Greg Edds

He may have come in second during the 2014 general election, but Rowan County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds’ foremost priority is putting a focus on improving county’s economy first.

And he’s already off to a running start.

Edds, a Republican, finished second in the 2014 general election behind Jim Greene in his first bid for the Board of Commissioners. During the general election, his top priorities all related to economic development. His stance on the former Salisbury Mall, now called West End Plaza, was to consider all options and choose the most reasonable one.

Shortly after winning one of three available seats on the county board, Edds was elected chairman by a majority of the commissioners and quickly got to work.

In his first month, Edds has already formed a committee of businessmen to help with economic development and begun conversations with city officials about how to best proceed with the former Salisbury Mall. Under Edds, commissioners voted to continue with an appeal of the Salisbury City Council’s special use permit denial. The appeal was filed Dec. 19.

Edds runs a State Farm Insurance agency in Salisbury.

Before being elected, Edds was the chairman of the Rowan County Republican Party. He also served on the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.

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Job title: Owns an insurance agency in Salisbury and serves as chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners

Age: 51

Where do you live? Salisbury

If you won $1 million in the lottery, what would you do? Give to my church and charities that my family supports, then invest in my business so I can create more jobs.  And Milk Duds. I’d buy a case of Milk Duds.

Favorite hobby: Racquetball.  For 19 years I’ve been playing every week with Dr. Ken Washko and Dr. James Murphy.

Who should play you in a movie? I’ll pass on that one.

What would you choose for your last meal? French onion soup and prime rib from Joe Sims at Ivan’s Restaurant.

Which person in Salisbury or Rowan County would you call someone to watch in 2015? I still believe that school superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody and EDC Director Robert Van Geons will be the two most important people in our county for the next several years.  I would also add Shawn Campion from Integro.

Biggest challenge for Rowan County in 2015: Our biggest challenge will be quickly accumulating enough economic development victories to make a large, immediate financial impact on our tax base.  Making significant capital investments requires funds that we currently don’t have.

Biggest hope for Rowan County in 2015: There is a sense of renewed cooperation and a growing belief that we must actively, aggressively take charge of our county’s future.  I believe the groundwork we lay in 2015 will have a positive impact that will be felt for decades to come.

Reaction to making the list: While I’m honored to be “one to watch” in 2015, I would invite the community to watch all five commissioners, because I have great confidence that each commissioner is going to lead in a positive way that will bring back economic success, civic pride  and a renewed sense of hope to Rowan County.