Bill Lehmann used to be a pilot, first for the U.S. Coast Guard and then for a commercial airline. Even so, he's no fan of a plan to study neighboring Camden and Gates counties for a jet training field for Navy pilots.

The Navy outlying landing field is being studied for other counties but Pasquotank residents also would be affected by its jet noise, Lehmann says. That's why he thinks Pasquotank commissioners need to be more vocal in opposing the OLF.

"I think our elected officials in Pasquotank County need to take a more proactive role in the fight against the OLF," he said.

Lehmann, a Republican former city councilman, says he would take on that role if he's elected to the Board of Commissioners this fall. Lehmann, 63, is seeking the at-large commission seat currently held by Democrat Jeff Dixon.

First up for Lehmann, however, is a race against fellow Republican Fulford (Edward) Munden in the GOP primary on May 6. The winner will take on Dixon in the fall general election.

For Lehmann, the at-large race is his second bid for a county commission seat. He ran and lost a campaign for an at-large seat 12 years ago. In between the two campaigns, Lehmann served two terms as a Second Ward city councilman before losing a narrow mayoral race to Charles Foster in 2005.

Lehmann says he thinks the time is right for a return to public life.

"I have missed being out of politics," he said.

Lehmann said he has nothing against either Munden or Dixon; he just thinks he can be a better commissioner.

"I think I have a lot to offer not only in politics, but from a managerial standpoint from my Coast Guard experience," he said. "I'm retired and I'm able to devote (myself) full-time to that end."

If he's elected, Lehmann said one of his top priorities would be making sure county government was accountable.

"One of my highest priorities is accountability in government — not only in the process as far as elected officials doing the right thing, but in fiscal accountability," he said. "I'd like to be part of the decision-making process for the county."

Lehmann said he believes the county government has "done a good job financially," but he thinks there is room for improvement.

"I just think our commissioners as a whole should be more responsive to the people who elected them," he said.

Besides the OLF and fiscal accountability, Lehmann said the county is facing a number of other important issues, including planning for growth and finding solutions for poor drainage in flood-prone areas.

Lehmann is a member and past chairman of the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce; a former member of the Albemarle Economic Development Commission and Northeast Economic Development Commission; a past member and chairman of the Pasquotank County Planning Board; and a former member of the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Regional Airport Authority Board.

Bill Lehmann

Age: 63

Occupation: Retired from U.S. Coast Guard; also retired commercial airline pilot

Education: Bachelor of science degree in engineering, U.S. Coast Guard Academy; also graduated from Navy flight training school

Political affiliation: Republican

Previous political offices/campaigns: Member of City Council, 2001-05; ran unsuccessfully for Elizabeth City mayor in 2005; ran for Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners, at large seat, 1996

Civic, community affiliations: Member and past chairman, Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce; member, Elizabeth City Morning Rotary Club; active member and past board chairman, City Road United Methodist Church

Religion: Methodist

Family: Married with two adult sons