Zoning Debate Emerges as Central Issue in Rutherford County Commissioner Races

Land-use regulation and the question of countywide zoning surfaced as a defining campaign issue during a recent candidate forum featuring contenders seeking seats on the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners, as voters prepare for Republican primaries in Districts 1, 4, and 5.

Candidates running in the primary include:

District 1 (Republican): Allen Hardin, Anthony Morrow, Jim Owens, Clark Poole, and Brian Thompson

District 4 (Republican): Jason Toney and Adam Yelton

District 5 (Republican): Scott Haynes, Lazarus “Laz” Margolin, and Chris St. Clair

The winner of the District 5 Republican primary will face Democrat Phil Burney in the November general election. There are no other democrats running. An unaffiliated candidate, Deborah Keller, has been collecting signatures to run on the November ballot; they're due March 3.

During the forum, District 1 candidates Jim Owens and Anthony Morrow indicated support for implementing countywide zoning. Brian Thompson was not present due to illness. Other candidates did not state support for that approach during the discussion.

Under North Carolina law, counties have the authority to adopt zoning and development regulations to guide land use, planning, and growth management. The state outlines that local governments may enact zoning ordinances to regulate building placement, permitted uses, and development patterns as part of broader planning responsibilities intended to promote orderly growth and public welfare. This authority forms part of the statutory framework governing local planning and development regulation.

Supporters of countywide zoning often argue it can help coordinate infrastructure investment, provide consistency for development decisions, and protect property uses. Critics or skeptics frequently raise concerns about regulatory scope, impacts on property rights, or administrative costs. Those competing perspectives were reflected in broader discussion even when candidates did not explicitly state positions.

Beyond zoning, candidates discussed economic development, utilities expansion, and housing growth, repeatedly linking land-use planning to business recruitment and tax-base expansion. Participants noted that water and sewer capacity, transportation access, and regulatory predictability can influence investment decisions and shape long-term county growth.

The Board of Commissioners oversees budgeting, taxation, and administrative leadership for county government, including responsibilities related to planning policy and infrastructure funding. They also set the budget for the elected Sheriff's Office. State guidance emphasizes that these governing bodies play a central role in directing fiscal stability and public service delivery at the local level.

With primaries approaching, the zoning issue is positioned to remain a prominent topic in campaign messaging and voter engagement. The outcome of the Republican contests — and the general election matchup in District 5 — will determine how the county addresses growth management, development planning, and related policy questions in the coming years.

Current commissioners Bryan King, Michael Benfield and Alan Toney are not seeking re-election. The winners of the 2026 election will join the board to work with the two other commissioners not up for re-election this year, Donnie Haulk and Hunter Haynes. 

Early voting begins on Feb. 12 for the March 3rd primary election.