Stogdill seeks supervisor seat

    Rodney Stogdill is running for the District 3 seat on the Washington County Board of Supervisors. Stogdill is a Democrat who is challenging incumbent Republican Steve Davis.

    Stogdill hails from rural Wayland. He has been the owner and operator of Rider Sales in Washington for the past 17 years. He serves on the Habitat for Humanity Board. He volunteers to help with the Sixth-Grade Fun Day, which involves taking the sixth-graders to a park or body of water to spend time outdoors. 

    Stogdill remarked that he is running to represent the eastern side of Washington County.

    ?I?ve always been interested in county politics, and I looked at it as an opportunity to serve the citizens of our county,? he said. ?I?m not running with an ax to grind. I?m not upset about anything. That?s one thing I bring to the table. I can see things with a pretty open mind.?

    Stogdill said that he thinks he could do a good job of taking care of the county?s business. He said there was no issue in particular that inspired him to run.

    ?There was no issue that set me off,? he said. ?I know there have been a few hot topics in the past. I know that county roads are a hot topic.?

    Stogdill said he hasn?t spoken with County Engineer David Patterson over the comprehensive plan for funding county roads.

    ?I run into county employees from time to time, but I haven?t discussed a lot of that stuff with them,? he said. ?I?ve made it a big point not to meddle in what they do.?

    Stogdill commented that he was opposed to passing the county zoning ordinance. However, he said that now that it is in place, it will give the county an opportunity to see how well it works.

    ?As I understand it, it?s not supposed to squash growth. It allows for planned growth,? said Stogdill. ?If it works, I will not try to remove it from our ordinances. But if it puts too many restrictions on people, I?ll definitely work to remove it.?

    Stogdill said a few county residents have told him about the fact that they must purchase a permit to construct a building. He said he can understand why they don?t like that, because it adds another fee to the cost of construction.

    Stogdill declined to comment on what if any differences there are between him and his opponent, Davis.

    ?Steve and I have known each other many years, and this has not been a campaign where mud has been slung,? he said. ?It?s a job that needs to be done by either Steve or me. I?m more than willing to do that job, and do a good job for Washington County.?

    Turning to another salient issue, Stogdill said public health serves a very important need in Washington County. He said he supports a new home for the public health department, but he also hopes the department could find a way to keep costs under control.

For more, see our Oct. 22 print edition.