By Jessica Coates

jessica.coates@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — Dorland Abernathy said that when he first ran for the Landis Board of Aldermen, he did so with the objective of creating a kinder environment for residents who wished to express their concerns.

“I care about Landis, and I care about the people of Landis. I want to both represent them and serve them,” Abernathy said.

Abernathy, 67, said that in the four years he has served since that initial run, he has tried to listen to people without judgment or disrespect.

“I have sought to make certain that I understood whatever matters have come before the board before rushing to a vote on any issue,” Abernathy said.

One of the issues that both he and other Landis residents have been most concerned with is town finances.

After some aldermen were found to be using questionable spending habits during town-funded trips, Abernathy said he led the charge to overhaul the board’s travel policy.

“I wanted to remember that every dime I voted to spend as an alderman had to come out of someone’s pocket,” Abernathy said.

In the past two years, the money budgeted for board travel has been reduced from $30,000 in 2015-16 to $7,000 in 2016-17.

He said that should he be re-elected, he wants to focus on economic development — especially near the Interstate 85 interchange that is being built in southern Rowan County. He also wants to focus on parks and recreation projects.

Abernathy is a retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg school teacher. He said his pet projects are to support breast cancer patients and military families.

Abernathy is a 20-year survivor of breast cancer.

Abernathy has been married to his wife, Colette, for 36 years. They have five children: Marty, Melissa, Christopher, Paul and Nathan.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.