Steve Ferring, 81, is running for the Dan River District seat on the Patrick County Board of Supervisors in November. Ferring will face Andrew Overby in a race to complete the remaining year of the term vacated by Brandon Simmons earlier this year.
Ferring believes Patrick County’s biggest challenge is its lack of resources needed to attract new businesses. He emphasizes the need for better infrastructure, including improved roads and broadband access.
“We need housing and infrastructure to attract light industry and distribution. Right now, we only have one effective road serving Stuart, and broadband is still lacking,” Ferring said.
He also proposes the creation of a county Housing Authority to refurbish or build low-income housing on abandoned properties. “If someone comes for a low-paying job, which is all we have now, where are they going to live? There aren’t many options,” he said. He believes the Housing Authority could collaborate with the county’s Tourism and Economic Development Authority to bring in new businesses.
Ferring wants to fund these initiatives by cutting excess spending from the county’s budget. He estimates the county could save about $400,000 a year by trimming wasteful spending. He highlighted the sheriff’s office, alleging it is mismanaged and lacks proper systems, resulting in unnecessary overtime costs. “We could easily cut $250,000 to $300,000 from the sheriff’s budget without affecting services,” Ferring said.
He also advocates for a centralized purchasing department to handle bulk buying of office supplies and equipment for all county departments, which he believes would save costs and “pay for itself.”
Ferring stresses the need for greater transparency in local government, including simplifying the county’s budget for public understanding and making it available online. “I want people to easily see where their tax dollars are going,” he said.
Ferring supports transparency among county staff, noting they are typically responsive and helpful. “In most cases, you can just ask them a question, and they’ll tell you without needing a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request,” he said.
He believes people move to the county to escape high taxes and a lack of transparency found elsewhere, and he wants to maintain the county’s calm atmosphere while making government more efficient.
With a background in banking and finance, Ferring says his experience qualifies him to manage the county’s finances. “I’m committed to making sure the Board of Supervisors doesn’t raise taxes unless they’ve proven they’re not wasting money,” he said.
Ferring proposes freezing property taxes for residents who have lived in the county for 20 years or more, or for those over 65, ensuring their taxes remain the same until the property changes hands.
He also supports town hall-style meetings where residents can directly engage with the board. “You have to be willing to take criticism. That’s part of the job,” Ferring said.
Addressing campaign issues, Ferring acknowledged that his signs did not meet the “Stand by Your Ad” provision but said he plans to fix this once his computer is repaired.
Ferring’s extensive professional background includes 21 years in banking in Chicago and New York, as well as owning a company that built trading systems. Afterward, he worked in systems and network management for smaller corporations before moving to Patrick County, where he now runs Steve’s Mower Repair.
He holds an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago and has been married to his wife, Judy, for 60 years. The couple has three children. In his spare time, Ferring enjoys working on cars.
