I’m Terry English and I am seeking a seat on the McDowell County Board of Commissioners.

I was born in the northernmost section of the county in the little community of Ashford. I have lived here all my life. I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Susan for 48 years. Together, we have had a full and joyous life that includes three daughters, three sons-in-law, and five wonderful grandchildren.

It has been my privilege to live and work on my family homeplace that was settled by my ancestors before McDowell County was formed. That deep sense of place, tradition and history has helped define who I am. Our family has always believed in service to others, whether to neighbors, church, or the larger community. I began to carry on this legacy by serving 30 years on the Board of Supervisors for the McDowell Soil and Water Conservation District. In addition, I was also elected to the North Cove district seat on the McDowell County Board of Education, a position I proudly held for 28 years. The English family have been generational members of Concord United Methodist Church where I have held several lay administrative positions through the years.

Whether it was drought, two major hurricanes which resulted in catastrophic floods, sickness, depressions, world wars etc. the English family has endured much over the decades and successfully managed to operate a dairy farm for 90 plus years. I currently operate a beef cattle and hay operation after a 40-year career as a dairy farmer. Farming has taught me what perseverance, faith, hard work and love of community truly means. I will forever treasure these hard-earned lessons and depend on that experience to help influence all my decisions.

I have always tried to use a reasoned, objective and thoughtful approach to the issues at hand. I believe that listening is an invaluable skill that I have always tried to do well. Throughout my personal and public life, I have strived to follow this mantra, “There is always enough time to make a good decision” and if elected to The McDowell County Commission I will continue to follow my own advice to make the best decision for all people of this great county.

Now that you know who I am and how I operate, I would like to ask for your consideration come November.

Matt Suttles brings over two decades of hands-on experience in health care and behavioral health to McDowell County and Western North Carolina. Throughout a 20-year career, he has directed an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) day support program for ten years, served as Director of Mental Health Services, operated a licensed foster care program, and spent three years as the county’s Mobile Crisis Clinician, responding directly to individuals in crisis, including those experiencing homelessness and interactions with law enforcement.

With experience managing teams of 100 or more and overseeing the health and well-being of up to 1,000 community members at a time, he has also built meaningful expertise in workforce development; understanding both the systems that support people and the infrastructure needed to sustain them.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Western North Carolina faces compounding challenges that demand exactly this kind of experience. Matt Suttles is uniquely prepared to help rebuild workforce infrastructure and address the growing mental health needs of displaced residents and vulnerable communities across McDowell County: bringing not just credentials, but real, street-level knowledge of what recovery actually requires.

McDowell County is my home of 47 years. My husband Dave and I enjoy life, sandwiched between Grays Hollar and Black Bear, in the Northeastern end of the county.

In 2024, I retired from 18 years in Management and Sales at our local Lowe's Home Improvement, but continue my work as a regional artist. Having witnessed the changing face of our County, I firmly believe that fair and balanced government is the key to sustaining successful growth.

Working as a strong community of friends and neighbors, we can support our county by considering: the value of all citizens, the need for thoughtful infrastructure, and respect for the natural beauty of our home.

Please help me win by donating today. Thank you.