So I spent this evening reading campaign expense reports. I don't usually do this, preferring to rely on the talents of those who are better with numbers. However, Will has his own finances to worry about this year, so I am having a go. ;-)

Here (and below) is a spreadsheet where we are compiling candidate information including finances and endorsements. What other information should it have?

Campaign finance data is from http://www.co.orange.nc.us/elect/campfin.asp

A few of these reports didn't look right to me (Kevin Wolff spent $1,182.93 and has $1,182.93 cash on hand? Bill Strom's IndyWeek.com ad only cost $100!) but I did the best I could. Corrections are extremely welcome!

There have been a few misconceptions about Carrboro's Revolving Loan Fund floating around recently. I would like to clear them up.

In June of 1985 the NC Dept of Natural Resources and Community Development gave Carrboro the right to use program income from the repayment of principal and interest from 3 economic development loans made to businesses in Carrboro to start the Carrboro Revolving Loan Fund. The loan proceeds from the three loans totaled $275,000. To date no local tax dollars have been added to this fund, all funds have accrued from the principal and interest from the repayment of the original three loans. There is also some additional interest accrued on the repayment amounts added to the fund from the investment of the repayment dollars. The three original businesses are still operating and employing people.

Over a period of 21 years the Town of Carrboro has loaned money to 33 businesses. Weaver St Market, the first to receive a loan has expanded once in it's original location and has since expanded to Southern Village and soon to Hillsborough. It is a major employer.

Earlier this evening, Joe Herzenberg passed away at UNC Hospitals. Joe had been in failing health for some time.

This is a very sad moment for those of us who worked closely with Joe through his Chapel Hill political career in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Sadder still for those who remained close to him until the end.

For newcomers who did not know Joe, there was a time when he was the standout progressive leader on the Chapel Hill Town Council, a strong neighborhood advocate and civil libertarian. He was highly popular, the top vote-getter in 1991, and considered by many at the time to be a likely mayoral candidate.

As wikipedia summarizes it, "Herzenberg was narrowly defeated in a 1979 bid for the Chapel Hill Town Council, but was later appointed to the town council when council-member Gerry Cohen stepped down following a failed bid for mayor. Herzenberg lost his reelection bid in 1981, but he returned to the council in 1987 and was reelected with overwhelming support in 1991."