ELECTION 2020: Cohen wants quicker action

Published 3:12 pm Saturday, September 12, 2020

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Three incumbents and two new candidates are vying for two positions in the November election for Norwood Town Council.

One incumbent is Norwood native Robbie Cohen, who said he has enjoyed serving on the board for the past five years.

Cohen, 51, is running against current council members Wes Hartsell and James Lilly along with newcomers Darryl “Pork Chop” Gerald and Tracy Harris.

He said he likes the progress the council has made in the last year, adding he “wants to do what is right” for the town’s citizens.

Having a background in quality control and construction of more than 30 years has helped him to be more qualified for the work of the council, Cohen said. His experience in zoning while also learning the ins and outs of water and sewer systems from the public side as opposed to the construction side qualifies him as well, he said.

Cohen said the town’s water systems run in a deficit which dictated recent rate increases, but he said he wished “there was a fix for that” where the burden was not passed on to the consumers.

Cohen said Norwood needs to attract more business and having a town hall “that welcomes developers and property owners with their ideas and works with them instead of against them can do that.”

Cohen said he would like to see the Town Council take quicker action on issues instead of tabling issues multiple times.

“I like to handle things as they come in a timely manner and not keep prolonging, basically, the inevitable,” Cohen said.

If he does not understand an issue, he said he will research it.

Cohen said there is too much talking about topics, adding “you are either for or against it. Let’s get it over with. I want to come to a solution right then…as issues come so that we’re not talking about the same issues every month.”

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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