Susan Rodriguez-McDowell

My values line up with Democratic values. I have always been fiscally responsible, but I believe that people are what matter.  I don't believe a country is a business.  Sure, I believe that the economy is extremely important, but a country should invest in its people - not just keep squeezing more and more money out of the economy to make the rich richer.  I believe income and racial inequality are the biggest threats facing our county and our country.  Investing in people means truly valuing and funding public education which is equitable and accessible for all. Investing in people means healthcare, and a roof over your head ought to be accessible for citizens of the richest country in the world. Investing in people means protecting our collective environment. I believe in equality and autonomy for women.  I believe that as an elected official I am first and foremost a public servant. These are my values.

As Commissioners, a lot of the work we do is in committees. Here is a list of the committees and advisory boards I serve on:

Economic Development Committee, Chair
Environmental Stewardship Committee
Intergovernmental Committee
Equity Investments Ad-hoc Committee
Child Fatality Prevention & Protection Team: BOCC Liaison
Domestic Violence Advisory Board: BOCC Liaison
Public Education Steering Committee, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
​Human Services and Education Policy Steering Committee, National Association of Counties
Arts & Culture Commission, National Association of Counties

It was also an honor for me to be appointed to the first cohort of the Hunt Institute State Policy Fellows in 2021. The program was a deep dive into 0-5, K-12, and post-secondary education policy.

In 2020 I graduated from the Advanced Leadership (ALC) training, and achieved master status from the UNC School of Government in 2021. I am grateful for the investments made in my leadership and will continue to maximize and leverage every opportunity afforded to me on behalf of my constituents.

In 2022 I successfully completed the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group’s Citizen’s Water Academy. Completion of this training program shows exceptional dedication to responsible leadership in dealing with issues related to the region’s most pressing water resource and environmental challenges.

This is my family.  My husband Gavin, is President of Oriental Weavers Hospitality-US, our daughter Kathryn is an architect in Charlotte, Maria graduated college in 2021 and is pursuing her dreams in NYC, and Gavin is a junior at Appalachian State.