Mike Loomis is running for Davidson County Commissioner to stop the misuse of public funds, fight wasteful mega-projects, and invest in EMS, DSS, and public health so every family can count on this county when it matters most.
County leadership has made decisions behind closed doors and treated public input as an inconvenience. People walk into meetings unsure if they’ll be listened to—or worse, talked down to or confronted afterward. That’s not leadership.
Mike will restore a culture where everyone is respected and heard. Public comments will matter again, major spending decisions will be explained clearly, and commissioners will be held to a standard of professionalism that treats every resident with dignity.
Davidson County EMS is short staff, meaning slower response times when every minute counts. DSS is facing serious backlogs in food stamp and assistance cases. The health department is stretched thin.
Mike believes every budget should start with people’s safety and dignity: emergency response, basic benefits, and community health come before any luxury complex.
COVID and CARES Act funds were steered into a sprawling sports complex with water park features, courts, fields, and amenities that our current roads, sewers, and hotel capacity cannot support. Mike believes the numbers don’t work— and that this kind of deal steals resources from core services.
Mike will push for sunlight on every dollar, honest projections, and a plan that protects taxpayers instead of gambling with their money.
Mike has spent his life as a working neighbor in Davidson County, watching county government make decisions that leave ordinary people behind. He’s not backed by big donors or party bosses—this is a grassroots campaign built by friends, neighbors, and families who are tired of being ignored.
When COVID relief dollars came in, other counties used that funding to keep people healthy, protect local jobs, and strengthen public services. In Davidson County, politicians pushed those dollars toward a multi-million-dollar sports complex instead of shoring up basic services. Mike believes that’s exactly backward.
“We need to look at our citizens. We need to help the people who are losing their homes and being pushed onto the streets.”
Davidson County approved the Southmont Sportsplex, a $65M–$100M project with ballfields, tennis courts, and a planned water park — despite lacking the infrastructure to support it. Funds that could strengthen core services were redirected to move the complex forward.
Federal COVID and CARES Act funds were meant to support public health, essential services, and struggling families. Davidson County has not provided clear reporting on how these funds were used, why they weren’t applied when received in 2021, or whether any portion was tied to capital projects like the Sportsplex.
Residents deserve a full, line-by-line accounting of how this money was spent.
The county is short more than 20 EMS employees, increasing response times during life-threatening emergencies. Front-line workers simply do not have the manpower required to protect the community.
Davidson County DSS is short over 40 workers and has ranked among the worst in North Carolina for food-stamp case backlogs. Families depending on help are waiting far longer than they should.
These are exactly the services COVID relief funds were intended to stabilize.
• Public Reporting: Clear, accessible reports detailing how all public funds — including COVID relief and capital reallocations — were used.
• Accountability: Explanation for why essential services were left understaffed while major discretionary projects advanced.
• Community-First Budgeting: Before future large projects, prioritize EMS, DSS, housing stability, and public health.
• Respect for Citizens: Decisions should be made publicly, not behind closed doors, and residents must be heard.
December 8, 2024 · 11:08–13:11
Davidson County Commissioners Meeting · Lexington, NC
Mike Loomis called for full transparency on how Davidson County’s 2021 CARES Act funds were used and whether any portion supported the sports complex project. He emphasized rising homelessness, housing shortages, and the need to prioritize residents facing displacement. Loomis also noted an incident where he was urged by other candidates to leave the race, stating it must be addressed publicly.
