Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1513394
4 UCW DECEMBER 20-26, 2023 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Publishers note: When we ask the question: What do Fayetteville and Cumberland County need most? e most resounding response is: "Honest and competent leadership." However, encouraging good people to run has been the biggest challenge. I am en- couraged that a bi-partisan movement is afoot to recruit candidates with the integrity, knowledge, and desire to lead Fayetteville and Cumberland County into the 21st century. Below is a state- ment from such an individual. Hope- fully, others will follow. Bill Bowman Publisher Over the last year, as I stepped back from elected office and spent more time with my family and in my busi- ness, my desire to serve the people of our community has not diminished. is period of reflection and engage- ment in everyday community life has only deepened my focus on our local needs and challenges. My desire to serve your interests has grown stron- ger, and it is with this renewed com- mitment that I am seeking the office of Cumberland County Commissioner in one of the three District 2 seats. Now, more than ever we need lead- ers solely focused on strengthening our community not dividing it and ensuring that everyone has opportuni- ties for a better life. I have always believed in "deeds not words", and I hope my consistent actions as a state senator and city councilman have proven that I am the leader who will continue to put the people of this community first over the political games we often see play out. I will deliver results not promises. Over the next several years our community will make major invest- ments in moving forward and we need steady, experienced leadership. Experience matters now more than ever and I will bring my experience at the state and local levels to the board of commissioners at a time when two long-term incumbents have chosen not to seek another term. I will continue championing is- sues like clean water, job growth, infrastructure growth, mental health, education, veterans, quality of life, and ensuring people have better opportu- nities. In previous elected positions, I have delivered for our community in these areas and will deliver again as your county commissioner. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get back to work for you. I love this community and want to help build a life for our children to have opportuni- ties to come home to, where they can live and raise their own future fami- lies. I am committed to always doing what is best for our community, being respectful of others even when we dis- agree and focused on solutions even when they are difficult. STAFF Association of Community Publishers PUBLISHER'S PEN PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com EDITOR Alyson Hansen editor@upandcomingweekly.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Sam Olsen assistanteditor@upandcomingweekly. com ART DIRECTOR Courtney Sapp-Scott art@upandcomingweekly.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@upandcomingweekly.com STAFF WRITERS Aubrette Reid Amber Little Hannah Lee Carrie Jackson Lena Simmons Kathleen Ramsey Jamie Bishop Sheila D. Barker Dr. Shanessa Fenner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Pitt Dickey, John Hood, Kirk deViere, D.G. Martin, MARKETING ASSOCIATE Linda McAlister linda@upandcomingweekly.com SALES ASSISTANT Sheila Barker salesassistant@upandcomingweekly. com COVER Cover design by Courtney Sapp-Scott Photos by Kathleen Ramsey Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan St. P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: 910-484-6200- FAX: 910-484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and information on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Published weekly on Wednesdays, Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publication consideration, but assumes no responsibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distributed at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Liberty, Pope Army Airfield, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per person. © 2020 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. Various ads with art graphics designed with elements from: pexels.com, Metro Creative Connection,, vecteezy.com and freepik.com. KIRK DEVIERE, Contributing writer. COMMENTS? BILL@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Kirk deViere to run for Cumberland County Commissioner by KIRK DEVIERE (Photo used with permission and taken by jalexartis Photography)