Elections: NC House, District 17, Frank Iler

Name: Frank Iler

Town of residence: Oak Island

Political office sought: North Carolina House of Representatives, District 17

Political affiliation: Republican

Candidate website address: www.ilerforhouse.com

Profession: Retired businessman, including cost accounting, sales and marketing and small business owner.

Education: Graduate of Greensboro Senior High School (now known as Grimsley High); bachelor of science degree in business administration from Campbell University

Family information: Married to Jacqueline McDaniel Iler; two children; two stepchildren; 10 grandchildren; lived in five North Carolina counties and moved to Oak Island 13 years ago in 1999.

Organizations or affiliations: Southport Baptist Church, Sunday school teacher and deacon (currently inactive deacon); North Carolina House of Representatives member from District 17 since 2009; Brunswick Community College Board of Trustees member since 2007; Brunswick County Republican Party (past chairman); Communities in Schools board of trustees member; Southeast Brunswick Civitan Club (charter member-inactive status); National Rifle Association member

Political experience: Member of North Carolina House of Representatives since June, 2009, appointed in 2009 and elected in 2010; co-chair of the N.C. House Transportation Committee in 2011-2012 session; member or vice-chair of seven other House committees, including education, elections, appropriations, environment and joint transportation oversight; chairman of the Brunswick County Republican Party from August 2006 to March 2009; chair of the NCGOP 7th District for two months prior to House appointment; precinct worker and campaign worker in five counties during 40 years, including Ford Chairman in Nash county in 1976.

Why are you running for office?

Brunswick County and District 17 need representation in Raleigh that knows the county and will promote and fight for the issues that are important to them. Our coastal environment, tourism and quality of life require constant effort to provide the infrastructure such as roads, waterways and beach maintenance that are needed for the future. Small towns and rural areas need constant attention to provide support for agriculture, which is huge economically for North Carolina, as well as boundary and zoning issues. Providing a business environment for job creation through fair tax and regulatory policy for small businesses is key to our success as a county and state, as well as tax relief and good educational opportunities for our families to keep more of what they earn and choice of a good education for their children.

What do you believe are the top three issues?

 The double issue of job creation and job training is at the top. They go together and must both be addressed through tax policy, regulatory policy, and education policy. Taxes are still killing jobs in North Carolina and hurting our families. N.C. still has the highest corporate tax rate in the Southeast U.S. Tax reform will be a priority in the next session. Education continues to be a top issue, since it is 55 percent of the state budget. We must be sure taxpayers’ funds are getting to the classroom, and not so much to the bureaucracy.