Retired autoworker Clyde Weeks has never served in public office, but he believes two terms from current Commissioner Bill Trueblood is enough.

"A lot of people want change," Weeks, a 68-year-old Weeksville native, said. "(Trueblood's) been in there long enough."

Justin Falls/The Daily Advance (ENLARGE)

Clyde Weeks, seen here at his home on Dryridge Road, is seeking a a seat on the Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners.

Weeks, who retired from Ford Motor Co. after a 38-year career, is challenging Trueblood for his Southern Outside seat in the May 6 Democratic primary. It's his first political campaign.

It's not that Weeks doesn't like Trueblood; he just believes that after eight years the Board of Commissioners needs some fresh views and perspectives.

"I just had a lot of people who called me and asked me to run," Weeks said. "They need a change."

Weeks believes there are several issues where he can help make a positive difference if he's elected.

"Drainage is one of the main things right now," he said. "There's a lot of drainage problems everywhere and we're lagging way behind" in addressing them.

Another issue concerns property owners who want the dogs of deer hunters banned from crossing their land without permission. The Board of Commissioners is currently considering new restrictions on hunting deer with dogs.

Weeks said he would oppose any new laws regulating hunting with dogs.

"You can't just single out deer dogs," he said. "It looks like they're singling out deer hunters."

Weeks said he respects residents who want to keep hunting dogs off their property, but he believes most hunters obey the current laws and try to be respectful of their neighbors.

"It only takes one or two (hunters) to give everybody a bad name," he said.

Another hot-button issue this past year was the airpark project at the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Regional Airport. The project stirred controversy when city officials threatened to condemn the farmland of neighboring landowners who had refused to sell. The controversy ended when the airpark project was scaled down enough to make it work on the land already acquired.

Weeks said part of the friction was created when local officials failed to communicate properly with residents near the airport on Consolidated Road.

"A lot were dissatisfied with the way it was done," Weeks said. "I think the neighbors should have been more informed on details."

As for the airpark project, he supports it — if it's going to pay off with the hundreds of new jobs that have been promised.

"I feel if the airport will put more jobs and money into the area, then that's good," Weeks said. "If it's going to cost taxpayers a lot of money and the county won't benefit, then it's not good."

If he's elected, Weeks vows to be a frugal spender.

"A lot of older people are on fixed incomes," he said. "We need to learn to control some of our spending."

In fact, less spending is one of Weeks' campaign priorities, along with lower taxes, better planning and controlled development, better drainage and more conservation.

A fan of the outdoors who grew up on a family farm, Weeks said he wants to preserve the rural character of southern Pasquotank County.

"I hate to see all this trash up and down the sides of the roads," he said. "It clogs the drainage culverts and the swamps."