Candidate Profile: Cory Norris

Patch is looking at incumbents and their challengers running for local offices in Lexington County and statewide before the June 12 Primary. 

Cory Norris, founder of the Lexington Tea Party, is running against to represent District 6 on Lexington County Council. 

Name: Cory Norris

Age: 36

Occupation: Technical account manager for Hewlett-Packard  

Current Political Position: None

Years in office: None

Prior experience: Former vice chairman of the Columbia Tea Party; founder and current leader of Lexington Tea Party

Family: Married, three children

Education: Clemson University, Bachelor of Science in computer information systems

Website: http://norrisforcouncil.com/

Why are seeking re-election or running for this office?

"I think county council has gone astray. They are looking out for themselves, not the people."

Norris said he believes in private property rights and smaller government. He said he also believes in ending corporate welfare.

"The whole idea of economic development, I call it corporate welfare because its taking money from hardworking people here in the county to give to large corporations from other areas just to create or the potential to create new jobs."

Norris said he is against giving tax breaks and land to corporations in order for them to create jobs. 

Norris criticized his opponent, Johnny Jeffcoat, for serving on council and being an employee of the Town of Lexington, and having a walkway named after him (on the Dreher Shoals Dam on Lake Murray). 

He said it’s taking taxpayers money to do that and there’s “just something really wrong there.”

What makes you the best person for the job?

"I have no desire to be a career politician. Whether people agree with my principles or not, you know where I stand. Principles matter for a reason. If the people don’t want someone with my principles then they shouldn’t vote for me."

"When you deal with someone like Johnny Jeffcoat ... I'm not sure who he’s working for because he hasn’t done anything that the people need in 16 years. That’s not how I operate. I want to do what’s best for the people."

"I want people to run their own lives, I don’t want to run their lives." 

What areas will you seek to focus on and what do hope to accomplish in your term?

If elected, Norris said his first order of business would be to hold the line on taxes. He said he would vote against tax increases. He said there needed to be a justification for every dollar that's spent. 

"It’s the people’s money, it’s not county council’s money."

Norris said when council is working on the budget, they need to be as responsible as possible and get rid of wasteful spending.

"Every penny needs to be accounted for. 

Norris said council needs to be able to maintain its level of services without continually raising taxes.

Other areas Norris said he would focus on is holding the line on violation of private property rights and making county council meetings more accessible to the public by live streaming meetings and limiting executive sessions. 

“I think there should be a lot less done in executive session. I think county government needs to be a lot more accessible to the people."

What do you think needs to be done in order to serve residents better?

"I think it’s the job of county government to promote infrastructure."

Norris said government needed to make smart decisions and that the most basic core functions of government are inconsistent.

“Why is that we have to be so irresponsible with the resources that we have that we can’t maintain core services?”

“I think the best thing we can do for people is get out of their way so that they can live their lives.”

Norris said government needed to serve the people and not special interest, and offer services without being a burden on the people. 

Are there any other comments you'd like to make, or would you like to discuss something not raised in our questions?

No.