LANDIS — Roger Safrit says that, as a general rule, he does not make empty promises.

“I’m not a politician. I’m just a down-to-earth person who knows stuff,” he said. “And if I don’t know, I’ll find out.”

Safrit served for almost eight years on the Landis Board of Aldermen, beginning in 2007.

Now, after having a few years away from the board, Safrit said one of his goals is to attract both businesses and new residents to the town.

“A lot of people have said that … there’s ‘no hope for this town,’ as far as business. I don’t believe that,” Safrit said. “What I’m going to do is fight to get business in here, keep the small-town look, the small-town attitude, but also try to get some stuff in here for young people.”

One of the attractions that he thinks will bring young people is the Lake Corriher Wilderness Area, a 98-acre park that has been undergoing revitalization since 2014.

Safrit said he worked on the project “vigorously” when he was in office and that he plans to continue the revitalization process if elected.

“It’s something that the south end (of Rowan County) does not have,” he said. “Some people are against it, but it draws younger people, especially with the trails. And you can compare it to Dan Nicholas (Park), and that wasn’t born overnight.”

In addition to new business and the Lake Corriher Wilderness Area, Safrit said the board also needs to focus on public safety.

“For some reason, public safety is always the first one to be cut when they start cutting budgets, and that just doesn’t make sense,” Safrit said. “If you keep cutting public safety funding, you’re going to end up in a barrel. Right now we’re fortunate, and for someone to say, ‘It’s not going to happen here,’ that’s stupid to think that it won’t.”

Safrit, 65, is a retired ornamental blacksmith.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.