Growing up in Corolla, Michael Cherry would often listen as his father talked about Currituck politics at the dinner table.

Marshall Cherry was chief of Corolla's fire-rescue department for more than 22 years. He also served a single four-year term as a Currituck County commissioner in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Justin Falls/Daily Advance (ENLARGE)

Michael Cherry, a resident of Corolla, is a Democratic candidate for the new District 1 seat on the Currituck County Board of Commissioners.

Given his father's civic and political involvement, it seemed inevitable that Michael Cherry would one day seek public office.

"It is something I've always known I would do," says Cherry, a Democratic candidate for the new District 1 seat on the Currituck commission.

What he probably never counted on, however, was running against the same man his father defeated — veteran Commissioner Ernie Bowden. Marshall Cherry defeated Bowden in 1988 but Bowden took the seat back in 1992. He's won re-election three times since then, and is seeking a fifth consecutive four-year term this fall, this time in the county's new District 1.

If Cherry is successful in the Democratic primary against Bowden, he'll take on the winner of the May 6 Republican primary — either Knotts Island resident Vance Aydlett or Corolla resident Keith Hill — in the November general election.

Cherry said Currituck needs to improve its infrastructure, particularly its wastewater service, to bring in new industries and businesses to bolster the economy. He believes grants may be available to pay for new sewer systems.

Cherry said a majority of Moyock residents currently commute either to Virginia or elsewhere for their jobs. He'd like that to change.

"I'd like to see us have more of an opportunity to keep our own residents working in our county," he said. "We need municipal sewer in order to attract the businesses."

He said his expertise in wastewater systems could be an asset in that effort.

"I'm a former wastewater level two operator, and with my background in commercial and residential construction, I understand the soil analysis that is needed," Cherry said. "Moyock has more clay soil, so we have to look at more municipal sewer."

If he's elected, Cherry also would push for the development of a recreational center. He favors something similar to a YMCA-like facility.

"The youth of Currituck don't have a whole lot to do," he said. "Right now, our swim team has to leave the county to practice, and we have to remedy that."

Cherry also favors the county helping private groups that are trying to create activities for children. He noted that the Knotts Island Ruritan Club is holding fundraisers to build a skate park. He said the county needs to help fund such projects.

As a commissioner, Cherry says he would schedule regular meetings with District 1 constituents to hear their concerns.

"I've always tried to be a people person," he said. "If they have problems, or they want to try and accomplish something, I'd like to work with the citizens on that in the meeting, then take what I find out to the board (of commissioners) and work out solutions to their problems."

Cherry said when it comes to land-use decisions, commissioners should be mindful of the county's rural heritage.

"My goal is to save and preserve the quality of life in Currituck County," he said. "And we need someone who can effectively work through the issues with a 10- and 20-year vision of the future."

Cherry believes the county's Unified Development Ordinance that guides growth needs to be "a living document ... (that) evolves" as the county's needs evolve.

"We have to be mindful how our commercial and residential areas develop," he said. "One of the many assets that Currituck has is its rural nature. We need to be mindful ... to keep that rural tone in our county."