Commissioner· Elected Nov 2024 (seated Dec 2, 2024); resigned March 31, 2026 (county release); died later in 2026
Gary Sides
Union County
No biography on file yet.
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Top issues during term (8)(Public Safety)
County Jail Referendum Information and Concerns
Estimated project financing ranges from $170.8 million to $211.5 million, with an estimated tax rate impact between 2.73 and 3.38 cents.
Sheriff's Office License Plate Reader Policy
Reviews prior capital allocations of $288,000 for the program.
Veterans Support and Advocacy Services
Assistance connects veterans to increased federal disability compensation and charitable grants.
Public Swimming Pool Safety and Regulation
Permits cost $275 annually, with $75 revisit fees for safety deficiencies.
Winter Storm Fern Emergency Sheltering
Absorbed within existing emergency management and county personnel allocations.
Measles Outbreak and Public Health Response
None directly requested at this meeting, though regional outbreak responses utilize existing public health resources.
South Piedmont Regional Autopsy Center (SPRAC) Progress
Backed by a $20 million state non-recurring capital grant and $2 million in recurring annual operating funds, plus fee revenues.
Federal HR 1 Administrative Shift for Medicaid and FNS
Estimated local impact across North Carolina counties averages around $700,000, with Union County facing a projected impact of approximately $1.2 million.
Decisions during term (2)
Recorded while Sides was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.