Main Street Monthly: August
Monthly updates from my campaign to your inbox, talking about community events and my efforts to make Winterville the Premiere Place to Live & Do Business in Pitt County
Welcome to August!
This month there is quite a bit to look forward to. Of course in just a few short weeks we can look forward to the 40th Annual Winterville Watermelon Festival from August 21st-24th.
Much sooner, check out the National Night Out & Back to School Splash on August 5th and later this month Market on the Square is back on August 21st.
I am writing this on a somewhat soggy start to the month, August 2nd, where the welcome rain has delayed my efforts to get a start on working outside. It is with this rain delay that I reaching out to you, the citizens and voters of Winterville, to update you, be transparent, and approachable, all things I hope to achieve for the Town of Winterville should you elect me this November.
This Month’s Features
July in Review
Utility Rate Transparency
Ballotpedia
Early Voting Plan
July in Review
As you are no doubt aware, the candidate filing period ran from July 7th - 18th and I filed all necessary paperwork on ‘opening day’ eager to get started working for the citizens of Winterville. In my professional capacity I was able to travel and participate in the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association Conference in Asheville and picked up some interesting information and tools that I rely on not only in my day to day job but could be useful even right here in our own town.
I’ve had the opportunity to interact with several citizens who have shared their concerns and what they see as issues that could be addressed, including fee transparency, development, and utility rates. It is this last topic that I would like to highlight first.
Utility Rate Transparency
Available for your viewing pleasure and my own embarrassment is my most recent utility bill. While I am not surprised to get a bill for my usage of services, I am surprised to not see a single rate anywhere on here. Not a rate listed for electric, sewer, garbage, water, or stormwater. There is no link to where I might find these rates. Even a Google search returns an AI generated response which may or may not be accurate. The solution? Break out a calculator or spreadsheet and figure it out on your own.
Where’s the Rate?
Trust with Government Begins with Transparency.
My Plan
I would like to see implemented transparency in fees. This means making them readily available on all billing statements so that customers can make informed decisions on their usage. In addition to having rates on all billing statements, I would advocate for publishing all rates and fees on the Town’s website as part of a fee and rate manual, to be adopted by Council and readily available for public inspection.
Ballotpedia
Included in this month’s edition of the Main Street Monthly are my response to the Ballotpedia Candidate Survey which you can find here.
Tell Us About Yourself
My name is Devin Johnson and I am running for Winterville Town Council this November because I bring skills and a perspective to the table that no one else can. I am a Marine Corps Veteran and I have experience working with public sector budgets and financial reporting which provides me with a unique insight into the financial condition and budgeting practices of the Town of Winterville. I am married and have lived in the Town for several years, choosing Winterville over all other nearby areas to call home. My educational background is public service focused; I have my B.S. in Legal Studies and a Masters in Public Administration.
What are three key messages and main points you want voters to remember about your goals.
SMART DEVELOPMENT To create a sustainable, livable, and economically vibrant Winterville by attracting development, investing in infrastructure, and managing growth in an efficient and responsible manner.
SAFE COMMUNITY To foster a secure and thriving Winterville where all individuals and property are kept safe through collaborative outreach and proactive engagement with Citizens to address their evolving needs.
STELLAR SERVICE To deliver citizen-centric services for all of Winterville in an efficient and effective manner that consistently exceeds expectations through streamlined processes and prioritized allocation of resources.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Budgeting, transparency, safety, and recreation.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow?
I have had quite a few positive role models in my life. My parents and my grandmother are perhaps the ones who left the most indelible mark on me but I also must acknowledge the various leaders I met while in the Marine Corps.
One of the first leaders I remember encountering was actually, (then Captain) Stuart Schellar who now serves in the Officer of the Undersecretary of Defense. He was my company commander at Infantry Training Battalion.
My company commander (then Captain) Rollin Steele during my deployment to Afghanistan was a true leader and someone I deeply admired for his poise. He never let anyone see him get rattled.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Integrity, honesty, humbleness, and clarity.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful office holder?
For better or for worse I have a very inquisitive personality. I like to understand how things work. My parents can attest to the fact that when I was a child, I would take apart (and not always put back together) electronics because I was fascinated with how intricate they are. To this day one of my favorite shows is "How it's Made".
I have this same approach now with government and policy. I'm genuinely curious about how certain decisions are made and what factors were involved. I think there is really a significant amount of improvement that can be made especially with transparency and citizen engagement with forming policy.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to public office?
A person elected to the Town Council of Winterville is first and foremost a representative of the citizens who elected them. With this in mind, the elected must balance citizen demands with policy pragmatism. Town Council sets the policy agenda and charges the Town Staff to develop objectives and the day to day tasks to achieve the set policy agenda.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I'm too young to be thinking about leaving behind a legacy, but if I had to, I would want to be remembered as the person who worked with anybody and everybody to make the world just 0.01% better.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember and how old were you?
The most significant historical event that I can remember was September 11th. I was in the 7th grade at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Toledo, Ohio, and I recall stopping our studies briefly to watch the news.
What was you first job and how long did you work there?
My very first job was when I was 15 years old. I worked at Burger King in Maumee, Ohio as a cashier and when I turned 16 I was able to work in the kitchen. I was employed there for about 2 years.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
We all have our struggles. Some big, some small. Some visible, some invisible.
I can say that my struggles over the years have gotten better the more I seek out Christ and trust in His will for me. I know that I will always have an easy road, none of us will, but I believe that if we trust in God just a little more and rely on our ego just a little less, everything will be okay.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?
While not a prerequisite to holding office, working in government at any level can be beneficial to an elected individual especially any sort of public finance background.
Early Voting Plan
On August 1st, the Pitt County Board of Elections established the early voting plan for the 2025 municipal election which you can find linked here.
Please take the time to check your Voter Registration ahead of the election to ensure all of your information is accurate and up to date.
Final Thoughts
As we embark on some of the last remaining days and weeks of summer I hope that each and every one of you has an amazing August. My plan is to release a monthly edition of the Main Street Monthly the first weekend of every month. If there is a topic of discussion you would like to see me address, if you have any questions or would like to connect, please reach out using any one of the methods listed.
Thank You and God Bless!
-Devin