For Vernon

I have known Page Vernon for over 25 years. In that time, I have worked with Page in regards to youth and families in Chatham County in her role as attorney, guardian ad litem, board member and mentor. The words I use to describe Page are: honest, thoughtful, compassionate and fair. She knows which questions to ask, how to assess complex situations and communicate solutions. Page Vernon has all the qualities for making just and difficult decisions in a court of law. It is without question that I fully support her election to district court judge!

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For Jones

Orange County is at a critical point. Cost of Growth, Affordable Living and How Dense Should We Be? These are the vital issues before the Orange County Board of Commissioners. A $200 million city school debt faces us. Commissioners act as if it came from outer space.

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For Pelissier

Bernadette Pelissier would make a great county commissioner. She’s capable and fair-minded and will put energy and time into the position. If elected, she will put an emphasis on social services, including mental health and health care. She’ll be a strong advocate for affordable housing and the environment. She’ll make a good link between those of us who live in town and folks in more rural areas of the county. I’m voting for her in the at-large district for county commissioner and encourage you to as well.
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For Carey

I expressly disassociate my personal sentiments expressed here from those of the NAACP, in which I play a leadership role. I write to express my support for Moses Carey to represent us in the North Carolina Senate. Like many of my friends, I love Ellie Kinnaird and have the greatest respect and admiration for her work over the years. Like Senators Obama and Clinton, she and Moses have almost identical political positions. So why am I voting for Moses over Ellie? Two reasons.

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For Kinnaird

It’s unfortunate that we must choose between two fine public servants, Ellie Kinnaird and Moses Carey. Both have served us well for many years. Both are willing to raise controversial issues. Both are Democrats with liberal leanings. I missed their debate, but I heard it wasn’t much of a debate because they agree on most of the issues. It’s unfortunate that this race not only divides our community, but I see where it has divided households too. So how will you make your decision if you haven’t already? For me the choice is clear. I grew up with Ellie’s sons and much later I watched Ellie as mayor of Carrboro help shape it into the vibrant, unusual town that it has become today. There are many reasons Carrboro is a great place to live. Ellie Kinnaird is one of them.

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Might as well just bring a tent and a sleeping bag to the Town Commons next weekend.
The sequence of events goes like this:

Friday, May 2 — Arcade Fire, Superchunk rock show and rally for Obama
Saturday, May 3 — Farmers’ Market 30th Anniversary/First Really, Really Free Market of Spring
Sunday, May 4 — Carrboro Day

See what I mean?

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Those are the words being used to describe North Carolina by pundits across the country after Hillary Clinton’s win in the Pennsylvania primary. Anyone who kept an eye on the race for the delegates of that state knows that as it wound down, things got downright nasty. Accusations flew, ads got muddy and ABC debate viewers were witnesses to one of the most god-awful performances ever by our blow-dried press corps.

So kindly — to all the campaign types, the ardent supporters, the sharp-knifed surrogates and especially to all you giant egos in cable news — we offer this advice: Don’t you bring that junk down here. It’s weak, and doesn’t do democracy one whit of good.

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As you may notice, a flood of letters on the upcoming primary rolled into the office this week — items we feel obligated to print. So, with apologies, we’re bumping a story on the effect of gas prices on the local economy until the primary dust has settled. In the meantime, if you have a story or anecdote to add about how prices have affected your business or nonprofit, please email editor@carrborocitizen.com

A reminder that we are seeking fiction and creative non-fiction works by local authors for to run in MILL, our monthly arts, music and literature publication. Stories should be between 500 and 600 words and should pretty much be suitable for the whole family. Send inquiries to editor@carrborocitizen.com

By Chris Fitzsimon 

One week after North Carolina voters head to the polls in the May primary, the General Assembly will convene for its summer session. Lawmakers are likely to spend much of their time in Raleigh struggling to pass a budget based on lower revenue projections and balancing expectations about the session with their November general election campaigns.

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By Mike Nelson 

I know. No one likes to have their taxes raised. Who would?

But sometimes a need is so great that raising a tax is an appropriate course of action. Here in Orange County, we have serious school and park needs. For example, Morris Grove Elementary School, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro system’s newest school, hasn’t even opened yet and already we’re looking to start construction on the next elementary school. It’s going to cost an estimated $34 million to build elementary #11. Where’s the money going to come from?

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By Brian Voyce

To present a balance in the editorials and letters on the upcoming vote on the local transfer tax, I present the following guest editorial.

Voting for the home equity/local land transfer tax rewards the financial incompetence of our politicians.

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For the transfer tax

With Orange County growing so fast, it seems we need new schools every time we turn around. Somehow we have to pay for educating these new children, who are our future. Counties have very few options in paying for schools. Mostly, they rely on the property tax. Every property owner has to pay this tax every year whether or not they are contributing to the growth.

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We want to thank Reps. David Price and Mel Watt for their endorsements of Barack Obama, the clear choice for the Democratic nomination.

We are glad they listened to North Carolina voters, more than 2,000 of whom have signed petitions over the past two months asking N.C. superdelegates to back Obama.

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Support Leo Allison

The Orange County commissioners race this year includes seats for several districts. One of the reasons we changed to district representatives was to ensure that all parts of the county were represented by their own community representatives. I am thrilled and honored to support Leo Allison for county commissioner in District 2.

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