Leading up to Ray's first term as Mayor beginning December, 1997, things really looked bleak for the Town. Although revenue was steadily increasing, expenses were out of control, and the Town's "emergency savings" account was non-existant. Ray Rothrock really turned things around. We think that the figures speak for themselves:

When Ray first took office in December, 1997, he had his work cut out for him. Although the Town's revenue was increasing each year, expenditures were growing even faster. This situation led to a declining Fund Balance ("emergency savings"). We heard rumors that the situation was so bad that the State of North Carolina came very close to taking control of the Town due to poor management. In just one year, Ray Rothrock, together with a cooperative, "like-minded" Council, was able to reverse the situation and get the Town's financial picture moving in a positive direction.

By the end of Ray's first term as Mayor, he and the Council had increased the cash in bank to record levels, and restored the Fund Balance ("emergency savings account") to a respectible amount. He and the Council was also able to reduce the property tax rate by $.05 per $100 of value.

When you study these numbers, it's no surprise that Ray was able to win a second and third term. Those voters who lived in Carolina Beach remember reading about how bad things were then, and because of that, will write-in Ray Rothrock for Mayor in the upcoming election.