2006

After much discussion, the County Commissioners have settled on a proposal that we the voters will get to decide on this fall. They suggest leaving the board at 5 members, with 2 elected at-large (as all five are right now), 2 elected from the Chapel Hill "Township" (which includes Carrboro), and 1 elcted from the rest of the county.

The Board of Commissioners tentatively agreed Thursday on an election map that would require three of the five commissioners to live in newly created districts. Although the board is adding this residential requirement, all county residents will vote on all seats in the primaries and general election.

Voters will decide yea or nay on the plan in a referendum in November...

I couldn't be happier to announce the web site (and campaign of course) of Mike Nelson for Orange County Commissioner! This year the seats of Alice Gordon, Steve Halkiotis, and Barry Jacobs will be open. I don't think any of them has announced whether they are running. Candidates have until February 28 to file for the primary.

Mike deserves some credit for helping Carrboro become the wonderful and successful place it is right now. He is poised to be a strong leader on environmental issues, which are currently staring the county in the face. And he also has plenty of experience with social and economic issues as the former Mayor of Carrboro.

The support of the current county commissioners for extending water and sewer lines into the Rural Buffer is one of the main reasons I have decided to run. The Rural Buffer, separating Chapel Hill/Carrboro from the rest of the county, is one of Orange County's greatest assets. We should cherish it and seek to protect it at all costs.