Age: 50 (but I look younger)
Neighborhood: Downtown, next to the Town Commons for 15 years (since before there was a Farmer’s Market)
Family: Married to Wendy Wenck on May 5, 2005 after 20 years of togetherness. No children, but we have two terrier dogs and a yellow cat.
Profession/Business: Recent graduate in accounting, still looking for a real job. I have worked with Tarheel Takeout since August 2006.
Education & Experience: Associate Degree in accounting, Durham Tech. Most of my recent career has been spent in office management and real estate brokerage and appraisal. Further detail can be found at www.chuckmorton.org on my biography page.
What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
I would like to continue Carrboro’s tradition of good governance, free from any conflict of interest with business investments. Carrboro is blessed with many dedicated souls who work very hard to run the town well, but the current board is too heavily weighted with attorneys and real estate developers. The regular folk of Carrboro need some representation as well.
What are the top two or three critical issues facing Carrboro?
Affordable housing is my primary concern. If Wendy and I were to need to buy our house today, it simply could not happen. We could not afford it, even though our income has increased since we bought it. The values of our little house and all those around it have increased to 4 or 5 times what they were 10 years ago, shutting many of our citizens right out of the market. This also imposes a tax burden on older and low income property owners, and might ultimately force even Wendy and I out of the town.
I would like to see the recently annexed citizens of the Northern Transition Area welcomed into the town. The timing of the annexation process and the appointment of the vacant seat after the last election was perceived as a disenfranchisement of those residents, whether or not that is the intent. I am pleased to see the issue debated in this election, so that similar events in the future may well be better handled.
What have you learned about our town in the campaign?
In my investigation of town issues related to this campaign, I have been impressed with just how well this town is run. The town employees I have spoken with have left me with the impression of good governance, which appears to come primarily from an excellent and professional staff. Carrboro is truly a victim of its’ own success. The wise decisions of the Board of Aldermen over the past 30 years have created an attractive community. This has lead to a price spiral, and a glut of large expensive homes. Our biggest challenge in the near future is to find ways to insure that there remains room for everybody in Carrboro. We must make wise decisions now, so that Carrboro can remain an inclusive community for posterity.