By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Republican Gene Miller became the fifth candidate Wednesday to file for two open seats on the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
Miller, 65, of 105 Travis Lane, is assistant superintendent of Rowan-Salisbury Schools and has been spearheading the system’s effort to build a central office.
This is Miller’s second time running for a seat on the Board of Commissioners. After an unsuccessful bid in 2010, he says he wants to try again to help change the county for the better.
“I believe we need new faces on our county commission, people who are willing to roll up their sleeves, put aside differences and work together for the good of our entire community,” Miller said in a prepared statement Wednesday.
“I am running because my background in public education has taught me that we can never stop learning and improving,” he said.
“Rowan County has undergone massive change over the past several years, but I don’t feel those changes have been reflected and embraced by all of our elected officials.”
Miller said his No. 1 priority if elected is to help improve the local economy by making Rowan County “an attractive place to live and do business.”
“Any new business seeking a North Carolina location wants a stable, educated workforce and a quality of life that makes it easier to attract new employees to come to work,” he said.
“Existing businesses have exactly the same needs, and they depend on our county leaders to create the kind of business environment which will allow them to succeed.”
On his campaign website, Miller says he wants to focus on saving taxpayers money in the long run by reducing taxes, building the tax base, reducing government interference and attracting new jobs to the area.
Miller retired from the school system last July and returned to the post in October to work on the central office.
Also filing Wednesday was Marshall Bickett, running for re-election as district court judge for District 19C.
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.

Gene Miller
Office sought: Rowan County commissioner
Age: 65
Address: 105 Travis Lane, Salisbury
Phone number: 704-754-4969
Party: Republican
Occupation: Assistant superintendent, Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Education: Graduate of East Rowan High School, bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, graduate degree from University of Virginia
Previous elected office: None
Community involvement: Director, Salisbury Civitan Club; director, Nazareth Children’s Home; advisory board member, State Employees Credit Union; board of trustees vice chair, First Methodist Church.
Family: Wife, Martha; son, Garrett; daughter, Katherine.