should have RVs all throughout the strip so we can have a pedestrian-friendly downtown, but we have lots of land and area outside the town that wouldn't impose on neighborhoods where people can still do RV parks," Patel said. "We are not looking to bring in lower-end RVs. If RVs are brought in here, we want high quality RVs."

However, Patel recently voted to do just the opposite when she advocated for expanding the type of RVs allowed in an RV park proposal along Soco Road to include all types of RVs, not just high-end models.