Dan Besse (D) - Forsyth County Commissioner - At Large
Q: How important is it for the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to ensure citizens have access to healthy and affordable food? (1-5 scale)
A: 5
Q: When elected, how will you help combat food insecurity in Forsyth County? (open-ended question)
A: We must ensure that the Dept. of Social Services (DSS) has all local support needed to facilitate public education on and timely processing of benefit programs including WIC, TANF, and food stamps.
I would help promote community support for key local food assistance organizations such as the Forsyth Backpack Program (home weekend and holiday meal assistance for students in need).
I would work with municipalities to help close food desert gaps via transportation assistance, and encouragement for the location of full-purpose food sales outlets in areas without those.
Q: How important is it for the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to take action against climate change? (1-5 scale)
A: 5
Q: As Commissioner, how will you address climate change in Forsyth County? (open-ended question)
A: I would promote improved energy efficiency for county facilities.
--Promote utilization of renewable energy systems for county facilities.
--Promote updates to county vehicle fleets to hybrid or plug-in electric vehicles.
--Work with municipalities and regional transportation agencies to make public transit options more broadly available within Forsyth County.
--Review county planning and zoning codes for opportunities to improve tree conservation, location of new development close to services and other facilities that will help reduce driving time, and incorporation of sidewalks and other active transportation measures within and connecting to new development.
--Improve county stormwater management plans and rules to better control the impacts of increased storms in flooding and erosion.
Q:How important is it for Forsyth County to shift to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower? (1-5 scale)
A: 5
Q: As Commissioner, how will you increase the use of renewable energy in Forsyth County? (open-ended question)
A: Please see answer to climate change question above.
Q: How important is equitable, accessible public transportation? (1-5 scale)
A: 5
Q: How important is it for Forsyth County to design streets for people to walk, bike, bus, and drive safely? (1-5 scale)
A: 3
Q: As Commissioner, how will you advocate for equitable public transit and more multi-use streets? (open-ended question)
A: For transit, please see answer to climate change above. For street design, it's important to note that in North Carolina counties don't control the roads or streets. It's a function of municipalities and the state. Safe street design is extremely important--it's just not an item which county government can do directly.
Q: How important is it for the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to protect the quality and availability of its water sources? (1-5 scale)
A: 5
Q: In what ways can the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners protect water sources and make sure safe water is available to all communities? (open-ended question)
A: Regarding stormwater, please see the climate change answer above.
Regarding safe water access, the county can work with the City of Winston-Salem in our jointly appointed water/sewer utilities commission to ensure a continued commitment to well-planned and resourced water and sewer treatment, distribution, and collection infrastructure; and to keep the rates as affordable as possible for lower-income households. We can also work to protect water supply watersheds from poorly designed or located new development.
Q: How important is it for the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to pass policies that combat environmental racism? (1-5 scale)
A: 5
Q: As Commissioner, how will you address issues of environmental justice? (open-ended question)
A: In areas under county planning and zoning jurisdiction, always consider the environmental justice impacts of new development, especially industrial and other potentially high-impact development.
Q: How important is it for the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to reduce landfill waste and achieve more countywide recycling? (1-5 scale)
A: 5
Q: As Commissioner, will you support the development of an industrial compost facility in Forsyth County? (yes/no)
A: Undecided
Q: As Commissioner, what policy would you propose to incentivize recycling and reduce landfill waste? (open-ended question)
A: We need to comprehensively review our county recycling program for ways to increase public participation. Regarding an industrial compost facility, I am undecided. I'm not categorically opposed to the idea; I just have not seen any analyses on the value and practicality of such a facility. I'd need to see details on environmental value, cost and funding, and utilization prospects before I commit to support. One question I have is the net value of large-scale composting when taking into account the impacts of carbon emissions from the collection process.