Stanley Griggs says he'll be the fiscally conservative commissioner Currituck County sorely needs in the coming tough economic times.

"The overwhelming issue is our current state of the economy and how tough it will be managing the budget for the next three or four years," Griggs said. "It is going to take a lot of conservative leadership to continue to provide levels of services we enjoy now and not have to raise taxes."

Justin Falls/The Daily Advance (ENLARGE)

Stanley D. Griggs is a Democrat seeking the newly created second at-large seat on the Currituck Board of Commissioners.

Griggs, the county's emergency management coordinator, is one of two Democrats seeking the newly created second at-large seat on the commission board. The Poplar Branch resident is facing Moyock resident William Carlton Etheridge Sr. in the May 6 primary. The winner will take on Republican Paul O'Neal in the November general election.

For Griggs, the race offers a chance to return to politics. He served one term on the county commission from 1978 to 1982.

Griggs said Currituck already enjoys quality services such as fire, emergency medical response and law enforcement. But maintaining the quality of those services will require more than just thrifty spending, he said. The county will also need to diversify its economy to bring in additional tax revenues, he said.

"I think we need to dedicate as much resources to economic development as we have to tourism in the past," Griggs said.

He said the county's intense marketing efforts have paid big dividends, and he'd like to see the same effort directed at economic development.

"We do not need to replace tourism, but provide the same level of intensity to economic development (promotion) that we have to tourism so we can accomplish the same thing," Griggs said.

However, it will take more than promoting Currituck to convince businesses to come here, he said.

"We've got to invest in infrastructure, whether its water, wastewater, sewer (or) roads. Industry needs that infrastructure to come here," he said.

Griggs said the county should first focus on recruiting companies that are environmentally friendly.

"We need to look toward green industry, and be as selective as we can," he said.

An example would be a windmill-generation company, which might fare well in Currituck with its brisk sea breezes.

"Those type of things (should be solicited) that can bring some level of industry here," he said. "Again, we want to diversity our tax base."

Farming is no longer panning out, particularly in the southern end of Currituck, landowners say. In fact, some have requested rezonings to allow residential development.

Griggs can relate to what farmers in Currituck are going through. For 30 years, he grew corn and soybeans and raised hogs. Tough economic times forced him to sell his farming operation, he said.

"I was one who had to quit because of economic conditions at the time. It was a hard decision," Griggs said.

When it comes to land-use decisions, Griggs says the county needs a growth policy that is both "balanced" and that protects individual property rights.

"We don't need to have policies in place that arbitrarily devalue people's property," Griggs said. "We need to come up with creative ways to protect the individual property rights."

Griggs said it has become popular for politicians to call for preservation of the county's rural nature. But he thinks the county can both preserve its heritage and grow.

"I have lived here all my life and grew up in a rural nature. That's a good thing to strive for," he said. "We can do that by balancing our growth, and having the right kind of development prospects."

No matter what happens in the election, Griggs said he plans to retire from his job with the county by the end of the year.

He does believe his experience as a county department head and past tenure as a Currituck commissioner would be of benefit to the county.

"As a department head in the county, and prior county commissioner, I think have unique insight on county government services," Griggs said. "I certainly have business experience (in agriculture) that will be an asset."