By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury Post
Raymond Coltrain will be a candidate for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
Coltrain, of Salisbury, narrowly lost in his first bid for the board in 2006. He finished fourth in a race for three seats.
In the upcoming election, voters will fill two seats on the board, those currently held by Arnold Chamberlain and Jim Sides, both Republicans.
Coltrain, 58, retired in 2003 after working more than 30 years with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and N.C. State University. He served for 14 years as superintendent of the Piedmont Research Station.
Coltrain said he wants to bring his experience as a steward of the public trust to the job of commissioner.
In a press release, Coltrain said he will focus on four key areas: Open and informative government; cost effective budgeting; quality education and workforce development; and progressive land and resource management.
“I believe that the citizens of Rowan County deserve a commissioner who will listen to people from all walks of life,” said Coltrain. “We must ensure that our entire county is represented and works together to make certain that our county is prospering.
“We need commissioners who are willing to put the work of the people before their personal politics,” said Coltrain. “We have a great number of issues facing our county and we need to make sure that we give them our full attention.”
Coltrain points to his career of public service and civic participation as proof of his readiness for a seat on the board of commissioners. He is a former president of the Salisbury Rotary Club and St. John’s Lutheran Church.
He cited support from both Republicans and Democrats in his bid for the seat. They include state Rep. Lorene Coates and former commissioners Jamima DeMarcus and George Knox. Others include: W.A. “Wild Bill” Corriher, Johnnie Leach, Fred Corriher, Jay Whittington, Darryl Corriher, Dr. Tommy Carlton, Ernie Sharpe, Dr. Alan King and Henry Kluttz.Coltrain is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
He and his wife, Kay, live on Confederate Avenue.
Coltrain is the first Democratic candidate to announce.
Last month Mike Miller of China Grove became the first Republican to announce.