Eden council newcomer will rely on business background

Gene Hagood, the newest member to the Eden City Council, plans to rely on his background in business and finance in his new role.

Hagood said this week that he will use that experience to address many issues already raised by city residents, including rising utility rates and historic downtown revitalizations.

Hagood spent more than 40 years in business, including 30 years at Fieldcrest-Cannon Mills, which was sold to the Pillowtex Corporation in 1997. He spent the final 10 years of his career at Lorillard Tobacco Company. Most of his time in business was spent in IT management.

He is currently retired, but spends some of his time volunteering his services for the Rockingham County chapter of SCORE, a non-profit group which helps individuals start small businesses. Hagood said the organization offers advice on everything from business plans to help with lease contracts. This is not a full-time job for him, but he stays on call to do what he can to help.

Hagood said he expected to have some competition for this race because of the close battle he experienced in the last election.

“I filed in the first hour and no one else filed after that,” Hagood said. “I was surprised no one challenged. I was fully prepared to have some competition, and it was unexpected that all races in Eden were unopposed. There were three incumbents and myself. I felt almost like an incumbent.”

Hagood plans to address several issues when he takes his seat. He said he listens to people around the city and hates when he hears it’s a better deal to live in the county.

“We’re in a Tier 1 county and I see property values down and a loss of jobs,” Hagood said. “Along with the distressed areas around the city, water and sewer rates have been dramatically increased. We’re attempting to offset the costs from the loss of businesses and put that on the residential user. I’m not so sure that’s a good plan. There needs to be an adjustment, and I don’t see that happening yet.”

Hagood said he does not want to comment specifically on what previous council members have done on various issues until he takes a look at the information as a council member.

Revitalization issues are also a matter of concern for residents, according to Hagood. One resident of his ward brought him pictures of The Boulevard and said, “We need to do something about this.”

“This town is so spread out and we have all these historically significant downtown areas,” Hagood said. “It’s a real challenge to try and revitalize and keep all those areas. I told a resident that I agreed that something must be done about this, but I’m not so sure what the answer is. I won’t pretend that I do have the answer.”

Hagood said he will listen to what residents have to say and if it makes sense for Eden, he will vote for it. And if it doesn’t, he won’t.

“I’m looking forward to serving – I treat it as a service to my community,” Hagood said. “I have no hidden agendas. I promise I don’t have any special interests in mind or any axes to grind. But I can read a balance sheet and a profit and loss statement.”