Name: Dean (Jr.) Picot
Office you are running for: Siler City Commissioner At-Large
Home telephone and/or Work Telephone: 984-226-5630
Best daytime number: 984-226-5630
E-mail: deanjr4silercity@gmail.com
Cell phone: 984-226-5630
Date/place of birth: January 29, 1990/Greenville, NC
Current occupation: Entrepreneur
Campaign website/social media: dean4silercity.com
Family (names & ages, as of Election Day, of immediate family members): I have no children and I am single.
Current and previous elected offices held or sought & terms of service: N/A
Campaign manager (if applicable): Myself
Campaign treasurer (if applicable): Myself
Why are you seeking this office?: I am a recovered drug addict and alcoholic. I understand on a deep level how detrimental addiction is to a community and Siler City is that community. Drug and Alcohol abuse is rampant in this town to levels I have never witnessed before. After living in cities with extreme poverty and addiction it is astounding to witness a town that is in as much distress as Siler City. I will provide local resources which will help people suffering from addiction and their loved ones heal on a long-term basis.
What is your understanding of the responsibilities of the office you seek, and in 100 words or less, why do you believe you’re qualified to fill that role?: My understanding of my role is that I will be an advocate for the town as a whole regardless of politics, nationality or creed. My goal is to always put the citizens of Siler City first. Doing so will undoubtedly have an impact on their standard of living. The number one issue outside of poverty and access to affordable housing and health care is a drug epidemic that has overtaken this town. Addiction not only wrecks the life of the user but the lives of the family members. I am uniquely qualified to address these issues because I am a recovered drug addict who has completely turned his life around and has seized life. I have changed my circumstances and empowered my family as a substance abuse counselor. I lead everyday the healing of the wounded and the healing of the victims of this nasty war on drugs.
Give us three goals that are specific, measurable and attainable you would have if elected.:
1. Work on a county and state level to advocate for the citizens of Siler City to receive better treatment and counseling services.
2. Improve the quality of services for Siler City citizens. Such as improving the water quality of the citizens.
3. Working with services that are already in Siler City while receiving support to tackle the drug epidemic.
What are the biggest challenges in Siler City right now and how would you address them?: The biggest challenges facing the Siler City community currently are a drug epidemic that is mirroring that of the crack epidemic in Baltimore, Maryland during the 1990’s. We are losing lives and our community is hurting. Nothing is more important to me than the restoration of our families and of each individual victim of this deadly war. Our crime rate per capita is higher than that of Durham, NC. Our children are growing up and are having to leave Siler City just to find a better opportunity elsewhere. Our environment is suffering through the lack of proper stewardship from the local government. Our water is unsafe to drink. I address these issues by properly supporting community mental health professionals by providing the mental health professionals more resources to help those in need. I will ensure we have a police force that is properly trained to handle certain high-risk situations properly and safely. I will increase our budget through various grants and options which have been overlooked for decades and will be a good steward of the resources we currently have. I will work with employers to bring in good quality jobs for our citizens.
What’s your overall view of the role of municipal government? Is it fulfilling its mission at present? If not, what needs to change?: The municipal government is supposed to serve the local populace. The local government is absolutely not serving the people of Siler City. It is not fulfilling its mission. Most of Siler City’s citizens understand this to be true and have felt a lack of leadership for decades. The people need to be put in charge. We need a comprehensive government that can and will enact the desire of the local municipality it should serve.
What differentiates you from the other candidates?: My first hand experience of how drugs and alcohol altered my life. It is easy for people to say what someone else needs. It is much harder to have been in that hole of addiction and have climbed out of it. I have a deep perspective on what is needed to heal this community. I feel I have been called to help defend this community that is high-risk. I am a part of the community. I am immersed in the community. I am heavily involved in the mental health and substance abuse recovery communities. I am not sitting in my home, a part of an old boys club. I am a man of the people. Both of my opponents have spent over a decade in power and in leadership and both have not effected the change that is needed either because they did not want to or did not know how to.
Political/government hero: My aunt Joanne. My aunt Joanne helped to bring about and manage the freedom of information act in the 1960’s. The freedom of information act gave power back to United States citizens to monitor and know the truth of their elected officials.
Favorite book: “What Are The Odds? From Crackhead to CEO” by Mike Lindell
Book most recently read: The one year bible.
Favorite film: Beaches.
Hobbies: Volunteering at Love Chatham, attending bible study, going to yard sales and flea markets.
Church/civic involvement: I attend First Wesleyan Church. I volunteer at a local nonprofit serving the houseless community named Love Chatham.
Personal motto or one-line philosophy: “Help others.”
Strongest childhood ambition: To survive.
Most significant life goal you’ve accomplished: Recovering from a decades-long drug and alcohol addiction.
Goal you haven’t accomplished yet: Helping 500 people come out of addiction.