Stephen Nystrom

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Stephen Nystrom

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2019

Education

Associate

Central Carolina Community College

Bachelor's

Fayetteville State College

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Military

Years of service

1978 - 1985

Personal

Birthplace

Brockton, Mass.

Religion

Christian

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Stephen Nystrom (Republican Party) ran for election to the Sanford City Council to represent Ward 5 in North Carolina. Nystrom lost in the general election on November 5, 2019.

Nystrom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Nystrom was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. He attended Fayetteville State College, the Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, North Carolina, the University Of Massachusetts, and Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Nystrom's professional experience included working on a dairy farm, at a Book Binary Halliday Lithograph in Massachusetts, at the Sharon Harris Nuclear Plant, at Weyerhauser in Moncure, North Carolina, and at Coty, U.S., for 22 years. He also worked as a ballroom dance instructor for 30 years.

Nystrom was in the U.S. Army. He served for seven years, leaving as a CW2 instructor pilot.

Elections

2019

See also: City elections in Sanford, North Carolina (2019)

General election

General election for Sanford City Council Ward 5

Incumbent Rebecca Wyhof Salmon defeated Stephen Nystrom in the general election for Sanford City Council Ward 5 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Rebecca Wyhof Salmon (D)	83.6	194
		Stephen Nystrom (R)	16.4	38

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 232
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Campaign themes

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Stephen Nystrom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nystrom's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Sanford resident who is concerned about how our tax dollars are spent.

I am a US Veteran - Attack Helicopter Pilot and & Instructor Pilot.

22 year Employee at Coty Inc. I am married 22years to my wife Melissa. Professional Ballroom Dance Instructor. CCCC Graduate Motorcycle Mechanics and Accounting. B.S. in Accounting/Business from Capella University.

Strong Fiscal Conservative

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Lower taxes and fees to improve Business Growth
• Improve access to clean Water and Sewer in the 5th ward
• Reduce crime and gang activity, Increase community policing

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Lower taxes, create a more business friendly environment, clean water and sewerage for all city residents.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office has the responsibility to spend the tax payer's money wisely and efficiently.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to follow his example to the best of my ability.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

There is no book, essay, film or something else that I would recommend for someone who wants to understand my political philosophy other than the principles in the bible. I am conservative which simply means both my social and fiscal values are conservative. I am human and will continue to make errors in judgement from time to time. My goal is to continue to learn and develop better judgement based on past as well as current experiences

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

It is critical that who ever is in this position be ethical, hardworking, willing to listen to all sides of a situation prior to making a decision. Honesty and integrity are important (however, they mean different things to different people) with the primary focus on what is best for the Sanford citizens and the best use of their tax dollars. City Counsel members should reach out to Sanford Citizens for their input on critical decisions.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Integrity, Responsible, Hard working, Cordial, determined.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core require of someone elected to this office is the appropriate use of tax payer dollars. Insure all Sanford citizens have access to clean water and proper waste disposal. Work to keep Citizens informed on issues which concern them. They should also find ways to reduce the tax burden, They should work with the Police department to reduce crime and help to insure the homeless people are properly cared for. We need to ensure the Fire department has the appropriate equipment and trained personal just like the police department. We need to create a strong and friendly business environment to promote a great place to do business.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want the Citizens of Sanford to know I have their interest in mind when it comes to their money.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

President John F. Kennedy's death. I was 9 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Working on my father's Dairy Farm. 6 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Shane, It showed a man with moral character.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Amazing Grace

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Yes, the people of Sanford should be provided complete information about what is transpiring through facebook as well as publishing it in the city files.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

It can be, however, my experience with people who are habitual government (office) holders they tend to forget they work for the people rather than the people working for them. There is a tendency to be complacent and spending money freely which is not what should be happening. The interest of the people become their own interest to get re-elected to the office. Sometimes it is best to have new people in the office which do not fit the typical view of someone who has worked in government for ten or twenty years.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

The ability listen to all views before attempting to make a decision. It is critical to communicate with other people in the office as well as with the Sanford residents who are being affected by those decisions. Integrity is critical with these type jobs because you are working with someone else's money.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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