Campaign News

Sam has made it through the primary on to the general election in November for another term as a Davidson County Commissioner. Go to the bottom of this page for additional information.

Sam and Billy Joe Kepley on 2010 Primary election night.
Billy Joe was on top with 8,217 votes.
Don Truell was 2nd with 6,941 votes.
Sam was 3rd with 6,811 votes.

To see additional pictures of primary night go to the Photo Gallery page of this website.

By WILLIAM KEESLER
The Dispatch
DENTON — Saturday night’s Davidson County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner was a coming out, of sorts, for Republican candidates in this year’s elections.Sam Watford of East Davidson, a paving and utility contractor who serves on the county planning board. Watford raised some eyebrows Saturday night by distributing cards with a $1 coin attached. “Something for You, Shining and New, In 2002,” the inscription read. The coin was intended not to buy votes but to encourage Republicans to take a card and remember its message, Watford said. “If you’ll look at the tables, you’ll still see a lot of brochures,” Watford said. “But most of ours, people have put them in their pockets". Ben Watford, the candidate’s brother, said they spent $500 in contributions on the gimmick.

By CHERRIECE WRIGHT and WILLIAM KEESLER
The Dispatch
The 2002 election season officially kicked off Monday as the Davidson County Board of Elections opened at noon for candidates to file to run for office. Sam Watford, 49, a paving and utility contractor from East Davidson who serves on the county planning board. Watford said he is seeking the office because it involves managing people, growth and money, all areas in which he has experience. He said he would like to see forward strides made in education and said he is optimistic about the county’s economic future. Watford said he wanted residents to know he was serious about his candidacy and hopes it will show through to residents during the campaign season. “I bought a new pair of boots for some serious politicking,” Watford said, joking.
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By ERIC FRAZIER
The Dispatch
Republican voters in Tuesday’s primary sent two of the three incumbents running for re-election to the November ballot. Sam Watford of Thomasville, in his first bid for a commissioner’s seat, was the top vote-getter for the Republicans with 5,450 votes. Watford was endorsed by Sheriff Hege. “I’m new to politics and Sheriff Hege has helped me a whole lot,” Watford said. “You could say I’m taking what we call ‘Politics 101.’” The 49-year-old grading and utilities contractor serves on the county planning and zoning board. Watford’s campaign theme is “less tax is good government, and less government is better government.”

Click here for complete article. Click here for primary results.

October, 2002
Forum
By Kristen Johnson
The Thomasville Times
For the eight candidates competing for a seat on the Davidson County Board of Commissioners, education and economic development go hand in hand. Candidates spoke at a forum held Thursday evening in the cafeteria at E.L. Brown Middle School. Each candidate was given four minutes to speak and answer a question randomly assigned to him or her. The last candidate to speak was Republican Sam Watford. Watford said economic development was “without a doubt” a priority for him — but said he felt the “best answer to these tough times is to help the working man in business for himself expand through help with zoning and permitting.” Watford also suggested revising the county’s land-use plan. “Growth around our municipalities is stressing our schools, highways and quality of life,” Watford said. His question dealt with the relationship between city and county fire departments, and whether responses to county schools could be done by the fire departments closest to that school. “There are mutual aid agreements between city and county fire departments,” Watford said. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think those agreements already address the issue.”
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October, 2002
Forum
By Kristen Johnson
The Thomasville Times
Several candidates for Davidson County Board of Commissioners were put on the spot by a group of roughly 50 voters who took the gloves off at Friday night’s forum. Lexington resident Fred Sink questioned candidates about the recent decision to increase the county’s sales tax one-half cent. “We get taxed more and get the same services,” Sink said. “The people can’t bear more taxation. Would you vote to rescind that extra half-cent if you were elected?” “It’s supposed to be a temporary half-cent tax,” Republican Sam Watford said. “If it came to be that we no longer needed the money, I’d vote to rescind it.” Truell was the only candidate to raise his hand when asked by Arcadia resident Mark Scott if he “really believed” the DCSO under Hege’s administration had reduced crime by 61 percent. As audience members laughed, Watford — another candidate formally endorsed by Hege — raised both hands.
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When you stand in front of the voting machine on Nov. 5, our hope is that you will resist the temptation to leave the voting booth after pressing just one button for a straight ticket. We think this is especially true in the selection of four members of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners from nine candidates.

Our favorites are, in alphabetical order, Watson Gregg, Loretta Martin, Max Walser and Sam Watford. What a terrific board it would be if these four were elected to join the three Republicans who are in the middle of their four-year terms. Sam Watford, a member of the county planning and zoning board, is a civil engineer with his own construction company. His expertise in economic development matters would be invaluable on the board. He promises to oppose any tax increases and is widely known in Thomasville for his activity in civic organizations. A pilot, he would promote as a favored location our under-promoted county airport if FedEx displaces some private planes in Greensboro.

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November 6, 2002
Election Results
By ERIC FRAZIER
The Dispatch
A Democrat will join the Davidson County Board of Commissioners for the first time in 12 years as Max Walser was the leading vote-getter in the race for the four open seats. Walser received 22,924 votes for 14 percent. Republicans took the next three places: Sam Watford came in second with 22,820 votes, followed by Don Truell with 22,444 votes, both at 14 percent and incumbent Cindy Akins with 21,635 for 13 percent. While shaking hands, Walser and Watford acknowledged that the final vote canvass could conceivably reverse their ranking with only 104 votes between them. In an interview afterward, Watford called Walser “a sharp guy” and said he was looking forward to working with him. Asked what he thought the voters’ message was, Watford, 49, a resident of the East Davidson area, answered, “Change, since the top three vote-getters are not incumbents.” Watford attributed his win to good organization. “I’d like to thank a lot of people who worked hard. Next to the sheriff’s organization, we put together the best organization on the Republican side. “Getting here is the easy part. Living up to voters’ expectations, as well as my own, is the hard part,” Watford added. Watford campaigned on the proposition that “less tax is good government and less government is better government.” He guaranteed that he will not raise taxes. Watford questioned whether incumbents were “playing politics with your money” by first cutting trash and recycling box site hours over the summer then reinstating the original schedule shortly before the election. He also questioned the vote to implement an additional one-half cent local option sales tax Dec. 1, just before the holiday season. This was Watford’s first run for elective office.

Click here for complete article. Click here for election results.

February 23. 2006 12:00AM
Sam Watford files to keep commissioner seat
By ESE ISIORHO
The Dispatch
Unlike many candidates before him, Republican incumbent Sam Watford was without an entourage as he filed to keep his seat as a Davidson County commissioner Wednesday. "It was a rainy day, and I was waiting on a rainy day to file," he joked in an interview. The 53-year-old underground water and sewer utility contractor is completing his first four-year term as commissioner and says he needs more time to make some changes in the county. "Even though we've had some successes, the goals that I had hoped to achieve, especially in the area of economic development in our county, have not materialized," he said. Watford said if "allowed the opportunity by the citizens" to serve another term, he will work to ensure that the sewer line project, which is part of a $66.4 million school bond approved in the November election, is completed properly and in a timely manner.
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GOP candidates make pitch

BY ROBERT COOPER
The Dispatch
Faced with the opportunity to set themselves apart before the May primary, many Republican candidates ended up striking similar points at a forum in Abbots Creek Thursday night. Incumbent Sam Watford answered the two questions in the quickest possible way, saying the biggest challenges for the next term would be "anything having to do with money." In particular, he mentioned funding the Medicaid program, which in North Carolina is the burden of individual counties, paying down the school bond referendum and ensuring every school in the county is attached to the sewer system by 2010. He promised smart budgeting and his construction experience would help him tackle the issues.
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May 02. 2006 11:22PM

Watford earns top votes; Akins misses the cut
BY ROBERT COOPER
The Dispatch
Voters have selected four Republican commissioner candidates — Sam Watford, Billy Joe Kepley, Don Truell and Kenny Moore — to square off against the Democrats in November, leaving behind one incumbent candidate and several strong contenders. In Tuesday’s primary election, Sam Watford led the pack with 3,592 votes (16 percent) with the other candidates following close behind. Incumbent Cindy Akins came in fifth and won’t return to the board. “I’d like to thank the people that voted for me,” Watford said Tuesday night at the Davidson County Governmental Center after the results were announced. “You always try to do the best you can for this county.” Watford and Kepley embraced amid a crowd of family and supporters. “I look forward to working with you,” Kepley quietly said to Watford. Watford, 53, of Thomasville, is one of three incumbents who ran and will continue on to the November election with fellow incumbent Truell. This is Watford’s second run for office. He owns a construction company specializing in underground utility construction.

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2006 Primary Election Summary
2006 Primary Election Detail

October 11. 2006 1:00PM
Candidates flock to women's club forum
By ERIC FRAZIER
The Dispatch
Incumbent Republican county commissioner Sam Watford spoke also for fellow incumbent Don Truell, who as a former Thomasville mayor was playing in the Mayor's Cup golf tournament.
"I'm sticking with one issue -economic development," Watford said, promising to continue "aggressive recruitment."
He called it important for the tax base, jobs and to improve the appearance of the county by filling empty factory buildings.
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November 01. 2006 1:00PM
School construction and jobs are on forefront of commissioners' race
BY GLEN BAITY
The Dispatch
The third single-term commissioner campaigning for another four years on the board, Watford hopes to win re-election to see sewer service extended to the remainder of Davidson County. He forecasted the project's completion for 2010. After the massive layoffs and factory closings over the past several years, Watford said he'd be reluctant to offer incentives to a furniture manufacturer, although he noted that Davidson County had always had a "hands-based" job market. Watford said he couldn't see the county moving too far afield from that type of labor. Still, he voiced confidence in the Davidson County workforce. "I think we're pretty well-qualified to do anything." Like the majority of the candidates, he concedes that something must be done to help fund new schools to meet ever-increasing student numbers. But whatever the solution is, Watford said he's flatly opposed to borrowing money to accomplish it.
"I believe in taking the money you have and doing what you can," he said. Watford reiterated his displeasure that social issues have begun appearing on county government agendas. "There's a movement among politicians to use moral values for their own personal and political gain," he said. "It has absolutely no business in county government."
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November 08. 2006 1:00PM
Kepley, three incumbents give board of commissioners familiar look
BY GLEN BAITY
The Dispatch
Davidson County voters returned three incumbents and one former commissioner to the board in the multi-seat plurality contest. Incumbent Democrat Max Walser lead the field of eight candidates with 17,229 votes (15 percent). Following closely with 16,519 votes (14 percent) was former three-term commissioner Billy Joe Kepley, who will return to the seat he lost by only five votes in the Republican Primary in 2004. Rounding out the field were incumbent Republicans Don Truell, with 15,795 votes, and Sam Watford, with 15,672 votes (14 percent each).

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Published: Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 5:00 a.m.
Local candidates speak on issues
By Heather J. Smith
The Dispatch
Thursday night at the Davidson County Courthouse, the county Republican Convention was asked if felons should be able to run for the office of sheriff.
The party's answer was emphatic: No.
Party chairman Lance Barrett welcomed delegates, candidates and guests. After concluding most of the meeting's business, Barrett asked the crowd to turn its attention to a resolution supporting a bill introduced by state Sen. Stan Bingham, R-33, that would bar felons from running for the office of sheriff.
The resolution was passed with only a small group voting against.
Barrett then invited Republican candidates from all local contested races to speak briefly. The recent passage of health care reform and higher taxes were the focus of comments by national and state candidates, but economic woes were discussed by all local candidates.
Incumbent Davidson County Commissioner Sam Watford touched on projects he supported in the past, and promised the same dedication to the job in the future if re-elected.
"Local government cannot be all things to all people," Watford said. "Ours is a complex world and there are no simple fixes or simplistic solutions. But when the polls close, I will continue serving the Lord, my family and, if enough people have confidence in me, Davidson County."

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Economy, job creation highlights forum

By ERIN WILTGEN
Thomasville Times

This political season doesn’t favor incumbents.
With the economy still wavering and Davidson County unemployment at an all-time high, many constituents have begun clamoring for a changing of the guard.
But three incumbents of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners stood calm and confident at the commissioners’ forum — held Friday at Piedmont Crossing Retirement Community — to state their case for the coming primaries.
“Political pundits are saying that this is an anti-incumbent year,” said Republican Sam Watford. “I don’t mind taking some of the blame for what’s wrong as long as I get some of the credit for what’s good. I’ve been exceptionally proud of being part of county government.”
“What I see us having is more commercial development, especially around the major intersections,” Watford said. “Our manufacturing base is still here, but we’re going to have to diversify it. There’s no reason that we can’t have something like [shopping centers] around the major intersections.”
Pullout – what they talked about at the forum
Sam Watford
• Building commercial centers at intersections
• Giving local businesses a year off on taxes if they buy something new
• Diversifying manufacturing
• Extending sewer lines to the intersection of Interstate-85 and Hwy 64

Click here for complete article.

Published: Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 10:20 a.m.
Commissioner candidate responses
The Dispatch

Eight candidates for Davidson County Board of Commissioner responded to a questionnaire about their opinions should they win a seat on the board. The following are the questions and responses in entirety.

Question 1. Please tell readers a little about yourself, particularly about any political experience. Some of you are incumbent commissioners, some have held seats on city councils, some served on various committees and others are brand new to this. Share any past experience that qualifies you for the job.
• Past President of the Thomasville Jaycees
• Past Master of the Thomasville Masonic Lodge
• Past President of the Chair City Shrine Club
• Past member of the Davidson County Planning and Zoning Board
• Serving 2nd term as a County Commissioner

Question 2. This is one question posed different ways for incumbents and their challengers.
To incumbents: A lot has happened in this county over the past year. What was the most important issue commissioners decided on during that year, what factors lead to your decision and how do you feel about the issue now the decision is made?
Watford:The approval of the budget ordinance is the single most important decision that we make annually and directly affects the lives of the citizens of Davidson County. The next most significant decision made this past year, in my opinion, was the purchase of the Davidson Academy property which I opposed. I didn’t object to the value or need but at a time when it is hard for the average citizen to spend two thousand dollars, I could not justify spending $2 million.

Question 3. The economy and high unemployment rates are this year’s biggest issues. The Davidson County Economic Development Commission actively recruits manufacturers to locate in Davidson County and works closely with the county, Lexington, Thomasville and Denton to negotiate incentive packages to reimburse a company a portion of its property tax bill if it chooses to move here. The Lexington Tourism Authority and the Davidson County Tourism Recreation Investment Partnership market the county’s attractions and activities to people living locally and out of state through publications and the Internet. Last year, commissioners pushed for and succeeded in creating economic incentive grants to small businesses in Davidson County expanding and adding jobs.
What can you, as a commissioner, do above and beyond these efforts to improve the economy in Davidson County?
Watford: More government involvement is not always the answer. We operate in a free enterprise, capitalistic, supply and demand economy and hopefully will remain just that. We will continue to make Davidson County as business friendly as possible through the zoning, permitting, and inspections processes, in addition to the tax rebate incentives.

Question 4. Besides the enduring issues of education, jobs and taxes, what are some of your goals during your time on the board of commissioners?
Watford: I am thankful that the Lord placed me in this place at this time. All I can ever hope to do is to try to leave it better for those He places here after me.

Click here for complete article.

Published: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 10:15 p.m.
Incumbent commissioner candidates move on
By David Bodenheimer
The Dispatch
Three Republican incumbents pushed through the primary and will join five other candidates on the ballot in the November general election.
Incumbent Billy Joe Kepley received the most Republican votes with 8,183 for 15.8 percent in unofficial returns Tuesday night. He was followed by incumbent county board members Don Truell with 6,905 votes (13.33 percent) and Sam Watford with 6,773 votes (13.08 percent).
Watford, who said he ran on his record rather than campaigning heavily, said he hopes to be able to continue to work on improving Davidson County. Watford will be seeking his third term on the board.
“I just appreciate everyone's support that voted for me,” Watford said. “If elected this fall, I promise to work as hard as ever. I don't mind people criticizing what we do, and I'll take my share of the blame just as long as we (board) get our share of the credit.”

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