Questions for the Dare County Commissioner Candidates: District 2, Woodard and Morgan

As a service to voters during the 2024 general election, the Island Free Press asked each of the candidates running in the three competitive Dare County Commissioner races to answer questions on various issues affecting Hatteras Islanders.

The General Election is November 5, 2024, although early voting is available at the Fessenden Annex in Buxton as of Thursday, October 17.

Below are answers from the two candidates running for the District 2 race – incumbent Robert L. (Bob) Woodard, Sr. and Katie Morgan.

The District 2 commissioner represents Nags Head, Colington, and Kill Devil Hills, but commissioners for all races are elected at-large and appear on all ballots in Dare County.

Answers to the eight Hatteras Island-centric questions are listed below. The  answers are published in full and have not been edited for length or content.

Question 1: What skills, assets, etc. will you bring to the table as part of the seven-member Board of Commissioners?

Robert Woodard: I respectfully seek reelection so we can continue the progress that has been made to provide our residents with top quality services without increasing their taxes.

My business career focused on helping small businesses obtain affordable insurance coverage.  Working closely with business owners and their employees, I saw the benefit of implementing conservative financial policies.  That is why during my tenure as Chairman, I have worked diligently to safeguard every taxpayer dollar.  I am proud of the fact that during my Chairmanship we have expanded county services without raising taxes.

I have a passion for reaching out and building partnerships that will benefit the people of Dare County.  The relationships I have worked to build throughout our community, in Raleigh, and in Washington, D.C. have been beneficial for our residents.  It is important that we continue building on these relationships so we can work effectively with key stakeholders such as the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, and NCDOT.

Katie Morgan: I was raised in Kitty Hawk, giving me a deep connection to Dare County and its people. Over the years, I’ve built lasting relationships with locals, and my roots stretch across the county, from Hatteras to Duck. If someone doesn’t know me personally, they likely know my family.

I grew up flying airplanes and attended an aeronautical university, where I learned to thrive under pressure and manage large workloads. Later, I became a dental hygienist, spending over a decade serving underserved communities. When my fiancé and I returned to Dare County, we started a tree company, becoming certified arborists and committing to this community as our forever home.

I’m not running for office to be a “career politician” but to represent the everyday residents of Dare County—people who want honest leadership. It’s time for a Commissioner who not only understands our challenges but fights for real, tangible progress.

Question 2: What will be your top priorities for improving Dare County and specifically Hatteras Island as a County Commissioner, and how will you tackle these missions?

Robert Woodard: Hatteras Island is a vital part of Dare County with a unique heritage that must be preserved. We have worked hand in hand with people in the community to make sure the needs of Hatteras Island are addressed.  Beach nourishment, Buxton beach cleanup, and safeguarding transportation to all of Hatteras Island have been priorities of my Chairmanship.  I pledge to continue the progress we have made in all these areas and expand on the efforts that are underway to address essential workforce housing, and the expansion of recreational facilities throughout all of Dare County.

Additionally, it is imperative that we continue to support our First Responders and the Saving Lives Taskforce for the positive difference they are making in communities throughout Hatteras Island.

One of my priorities as Chairman has been the educational needs of our children.  We must continue what has been done to keep our students safe with specially trained Deputies serving as School Resource Officers.  And, we must continue providing our teachers with the tools they need to keep Dare County schools among the best in the State of North Carolina.

I am especially proud of the program we created that gives every Dare County graduate the opportunity to attend the COA for free.   We must continue our efforts to provide high quality educational opportunities.

Katie Morgan: One of the key reasons I decided to run for office is the lack of transparency and accountability in Dare County’s current leadership. Our residents deserve more than empty promises—they deserve leaders who will stand up and fight for them and spend our tax dollars responsibly.

Equally concerning is the future of our local businesses and workforce. We must take decisive action to improve support for job and skills training within the county, foster entrepreneurship, and address urgent needs like affordable childcare and housing. These aren’t just talking points—they are critical to relieving the immense pressures on our business owners and workers. It’s time we start genuinely investing in our community and prioritizing the well-being of our residents.

We also need to advocate fiercely for safe waterways while working to eliminate unnecessary regulations at the state level. I’ve been called persistent and tenacious for a reason—I won’t back down when it comes to standing up for our community. I’ll use that determination to push for the regulatory reforms we desperately need, and I’m confident that a fresh, bold voice can break through the stagnation.

I am unwavering in my commitment to adapt to challenges, shift priorities when necessary, and do whatever it takes to get things done for Dare County. Our community deserves nothing less.

Question 3: What is the best way forward for cleaning up the petroleum, contaminants AND infrastructure on Buxton Beach, and how will you facilitate this plan as County Commissioner?

Robert Woodard: We must remain steadfast in pressuring the federal government to do the right thing for the people of Hatteras Island.  Progress has been made on the Buxton Beach project.  And, I will continue to work closely with all the federal agencies involved until they accomplish what needs to be done to everyone’s satisfaction.  We have held special community meetings and will continue to do so until this issue is resolved.  As they say, “the squeaky wheel gets attention.” On behalf of the people of Hatteras Island, I will continue to be a very squeaky wheel.

Katie Morgan: I will continue to actively listen to and trust the insights and ideas from the Buxton Civic Association, as they are directly involved and have a daily pulse on the situation. Their boots-on-the-ground perspective is invaluable.

Having spent significant time down south, I know firsthand that pictures don’t fully capture the severity of the situation—you have to see it to understand. While it’s promising to see steps being taken to clean up, I will ensure that progress continues steadily until the job is done and the issue is fully resolved. This situation is more serious than many leaders acknowledge, and I vow to be transparent about both the findings and the progress being made.

Question 4: How can Dare County help protect N.C. Highway 12 from flooding, and particularly in areas prone to ocean overwash such as Pea Island, northern Buxton, and northern Hatteras Village, as well as areas prone to soundside/rainwater flooding, such as the Tri-Villages, Frisco, and Hatteras Village?

Robert Woodard: Great strides have been made with NCDOT to safeguard transportation access to all of Hatteras Island.  We will aggressively continue this effort as well as continue our campaign to nourish beaches.

Katie Morgan: In my opinion, in general, the areas of southern Dare County need greater attention and stronger support from the county.

Specifically about NC Highway 12, there is a Highway 12 Task Force in place that has come up with some short-term and long-term solutions to this issue. I would be interested in sitting down with this task force to hear their long-term solutions and also sit down with some locals that live in the southern Dare County regions to hear what they think. It is a really bad situation and I feel nervous about Highway 12 a lot. I think that finding a long-term, permanent solution needs to happen soon.

Question 5: Is there a solution for homes collapsing into the ocean in Rodanthe, (and possibly Buxton at some point in the future?) If so, what can Dare County do to help?

Robert Woodard: While we cannot control Mother Nature, we must continue being vigilant when it comes to beach nourishment and protecting our oceanfront. This is especially true on Hatteras Island.  That is why we must do all we can with key stakeholders to preserve what we have.  We have proactively nourished beaches from Buxton to Duck using occupancy tax funds generated by our visitors.  Our beaches are the economic engine that drives our tourism based economy and we must pursue every opportunity to safeguard them.

Katie Morgan: I recently read that the county has applied for a FEMA mitigation grant to relocate homes in Rodanthe before they collapse. According to the article, FEMA grants typically take three to four years from application to approval, and no acquisition or demolition can happen until then. This raises an important question in my mind: why didn’t we apply sooner? I believe more should and could be done to explore funding options that address these homes before they fall, as debris, contamination, and the overall public health and safety of our community must be the county’s top priorities.

Question 6: As commissioner, how will you move forward in addressing the affordable housing issues in Dare County, and especially in unincorporated areas with a high volume of vacation rental homes like Hatteras Island?

Robert Woodard: The Taskforce we created is making progress identifying potential housing sites.  I am optimistic that the efforts of this group will be successful.  Throughout my career and during my time as Chairman of the Board, I have found that bringing good people together to work on problems results in creative solutions that benefit everybody.  We will continue working aggressively with key stakeholders and the Towns throughout the County to find mutually acceptable ways to address this issue everywhere.

Katie Morgan: We can’t build our way out of the housing crisis, but we can create better incentives to keep homes available for local residents and workers. I’ve been researching successful approaches from areas similar to our county, and one idea that stands out to me is a program allowing homeowners in unincorporated Dare County to designate their

property as a “Dare Legacy Home.” Homeowners would have the option to do that by placing a deed restriction that requires at least one full-time Dare County worker to live in the home—whether as an owner or renter—the homeowner would receive 10-15% of the home’s market value from the county, which they could collect today without having to sell their property. The Dare Legacy Home is thus returned to the local market immediately and permanently- the deed restriction follows the home into perpetuity and Dare pays nothing more to maintain or administer it.

When the home is eventually sold, the deed would restrict buyers to local residents employed by Dare County businesses. While it wouldn’t limit the sale price, it would tie the buyer pool to local wages, helping to keep housing more affordable for workers.

For example, the owner of a $500,000 home could receive $50,000 upfront by participating in the program.

Rather than allocating $12 million to an apartment complex with vague affordability standards and requiring a management company, as proposed earlier this year, the county could use those funds to acquire at least 240 permanent Dare County Legacy Home deeds. This investment in our community not only provides immediate financial relief for local families—such as down payments on their new homes, support for their children returning to Dare County, or assistance with medical bills—but it also offers numerous other benefits. This strategic approach would ensure long-term housing for local workers for generations to come.

This is just one idea. I realize that many different approaches need to be taken, and I feel like this idea for parts of unincorporated Dare County would be successful.

Question 7: What can be done to address fishing regulations that many Hatteras Island commercial fishermen see as a growing and increasingly insurmountable challenge?

Robert Woodard: I passionately believe we must continue to push back against federal and state government overreach.  Their misguided regulations are strangling the livelihood and future of our commercial fishermen.  We must continue pushing back on any and all regulations that will hurt the hard working people of Dare County.  That is why I pledge to continue fighting for our commercial fishermen.

Katie Morgan: I recognize the excessive regulations continually being imposed on our fishermen, and I believe it’s unfair—an overreach by those who may not fully grasp the impact these rules are having on our hardworking watermen and their families. I will be a strong voice for our fishing community, personally attending Marine Fisheries Commission meetings to advocate for the rights and needs of our local fishermen. My approach will be tenacious and persistent, yet balanced with the charisma and charm needed to effectively push for change. For areas I’m not yet familiar with, I’m fully committed to putting in the time and effort to learn. Growing up here, I have strong connections with local fishermen who will guide me, and together, we will fight to restore balance and fairness.

Question 8: What is one thing you that want voters to know about yourself that makes you stand out from your opponent?

Robert Woodard: I have experience getting results for the people of Dare County. I am very proud of the many things the Board of Commissioners has accomplished without raising taxes.  That is why I have worked tirelessly to bring people together to build consensus and focus on getting things done.  I love Dare County and its people and believe in our future.  Citizen questions and concerns are important to me and I will continue to welcome your phone calls and emails and always treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Katie Morgan: I refuse to be defined by labels. While I’m running as a Democrat, my true commitment lies in finding common-sense solutions that benefit our community——-solutions that transcend party lines. I believe that this board should prioritize the people it serves, not political affiliations. Having closely observed my opponent’s recent decisions regarding our tax dollars, it’s evident that my values may align more closely with fiscal conservatism than his. And after more than a decade of this same individual making decisions while continuously acknowledging ongoing issues, we must ask ourselves: Is he truly part of the solution, or has he become part of the problem? I am dedicated to a leadership style that prioritizes the needs of the people and demands accountability in the stewardship of our funds. I won’t simply go along to get along. I will challenge mismanagement and advocate for responsible spending. I am deeply committed to the future of our community. I vow to actively pursue long-term solutions that foster growth and prosperity, rather than simply responding to the loudest voices. Together, we can build a Dare County that embodies our shared visions and dreams.