Who is George Young, candidate for Matthews Board of Commissioners?

Name: George Young

Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 59

Campaign website or social media page: facebook.com/ElectGeorgeYoungTownofMatthewsCommissioner

Occupation: Accounting

Education: Santa Barbara City College

Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)

Yes. Ran and won town of Matthews commissioner

Please list your highlights of civic involvement

Town of Matthews Tree Advisory Board and town of Matthews commissioner

How should Matthews handle residential, commercial and industrial development? Should the town change any ordinances or rules to alter how development occurs? If so, what?

I have lots of concerns with the town passing rezonings with high density such as the recent Sante development off Idlewild Road when the local roads are substandard.

What’s the best feature of the town of Matthews and what’s the most important thing it needs to improve?

The importance of the small town feel and not just an extension of Charlotte.

An internal investigation found that Matthews Police misrepresented how successful they were at clearing crimes. What can you do, if anything, as a member of the town board to ensure police are accurately reporting internally and to the public what crime looks like in Matthews?

The town of Matthews is a council-manager form of government and the board would thus need to go into closed session with the Town Manager, Internal Affairs and the police chief to discuss and deal with the issue. I would consider this a serious issue.

What sets you apart from other candidates on the ballot and makes you the best choice?

Every zoning I voted on in the past I asked hard questions and listened to the concerns of the citizens that lived near. Also because I was on the board on the past if elected I will be able to hit the ground running.

This story was originally published October 9, 2023 at 6:00 AM.

Josh Bergeron

The Charlotte Observer

704-412-1782

Josh Bergeron is the government editor at The Charlotte Observer. Previously, he was the editor of the Salisbury Post in Salisbury, N.C. and worked as an editor and reporter at newspapers in North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi. He’s a proud LSU alumnus — Geaux Tigers.