Name as it appears on the ballot: Gail McKee Hughes
Age: 65
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: do not have a website
Occupation & employer: Retired; part time employed as Project Manager for the NC Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation (non-profit); part-time employed by NC Dept of Agri.-Division of Soil and Water Conservation as an Environmental Specialist (assist training coordinator)
- Why are you running for the position of Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor? I grew up in Orange County working on our family tobacco, grain crops, and beef cattle farm. I have an understanding about agriculture and natural resources which is needed for this position. I have degrees in both Soil Conservation and Agriculture Education from NCSU. Before retirement in 2020, I was a soil conservationist (staff) for the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Orange Soil and Water Board for 38 years. I also served as staff to the Orange County Farmland Preservation Board, and was Coordinator of Orange County’s Voluntary Agriculture District program. As a soil conservationist, I have personal experience through my career and my family farm concerning agriculture and non-agriculture best management practices, conservation, and preservation of natural resources; soil, water, forestry and wildlife management.
During my career, I visited farms and landowner’s properties to assess natural resource concern; such as soil erosion and water quality. Working with the landowner, I developed a plan to make improvements, designed needed best management practices (BMPs), developed funding contracts, and provided oversite to implement the needed BMPs that were then approved for funding. After retirement in 2020, I decided to run for the position of Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor due to my desire to still be involved in protecting natural resources and helping promote, protect, and preserve agriculture in Orange County.
In your answer, please explain your understanding of the role and why it is important. In my position as a soil conservationist, I served the Orange County Soil and Water Board for 38 years. I have a great knowledge of the role and how important it is for Orange County. Soil and Water Supervisors establish local priorities for staff to follow for state and federal funding related to agricultural and non-agricultural best management practices to assist landowners. Funding is through the NC Dept. of Agriculture/Consumer Sciences and USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service. A five-member Board reviews request for funding, and determines approval of funding based on the guidelines of the programs, individual needs, water quality and natural resource issues/concerns. The Board approves funding for educational programing for children and adults, concerning agricultural and natural resource topics. Without this Board, funding from the USDA and NC Dept. of Agriculture would not be available for local programs to assist farmers and landowners with programs.
- What are the three most pressing natural resources issues in the county? The most pressing needs are: (1) to support local agricultural landowners and producers with technical and financial assistant to install best management practices that will improve soil quality, reduce soil erosion, and protect water quality, (2) to provide educational programing that encourage all farmers to participate in updates or new programs offered by local agricultural agencies, (3) to promote and increase funding for farmland preservation programs that keep agriculture an important land use in the county.
How do you plan to address these issues? As Supervisor, I will continue to help establish state and federal funding priorities based on local soil and water district /county priorities and needs. I will assure that staff are well trained and knowledgeable in programs to provide professional assistance to all citizens that reach out to the local soil and water office for information or assistance. I will continue to encourage landowners to consider the voluntary agriculture program, in addition to the farmland preservation programs.
- Identify examples of how the district can best balance agricultural/rural and urban interests in regards to soil and water conservation.
Soil and Water Conservation is important in both the urban and rural areas of the county. Education for both rural and urban groups to better understand the challenges and concerns that face each group are important for all. Agriculture is an important part of the rural community economically and helping protect natural areas. Soil and Water Conservation measures help protect water resources that are used as drinking water sources for the urban areas. Urban areas supporting local agriculture at local markets, and supporting measures to protect and conservation farmland are ways to better balance rural concerns.
- What funding issues are facing the Soil and Water Conservation District? Soil and Water Conservation District staff are local County employees and are funded/supported by Orange County Government. The office is housed in Orange County buildings and are supported with equipment, vehicles, and office needs through normal county budget processes. Continued support by the local County Commissioners and County Managment is very important for staff to continue to provide services to citizens.
How would you ensure the district receives full funding?
The funding for landowners from state and federal agencies that the Soil and Water Board oversees and staff administer, are based on legislative approvals. It is difficult to assure full funding will be approved each year, due to legislative goals and priorities. The local Soil and Water Boards work with the NC Association of Soil and Water Conservation and the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission for continued funding through the NC Department of Agriculture. Districts request funding based on requested needs and priorities for the local county (District).
Are there alternative funding sources the district could explore?
Soil and Water Supervisors encourage staff to seek grant funding when available for specific programs.
If so, what are they? This varies depending on specific grant programing. An example is working/partnering with a non-profit that has received grant funding to assist in buying educational equipment needed to provide education programing or conservation tillage equipment that can be rented to landowners at a low cost vs a landowner needing to purchase equipment only used a few times a year. Other grant funding could include stream debris removal and restoration or urban stormwater runoff erosion control needs.
- Many residents don’t know what the Soil and Water Conservation District actually does. In what ways would you reach out to residents to educate them?
Soil and Water participates in educational programs at schools, civic groups, and county supported programs such as Orange County Ag Summitt. Soil and Water partners with the Orange County Farmland Preservation Committee and others agencies with common goals to provide education programing.
The Soil and Water District has a website through Orange County Government and a Facebook page where programs and updates are announced.
- What is the district’s role in making sure residents’ water–including those people who use wells―is safe to drink? Orange County Environmental Health Dept. has oversight over well installation and safety for drinking water. Local towns that supply water to citizens assure water quality is clean and safe for drinking. Soil and Water have an indirect role in helping with water quality in the rural areas by working with landowners to prevent soil erosion run off to water supplies.
What role, if any, should the district play in safeguarding the local water supply from emerging contaminants? Soil and Water work directly with agricultural landowners to install best management practices that help protect surface water that flows to streams, ponds, and lakes (that may be drinking water for urban areas).
- Are there any other issues you would like to address?
Soil and Water conservation administers the Voluntary Agricultural District programs which identifies local agricultural farms, that are protecting natural resources. The Soil and Water District also works with the Orange County Farmland Preservation Committee to develop conservation plans for possible conservation easements that will keep farmland from being developed.