TRACY MCDANIEL My name is Tracy McDaniel and I’m seeking the District 7 seat on the Cherokee County Council. I am a lifelong resident of Blacksburg. I grew up in the Hopewell community where I still reside. I am 45 years old and was born in Cherokee County on April 14, 1964. My parents are AZ and Audrey McDaniel, and I am the youngest of six children. I have been married for 23 years to Karen Patterson McDaniel who is a kindergarten teacher at Blacksburg Primary School. We have two children. Jordan is a college sophomore and Hunter, a high school junior. We are members of Hopewell Baptist Church in Blacksburg, where I have served as deacon, teller, member of the finance committee and member of the adult choir.

I attended first through twelfth grades in Blacksburg, and I am a 1982 graduate of Blacksburg High School. I earned a BS in Business Administration and Management from Limestone College in 1986. I worked at First Piedmont Federal for eight years in mortgage and consumer lending and later became branch manager at their Limestone Street Office. In 1994 my brother and I reorganized the family construction business which was founded by my father in 1966. For the past fifteen years I have served as vice president and chief financial officer of McDaniel Construction, Inc., a general contractor specializing in industrial and commercial construction serving North and South Carolina.

I have been active in the community by participating in many civic organizations. I was a member of the Blacksburg Rotary Club for many years serving as President for two years. I served as Treasurer of the Blacksburg Middle School PTO for seven years and also served on the Blacksburg High School Improvement Council. I had the opportunity to serve as President of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the SC Peach Festival Board.

I feel one of the most pressing issues for Cherokee County is unemployment. We must employ a proactive approach in the creation of new jobs. One way to do this is by continuing to provide incentives to industries wishing to locate here as well as existing companies who wish to expand. We must also provide the necessary training to properly equip our citizens for these jobs. Cherokee County must continue to increase our efforts in obtaining Federal and State grants to expand and improve our infrastructure, therefore making Cherokee County more attractive to new industry. I believe through continued cooperative efforts of our City and County Councils, the Cherokee County Development Board and our local and state elected officials, we can make a positive impact on Cherokee County.

I believe we must maintain a conservative and sensible approach to government. We must continually look for more efficient and effective ways to manage our county departments while providing the quality services our citizens deserve.

I will always do my best to study the issues, obtain the facts and make decisions based on what is best for our citizens. I know if we work together, we can make a difference in the quality of life for our residents. I would count it an honor to represent the people of Cherokee County on County Council.