newsobserver.com blogs -- orangechat

Rogers Road activist going to Washington

jessedeconto — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:51:06 -0500

Robert Campbell, Rogers Road's most active spokesman, will visit the White House Friday as part of a panel discussing the public health benefits of a clean energy economy. Campbell will address EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

"We're going to be there to interject our thoughts on how to go about creating green initiative programs to move us forward," he said.

Campbell, a key leader in the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association and the Coalition to End Environmental Racism, has fought for public water to replace wells possibly contaminated by leeching from the nearby Orange County landfill. He has also fought against siting a trash transfer station in his neighborhood.

"If we can learn truly to move into the green technology, it'll being to elminate the need for landfills," he said.

Third time no charm for campus Methodists

jessedeconto — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:38:00 -0500

For the third time in two years, the Town Council has stalled the UNC Wesley Foundation's plans to build a Methodist dormitory near downtown Chapel Hill.

Two years ago, it was 22 apartments on five stories for 160 students in a 70,000-square-foot building on Pittsboro Street. After neighbors from the Cameron-McCauley Historic District complained, the Wesley Foundation scaled back the plans to four stories and 148 beds, but the council decided that was still out of scale with the neighborhood.

Wesley responded by relocating the plan to West Rosemary Street, proposing 76,770 square feet on four stories for 144 students. The foundation brought that plan to the Town Council Monday night, but council members were cold toward it.

"The neighbors are having trouble understanding the imperative for having a dormitory adjacent to a residential area," said Councilman Ed Harrison. "I'm not sure I can handle something quite this intense, but thanks for the try."

The building would replace three buildings at the corner of Rosemary and Church streets, including the former Los Potrillos Mexican restaurant and various professional offices. Its 30-foot rear wall would be 11 feet from the residential property lines to the north.

"It's still going to be the same issue that you had on Pittsboro Street, just the sheer mass of it, particularly when you have relatively small houses on the other side," said Councilwoman Sally Greene.

Councilman Jim Ward said if Wesley brings back the proposal, they'll need to decrease the size or use "some other magic" to lessen the impact on neighbors.

Mayor-elect Mark Kleinschmidt recommended explaining more about the types of students who will live their in "intentional" community.

"I imagine that your intentional students are not going to be playing music at 3 o'clock in the morning," he said.

Pohlman faxed his special pre-election finance report; Raymond posted his on his own Web site

jessedeconto — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:41:05 -0500

I've been getting some feedback from Will Raymond and Matt Pohlman on my story, "Most missed filing deadlines."

The story said only Laurin Easthom managed to file her special pre-election report by the Oct. 29 deadline but that Pohlman and Matt Czajkowski postmarked theirs by the deadline and that Raymond's was a day late because of a Board of Elections software error.

Pohlman called to clarify that he did fax his report, along with mailing it, on Oct. 29. The BOE Web site has no record of the fax, but I have left them a message asking them to confirm (I've also asked whether any other candidates might have faxed, just in case). The fax means that both Pohlman's and Easthom's reports were available to the public on Oct. 29. Pohlman said he was proud of hitting every campaign-finance deadline.

Writing here on OrangeChat Raymond said even though his special pre-election report wasn't available at the BOE Web site on Oct. 29, he did post it on his own Web site.

Is UNC's Unsung Founders Memorial racially insensitive?

mschultz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:24:38 -0500

UPDATE (Nov. 19): In further reporting for a follow-up in Sunday's Chapel Hill News, we learned two statements made at Tuesday's forum were incorrect. According to university officials, two of four members of the Class of 2002 selection committee were black. Also, one of three artists who visited Chapel Hill as part of the selection process was black. We'll have more in Sunday's paper.

Arthur Finn knew about the Unsung Founders Memorial on UNC's McCorkle Place. The low-to-the-ground statue by Korean artist Do-Ho Suh depicts 300 unnamed black figures holding up a polished table and is meant to honor the African Americans -- free and slaves - who built the campus.

But Finn said he never thought about the juxtaposition of the statue with the Confederate Monument nicknamed "Silent Sam" until poet C.J. Suitt pointed it out during a forum on race relations in Chapel Hill Wednesday night.

Suitt said he was offended not just because the table is small and Confederate soldier large, but because only one black person was on the committee that chose the artist. He said no black artists were considered and that the artist who was chosen specialized in miniatures.

"These are the things that are appalling to me," said Suitt, who is black.

Finn, who is white, spoke when the discussion opened up to the audience. About 55 people attended the meeting sponsored by the town's Justice in Action Committee at the Hargraves Center. Three-quarters of the audience was white. Mayor-elect Mark Kleinschmidt attended, as did council members Sally Greene and Jim Ward and council-member-elect Penny Rich.

Finn recalled a similar discussion 30 years ago when a member of the Black Panther Party challenged the audience, saying that if they wanted to see a racist to look in the mirror.

"I think most of the time we think we're not racists," Finn said. He said although he was aware of the monument to black workers, "what I wasn't aware of in my own brain [was] I never thought of it in comparison with Silent Sam. We need to learn from all these things."

"Unsung Founders," a gift of the Class of 2002, was meant to counter criticism of the Confederate Monument, "perhaps the most controversial memorial on campus," according to UNC's Center for the Study of the American South.

Many say it glorifies the Confederacy and should be removed. Others say removing it "would do more harm than good by denying the reality of this period of UNC's (and the nation's) history," according to the center.

What do you think? Tell us and we'll print any signed comments with more from last night's forum in Sunday's Chapel Hill News.

Coming tomorrow in The Chapel Hill News

mschultz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:46:31 -0500

Here's a look at tomorrow's headlines:

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Orange County commissioners say the years of steady tax inceases are over. So now what? New County Manager Frank Clifton helped them see a new way to start thinking about economic development at a Saturday retreat. We were there.

'A LITTLE SCREWY': That's how Chapel Hill Town Council candidate Penny Rich described the first year of Chapel Hill's public campaign financing program. And she was one of the winners. Read Jesse James DeConto's story to see where nearly everyone fell short this time around.

DRAGO'S DRACULA: Staff writer Sadia Latifi is only a few years out of college herself. So she knows who Edward Cullen is. But before 'Twightlight" there was a darker, more dangerous vampire. Read her story on Chapel Hill High School's production of "Dracula" opening this Thursday.

LADIES NIGHT: No, not the disco song, but an event Thursday night in Hillsborough, which in case you've missed it has become quite the happening burg. (My favorite? Matthew's Chocolates). Correspondent Elizabeth Shestak reports how businesswomen are remaking Churton Street, and could maybe teach their neighbors to the south a thing or two about revitalizing downtowns.

Lots more, your letters, a guide to this week's arts and entertainment and sports, of course.

As always, thanks for reading,

Mark

Grisham to give UNC commencement address

mschultz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:04:58 -0500

John Grisham, author of 23 books including numerous best-selling legal thrillers, will deliver UNC-Chapel Hill's spring commencement address.

Chancellor Holden Thorp will preside at the ceremony on May 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Kenan Stadium.

“John is an engaging speaker who will have a profound message for our graduates and their families,” Thorp said in a news release. “His prowess with the written and spoken word makes him an excellent choice for a commencement speaker. He has an inspirational story to share.”

Thorp chose Grisham in consultation with the University’s Commencement Speaker Selection Committee, which is made up of an equal number of students and faculty.

The author spoke at two North Carolina Literary Festivals held on campus, in 1998 and the most recent festival in September. His daughter, Shea, graduated from UNC last year with a degree in elementary education and teaches in Raleigh.

Grisham’s last book, "Ford County," was published on Nov. 3 and is his first collection of short stories. "The Innocent Man," published in 2006, was his first work of non-fiction. Nine of his books have been made into movies.

Remain calm Friday; all is well

eferreri — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:40:11 -0500

Every so often, the military does a jet flyover in Chapel Hill and someone gets freaked out. Hey, can't really blame you if you don't know it's happening. These jets are loud!

Anyhow, a flyover featuring four Marine F/A-18 Hornet jets is scheduled just prior to the kickoff of the UNC/Miami game Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

But to prepare, the pilots to some practice runs. Those will be Friday between 2 and 3 p.m. Beware.

I don't have a link, so here's the text from a memo to community members from Linda Convissor, the university's local relations director.

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Saturday marks the end of the home football season with Carolina kicking-off against the University of Miami Hurricanes at 3:30 p.m.

Just prior to kickoff, four Marine F/A-18 Hornet jets will fly over Kenan Stadium. The F/A-18s are part of the VMFA-122 squadron known as the 'Werewolves', and are based out of the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina. One of the pilots is UNC alumnus Captain Benjamin Apple, class of 2003.

Practice runs will be made on Friday between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Of course, bad weather or aircraft schedule changes could affect the flight plans for Friday and Saturday.

The jets will be flying low and be quite loud, so we wanted to give you advance warning.

Whether or not you are attending the game, you might want to come to campus to enjoy Tar Heel Town http://www.tarheeltown.com/. The Old Well Walk will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Coach Davis and the Tar Heels walking across Polk Place to Kenan Stadium. The Marching Tar Heels, cheerleaders and Rameses will be there too. Grab a spot along the route to cheer the Heels to victory.

Touch Downtown www.touchdowntown.com allows you to "park and ride" and visit campus and downtown both before and after the game. You can ride the bus from two parking lots along Martin Luther King Boulevard: one lot is at 725 Martin Luther King Blvd. across the street from Fosters and the other is the "P" lot across from the YMCA. The buses from these lots will begin running 3 hours before kick-off and continue for another 3 hours after the game.

If you are a community group or neighborhood representative, please forward this email to your members and others who may be interested.

Have a great weekend and Go Heels!

Cash for grades?

sadialatifi — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:21:53 -0500

Wayne County school officials have put the brakes on a cash for grades fundraising effort at a Goldsboro middle school.

The school district reacted to today's article by Lynn Bonner, in which she reported that a $20 donation to Rosewood Middle School would have gotten a student 20 test points — 10 extra points on two tests of the student's choosing. That could raise a B to an A, or a failing grade to a D.

Are any individual schools in Orange County following similar policies? Or any other sort of classroom incentives to reward fundraising?

E-mail me or post a comment.

Kleinschmidt spent $16,000 as of Oct. 28

jessedeconto — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:44:10 -0500

As of Oct. 28, Mayor-elect Mark Kleinschmidt had spent about $16,000 out of just over $18,000 available to his campaign, according to a campaign-finance report he filed about a week late last Friday. It says he had raised about $5,300 -- close to his limit of $6,000 -- and received $13,000 from the voter-owned elections program. If he has any money left over, it must be returned to the town, regardless of where it came from.

Matt Czajkowski, one of the only three candidates who managed to file the special pre-election report by the Oct. 29 deadline, had raised $30,000 and spent more than $25,000.

Gene Pease had spent nearly $6,300 by Oct. 19, more than any other Town Council candidate, but he didn't file his report on time and it doesn't yet appear on the State Board of Elections web site. Matt Pohlman, the second-leading spender at $5,000 as of Oct. 19, did file his special pre-election report on time, and he had spent about $8,500 as of Oct. 28.

A post-election report is due on Nov. 19 and will reveal the final numbers.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Opening of School Report

sadialatifi — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500

As noted in today's Chapel Hill News, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools released their annual Opening of Schools Report last Thursday.

Highlights of the report include decreased enrollment, more Asian students than ever, bigger classrooms and fewer new hires. There's also information on budgets, test scores, facility maintenance and more.

To read the full report, click on the document linked to at the bottom of this post and download the PDF.

Slade Appointed to Vacant Seat

julianmarch — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:35:22 -0500

The Board of Aldermen just appointed Sammy Slade to finish the last few weeks of John Herrera's term.

The Town Clerk administered the oath of office and Slade went to sit with the Board.

"Don’t feel nervous Sammy, because you get to do this again
in three weeks," Mayor Mark Chilton said.

Slade was elected to fill one of three open seats last week, but the Board of Aldermen decided to appoint him early so he could go ahead and get started.

Campaign-finance reports arrive late

jessedeconto — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:15:42 -0500

At least one critic of the town's public financing program is questioning why most candidates didn't file their special pre-election campaign finance reports on time.

Pre-election reports were due on Oct. 26 and then again on Oct. 29. Only Matt Czajkowski, Matt Pohlman and Laurin Easthom hit the Oct. 29 deadline with a postmark. As of Oct. 28, Czajkowski had raised more than $30,000 and spent more than $25,000 on his mayoral campaign.

In 2007, Czajkowski spent more than $15,000 between the first "pre-election" report 10 days out and the election itself, prompting the council to insert a "special" pre-election report due a few days before the election.

"It's actually there so that people who aren't participating [in public financing] can show people what they are doing near the end," said Mayor-elect Kleinschmidt, who qualified for $9,000 in public funding plus another $4,000 in rescue funds because Czajkowski topped $21,000 in contributions.

But Czajkowski-supporter Greg Gerdau criticized Kleinschmidt and top vote-getter Penny Rich for not submitting the special reports on time.

"Certain Town Council members were so furious two years ago about money spent in between the 'pre-election report' and the election that they put in the 'special pre-election report' which obviously is supposed to be filed immediately prior to the election," wrote Gerdau in an e-mail to the N.C. State Board of Elections. "Why was this not enforced? ... Why are you not requiring candidates spending taxpayer money on their own elections to be timely and transparent in their reporting of its expenditure?"

Rich did finally file hers on Nov. 5, a week late. Overall, Rich collected more than $1,400 in individual contributions and nearly $2,900 in public funds and spent nearly all of it. Kleinschmidt said he filed by Nov. 6, though his report still doesn't show up on the Board of Elections web site.

"That was a complete oversight on our part, and apparently everyone else's, and I regret that," he said.

Councilman-elect Gene Pease still hasn't filed his, according to the BOE, nor have outgoing incumbent Jim Merritt, challenger Jon DeHart or mayoral candidates Augustus Cho or Kevin Wolff. Town Council challenger Will Raymond filed his a day late.

UPDATE: Augustus Cho called to say he didn't know about the special report and would check with the State Board of Elections Wednesday to find out if he needed to comply. Kleinschmidt told me the board hadn't warned any of the candidates of the coming deadline, which he acknowledged was not an excuse. The lack of notice apparently tripped up a lot of them.

Board of Elections certfies results, no change from election day

jessedeconto — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:34:10 -0500

All the provisional ballots have been counted, and all the totals have been certified.

Mark Kleinschmidt gained seven votes on Matt Czajkowski from the provisional ballots and will be Chapel Hill's new mayor. Kleinschmidt finished with 4,176 votes, or 48.6 percent, to Czajkowski's 4,070 votes, or 47.4 percent.

Kleinschmidt, along with new council members Gene Pease and Penny Rich, will be installed on Dec. 7. At a special meeting on Dec. 9, the new council will hear presentations from 11 applicants to finish the two years left on Bill Strom's seat. On Dec. 14, they will make the appointment.

Czajkowski questions appointment process, gets lectured

jessedeconto — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:17:53 -0500

In a contentious election season, a large number of voters pushed for Matt Czajkowski and a bloc of businessmen to change the ideological make-up of the Town Council, and they narrowly missed. Midway through his second term, Czajkowski continued speaking for constituents who want change Monday night, challenging the council's process for appointing citizens to advisory boards.

"I've certainly heard from some citizens that the qualifications and criteria sometimes that they might be looking for might differ from the unanimity (of the boards and commissions who nominate new potential members)," said Czajkowski, who questioned why there was little information in his meeting packet about four nominees to the town's Sustainability Committee and Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board.

"It further emphasizes that this whole process is kind of pro forma," he said.

But veteran council members said they receive information about the applicants a few days ahead of time and can contact the applicants to learn more.

"That's another thing that council members do," said Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward. "That information gets shared in both directions."

"It's a two-way street," added Mayor Kevin Foy.

"It's not like we just see these an hour before the meeting," said second-term councilwoman Sally Greene.

But Czajkowski pressed on, saying he had not seen a committee's nominee rejected in his two years on the council.

"It's not uncommon for that to happen," said Ward, with Foy and Greene agreeing.

"Ok, well, I stand corrected in that regard," Czajkowski said. "I still would like us to have a more fulsome discussion of why council members would vote for somebody or not."

"You want some input?" said Ward. "I know some of these people personally."

He then convinced Czajkowski to vote Joy Steinberg, a marketing brand manager, and Paulette Bekolo, head of the nonprofit Hope for Haiti Ministries, onto the town's Sustainability Committee in 8-0 tallies.

"I'm voting for the two Jim recommended," Czajkowski said.

The board also voted 8-0 to appoint student Jan Kyle Spivey to the stormwater board. When he realized another stormwater applicant, real-estate agent Terry Crook, fell one vote shy of the five necessary for appointment, Czajkowski asked his colleagues why they didn't vote for him.

"I know Terry Crook, and he seems like a very strong guy," he said.

Other council members assured him Crook's name would come back at a later date, and Czajkowski could try to change their minds.

“Out of tradition, there’s just that courtesy to vote for people if another council member asks me to,” Mayor-elect Mark Kleinschmidt explained today.

Kleinschmidt said he didn’t vote to appoint Crook because Councilwoman Greene had questions about his application. Greene was unavailable for comment

Crook endorsed Czajkowski’s campaign and signed a petition calling on the council to delay Bill Strom’s replacement until after Dec. 7 when Penny Rich and Gene Pease will replace Foy and Jim Merritt on the council.

The council agreed on a schedule last night: On Dec. 9, applicants will present their qualifications to the council; on Dec. 14, the council will decide on the appointment. It is shaping up to be a decision between appointing fifth-place finisher Matt Pohlman or appointing one of two African American applicants.

UPDATE: Sally Greene just called to tell me she didn't vote for Terry Crook because he didn't reveal any particular expertise or interest in stormwater management in his application for the position. "I did not see that he had the qualifications," she said. Spivey, the one who did get appointed, listed her knowledge of Geographic Information Systems mapping "focused on water management, hydrology and land-use development" on her application.

UPDATE 2: After listening to the audio this morning, I realized that when Matt Czajkowski spoke of "unanimity," he was talking about the boards and commissions who nominate potential members for appointment, not the unanimity of the Town Council itself. I regret that error and have corrected it above.

Varsity to reopen with "Wizard of Oz"

mschultz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:08:42 -0500

The Varsity Theatre, located at 123 E. Franklin St., will reopen Friday Nov. 27 with a showing of "The Wizard of Oz."

New owners Paul and Susan Shareshian chose the 1939 Hollywood classic for their opening weeked because “it was a memorable tradition to watch 'The Wizard of Oz' on Thanksgiving weekend, and we are really excited to bring this movie back to the big screen.”

"The Wizard of Oz" is rated G and stars Judy Garland (like you didn't know that). The Varsity will have showings Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., 3:10 p.m., 5:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Opening week, the Varsity will also be showing matinee and evening showings of "The Invention of Lying" (2009) PG-13, with Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe and Tina Fey and "The Informant" (2009) R with Matt Damon.

Janis Ian in Chapel Hill: Between the lines

mschultz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:49:47 -0500

Here's an excerpt from a review in Wednesday's paper.

Janis Ian’s 1975 hit “At Seventeen” was such a sensation 35 years
ago that she sang it on the the premiere of a late-night skit show called “Saturday
Night Live.”

The pretty confessional about “ugly duckling girls like me," sold more than a million records. Ian enthralled again Sunday night at the Community Church with a voice as intimate and powerful as a generation ago.

At 58, she looked like a tiny, Jewish grandma from Boca as she walked to the stage: 4 foot 10, the curly brown hair from ‘70s album covers now a snowy white.

But as she tuned the opening notes of “When the Party’s Over,” the first
song off her No. 1 album “Between the Lines” you could feel people relax.

Ian recorded “Society’s Child” about interracial romance, at 14. After her '70s success, she enjoyed a resurgence coming out as a lesbian with 1993’s “Breaking Silence,” a collection of songs about survival.

Now with the same woman for 20 years, she brought tears of joy to many with her story of getting married in Toronto. When the salesclerk in Dillard’s learned Ian and her partner were shopping for wedding dresses, she called the other clerks over to meet the “little old ladies” getting married.

So of course she wrote a song: the jaunty “Married in London."

My passport in Sweden says I’ve got a wife / Amsterdam tells me I’m partnered for life

But back in America land of the free / I’m a threat to the national security

The song ends with a four-letter kiss-off to bigotry. It’s a far more confident Ian than the girl who sang to her black boyfriend “I can’t see you anymore” when others disapproved.

But if Ian is older and bolder, she is also humbled.

An artist is lucky, she said, to convey even once a truth that cuts across what divides us.

So when people ask her if she ever grows tired of singing “that song,” she tells them no. She loves singing that song.

And then she sang “At Seventeen.” And it was 1975, and she was that curly-haired
girl singing on the TV. Singing to no one, and to everyone

Slade may start early as Carrboro alderman

mschultz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:14:25 -0500

Newly elected Carrboro Alderman Sammy Slade may get to start a few weeks early.

The board plans to seat its newly elected members -- incumbents Jacquie Gist and Randee Haven-O'Donnell are the others -- at an organizational meeting Dec. 1, according to Town Clerk Sarah Williamson.

But Mayor Mark Chilton suggested back in August that the board apppoint the newly
elected alderman to finish the last few week's of John Herrera's term, according to a memo from Alderman Dan Coleman to his colleagues. Herrera resigned unexpectedly, saying he had moved, remarried and wanted to spend more time with his family. His resignation helped pave the way for Slade, whom he endorsed.

"Unless anyone disagrees, I would like to ask Mark [Chilton] to arrange with the
clerk and with Sammy that this would be our first order of business
next week," Coleman says in the e-mail.

That would give Slade three meetings to settle in. The board has meetings scheduled Nov. 10, 17 and 24, according to Williamson.

Mayor's race not quite over

jessedeconto — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:07:07 -0500

Mark Kleinschmidt edged Matt Czajkowski by 99 votes, and there could be more than that many provisional ballots left to be counted. There are 78 in Orange County, and the county Board of Elections will meet no later than Nov. 10 to decide whether they're valid ballots. Orange elections director Tracy Reams is still waiting to learn how many provisional ballots came out of the tiny portion of Chapel Hill that's in Durham County.

It's not likely very many, but Czajkowski nearly doubled up Kleinschmidt, 287-146, in that section of town, so it could make a difference, at least in narrowing the gap between the two men. If it closes to less than 1 percent of the total -- probably somewhere between 85 and 90 votes, depending on the total of provisionals -- Czajkowski would have the right to demand a recount. That will only take a difference of a dozen or so votes in the provisional ballots.

Czajkowski won election in 2007 after the Board of Elections denied a recount request from incumbent Cam Hill, who lost by about 60 votes.

UPDATE: Durham County has nine provisional ballots for the Town of Chapel Hill, making for 87 total -- not enough to change the outcome but perhaps enough to allow a possible recount. Czajkowski did not return a phone call inquiring whether he was considering asking for a recount.

Poll: Voters split on filling Strom vacancy

mschultz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:06:14 -0500

A new poll from Public Policy Polling shows Chapel Hil voters evenly divided on whether one of the losing candidates in Tuesday's election should be appointed to fill Bill Strom's seat: 38 percent in favor, 38 percent opposed, and 24 percent unsure.

"Trumping that finding with the loss of Jim Merritt though is probably the question we asked about whether Chapel Hillians thought it was important to have an African American on the Town Council," says PPP's Tom Jensen.

Fifty-seven percent of voters said yes to that with just 28 percent dissenting. "I imagine given the strong support from the community that's the direction the Council will now go in with the appointment,' Jensen says.

Two other key findings from the poll, neither of which Jensen says is particularly surprising given the returns. 51 percent of Chapel Hill voters support publicly financed elections with only 31 percent opposed.

"Given Mark Kleinschmidt's win and Penny Rich's first place finish it's clear there was no backlash from that and it's even possible the opposite was true," he says.

Cam Hill registers PAC

jessedeconto — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:57:26 -0500

Former Town Council member Cam Hill registered his Chapel Hill Caucus political-action committee today, complying with state law. Hill drew criticism last week for a campaign flier attacking mayoral candidate Matt Czajkowski, who bumped him off the council in 2007. Hill had until today to register the PAC. Hill may have broken campaign-finance law by not noting that incoming mayor Mark Kleinschmidt had not authorized the flier. Hill has said he didn't know of that rule. Hill loaned his PAC $1,703.46 for the mailing, a sum he'll have to forgive or collect as contributions to the PAC. Hill will have to report the disposition of that debt in a January campaign-finance report, according to Orange County Board of Elections Director Tracy Reams.

School board candidate wants clarification

sadialatifi — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:30:00 -0500

I wrote a story in Sunday's N&O about the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board elections.

Greg McElveen, the only incumbent in today's race, called in and wanted to clarify some of his statements on the school budget cutbacks.

The story says that McElveen said "he isn't troubled by budget cuts - quality programming now means lower costs later. "If you pull from the right set of resources and provide teachers with support they need, you can be successful even with limited funding," McElveen said."

McElveen said to me that he indeed recognizes "the difficult challenges associated with the budget cuts," but that he is "not deterred by these cuts in my pursuit of excellence for all of our children."

Former Chapel Hill councilman sent campaign flier

mschultz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:11:51 -0500

The state Board of Elections confirmed today that former Chapel Hill Town Councilman Cam Hill sent a flier from an unregistered political action committee promoting Councilman Mark Kleinschmidt for mayor.

The flier, which called mayoral candidate Councilman Matt Czajkowski "divisive" and "out of sync with Chapel Hill values," was paid for by CHC PAC. Neither candidate knew who sent it, and the mailing violated state election law by not saying Kleinschmidt had not endorsed it.

The state traced the mailing to Hill through a mailhouse bulk mail permit. Such mailings are considered a campaign media expense and are a public record, according to Amy Strange, a compliance specialist with the state Board of Elections.

Hill has until Wednesday, 10 days after incurring the expense, to register as a political action committee, Strange said. Anyone raising money or spending money on behalf of a candidate is required to register, she said. Registering late can trigger fines, through the state typically issues a warning notice, giving the group 20 days after which the matter can be sent to the district attorney's office.

The state received two complaints about the flier. UNC student Kendall Law, one of them, said Hill timedthe flier so he would not have to go public until after the election. "Clearly he knew what he was doing," Law said. "He didn't waant anyone to know he was doing this until after election day."

Czajkowski finished about 60 votes ahead of Hill to win a seat on the council two years ago.

"Apparently he's still got some hard feelings about those results," Law said.

We tried to reach Hill before posting this news and will add his comments if we reach him.

Election morning

julianmarch — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:17:37 -0500

In Carrboro, Mayor Mark Chilton is seeking a third term. He is being challenged by political newcomer Amanda Ashley and Brian Voyce, who ran for mayor in 2007.

There are three open seats on the Board of Aldermen.

Incumbents Jacqui Gist and Randee Haven-O'Donnell are seeking re-election. Challengers Sammy Slade, Sharon Cook and Tim Peck are all vying for a seat.

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. Be sure to follow OrangeChat and look for election stories on chapelhillnews.com this evening.

What are your predictions?

OCS board to discuss financial audit, school improvement plans tonight

sadialatifi — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Orange County Schools will present its annual financial audit report and individual school improvement plans to the board of education tonight.

The board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the school system's headquarters, located at 200 E. King St. in Hillsborough.

This is the board's only meeting this month. View the full agenda for tonight's meeting here.

Carrboro Elementary admin named Chapel Hill-Carrboro principal of the year

sadialatifi — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:28:05 -0500

Emily Bivins of Carrboro Elementary has been named the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' Principal of the Year.

Bivins was selected for the honor by her fellow principals. She will now represent the district in regional and state competition. Bivins has been principal of Carrboro Elementary since 2006.

Prior to being named principal of Carrboro Elementary, Bivins served as the school's assistant principal. She was the coordinator of elementary education for Cherokee County Schools in North Carolina, as well as the director of elementary instruction and staff development for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She served as a classroom teacher at Estes Hills Elementary, McDougle Elementary and Alexander Wilson Elementary in Graham.

She holds a bachelor's degree in education from Wake Forest University, a master's of arts degree in elementary education from Elon College, a doctorate of education in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

How's your school doing?

sadialatifi — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:11:13 -0500

The state's Department of Public Instruction released School Report Cards for districts and individuals schools late last week.

Each school's report card can be viewed at www.ncreportcards.org. You can click to view details on each school district and individual schools in categories like technology usage, funding, test scores, suspensions and teacher quality.

It's a quite interesting and comprehensive read. In addition to the standard testing reports, you can also check out how many of your school's computers have Internet access, or how many teachers have advanced degrees.

Today in The Chapel Hill News

mschultz — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:09:06 -0500

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

STROM SEAT DECISION DELAYED: The Chapel Hill Town Council has decided to delay appointing a successor to Bill Strom's seat until after the newly elected council is seated. Read Jesse James DeConto's story to see what changed current council members' minds.

HOW SAFE IS THE SLUDGE : That's the question the county Board of Commissioners had recently, as it told the Health Department and Commission for the Environment to proceed with planning a potentially regional forum on biosolids or treated sewage sludge. Orange County ranks fifth in the state for acreage permitted for sludge application.

RURAL RESIDENTS WANT OUT: Several challengers for mayor and Board of Aldermen joined some local rural residents Friday to call for Carrboro to return land in its planning area back to the county. Read Julian March's report, including a response from Mayor Mark Chilton.

MORSEL: It's light and fluffy. But if you take it home and don't eat it quickly, freeze it. Correspondent Elizabeth Shestak reports on Jamil Kadouras' new pita bread oven in her monthly look at the local food and dining scene.

Lots more, including your letters; a report on Monday's launch of Justice United, the new Orange County community organizing effort; and local sports.

Thanks for reading,

Mark

Unregistered PAC flier violates election rules

jessedeconto — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:27:30 -0400

An unregistered political-action committee has mailed out a postcard promoting Town Council member Mark Kleinschmidt for mayor and painting rival Matt Czajkowski as a “divisive leader … out of sync with the progressive values Chapel Hill has worked hard to protect.”

Kleinschmidt said he did not authorize the postcard, which violated state law by failing to state that he had not endorsed it, according to Orange County Board of Elections Director Tracy Reams.

Kleinschmidt said he doesn’t know who sent it.

“I have not authorized, and I would not authorized something like this,” he said. “It doesn’t approach the campaign the way that I would.”

Czajkowski also said he did not know who sent the postcards.

We'll have more on this in Saturday's News & Observer.

Chapel Hill mayor endorses Kleinschmidt

mschultz — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:35:35 -0400

Mayor Kevin Foy endorsed Mark Kleinschmidt this morning. Here is his statement:

I hope the voters in Chapel Hill will join me in voting for Mark Kleinschmidt for Mayor. I’ve served as mayor for the past eight years, and I’m proud of our town – we’ve adhered to our values as a place that protects the natural environment, works closely with our university, and respects all our neighbors without regard for their economic status. Over the past eight years, with Mark Kleinschmidt helping to lead the way, Chapel Hill has invested in a safe, vibrant downtown, new greenways, the arts, a major new park, a transit center, a new public works facility, and an aquatics center. We’ve done all this with an eye to prudent money management (we have the highest bond rating) and diversifying our tax base.

And it has paid off – just this year Chapel Hill was named both America’s Most Livable City and Best Place in the Country to Start a Business. We’re doing a lot of things right!

We have a bright future. A vote for Mark for Mayor will keep Chapel Hill on the right track.

Kevin Foy

Answers to questions about insider-trading story

jessedeconto — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:08:58 -0400

We've had some questions on the News & Observer Web site and by e-mail about our story on Matt Czajkowski's insider-trading case, dismissed in 2005.

One reader wanted to know why we didn't elaborate on who has been questioning Czajkowski about the issue. The fact is, we didn't have room. So, for the record, Czajkowski himself told me he's been getting questions about it.

A letter to the editor in the Independent brought it up last week, concluding that he "got off on a technicality," which is not exactly true. Insider-trading cases often fail to go forward in Delaware because the burden of proof is high. The plaintiffs did not provide any evidence that Czajkowski had material nonpublic information that led him to sell off part of his stock holdings in the company.

At a public election forum held by the League of Women Voters earlier this month, Czajkowski took exception to a question about how management of his personal finances would reflect on how he would handle the town's finances.

"I've tried really, really hard to keep this campaign focused on the issues," he said. "It's almost sad that I have to address questions which are simply innuendo. I personally have a surplus, I have savings which I've worked hard for over the course of my life, and I hope that the town can have the same."

Another reader noted that Czajkowski sold his house in The Oaks for $550,000 on Aug. 5, 2005, remained as a tenant, then bought it back on April 13, 2007 for $650,000. I had asked Czajkowski about this by e-mail a while back, and here's what he wrote.

"It is unusual for somebody to sell their house and then buy it back at a higher price but in our case there is a simple explanation. We sold our home and rented it back because we were planning to build a new home on another lot we owned and I didn’t want to carry two mortgages. We subsequently decided not to build the home and approached our landlord to see if we could repurchase the home we were living in. He was willing to accommodate us but since housing prices had appreciated in the interim two years we agreed to pay more than our sales price to buy it back."

In today's Chapel Hill News

mschultz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:50:34 -0400

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

But first, in today's N&O we report a story we finished too late to make today's CHN. (The Wednesday paper goes to press Monday night). Staff writer Jesse James DeConto talks with mayoral candidate Matt Czajkowski about a lawsuit that accused him of insider training when he worked for drugmaker Pozen. The lawsuit, filed after top executives sold company stock a month before the value of the stock plummeted, was dismissed by a judge because the plaintiffs did not seek remedy from the company first.

And in the CHN:

MISSIVES FLY: The fighting between the town of Carrboro, Marilyn Kille and unnamed others in the county's rural planning area continues. Kille, a farm owner who pleaded guilty to forging a town document then held a press conference to say she had proof she didn't, and others in a new Southern Orange County Farm and landowners Committee have sent a letter to farmers saying the town intends to put them out of business. The mayor has sent a counter letter, calling the claims wild and exaggerated. Correspondent Julian March has the story.

THE VARSITY: As reported earlier this week, there's life in the old theater yet. Staff writerSadia latifi speaks with the new owners about their plans to revive the Chapel Hill landmark as a $3 theater.

We also have stories today about a collaboration between the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and Piedmont Health Services that is providing affordable healthcare to small business employees, and we report on yet another mayor's race, this one in the town of Pittsboro where newcomer Bill Crawford is challenging incumbent Randy Voller's bid for a third term.

Lots more, of course, including more letters than we know what to do with (We will print as many endorsement letters that arrived past our Oct. 16 deadline as we can, but most will not get in; we were deluged.)

As always, thanks for reading,

Mark

School board forum video online

mschultz — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:06:46 -0400

An FYI to OrangeChat readers requested by the PTA Council:

The video for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board candidates forum sponsored by the PTA Council and League of Women Voters is available at ptacouncil.com

Wolff flier targets Kleinschmidt

jessedeconto — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:19:46 -0400

Kevin Wolff dropped out of the mayor’s race two weeks ago. But he’s still circulating a flier painting Town Council member Mark Kleinschmidt as a gay rights activist who has no children and doesn’t own a home in Chapel Hill.

The flier emphasizes that Wolff and Town Councilman Matt Czajkowski, another candidate for mayor, do have children and own homes and are not gay rights activists.

Kleinschmidt shot back Tuesday, saying the flier reveals Wolff as the fringe candidate. "He shows how different he is, I think, from the people of Chapel Hill by highlighting those facts,” Kleinschmidt said.

Kleinschmidt sold his condominium on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard last year after renting a townhouse off East Franklin Street with his partner. Kleinschmidt said they have not purchased a home together because his partner is still trying to sell his house near Wake Forest.

“It’s where I want to spend the rest of my life,” he said. “This is my hometown.”

We'll have more on this in tomorrow's News & Observer.

Chapel Hill's Varsity Theatre to reopen as $3 moviehouse

mschultz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:43:28 -0400

Franklin Street’s Varsity Theatre will reopen under new ownership in mid-November after extensive renovations including an upgraded lobby and concessions area and the addition of a children’s birthday party room.

Chapel Hill residents Susan and Paul Shareshian have begun working to restore the theater to its former elegance. “We want to bring back the feeling of a classic old-time movie theater and also provide a clean and fun space — with excellent service and a customer-focused staff — where local residents can enjoy a movie at a reasonable price,” says Paul Shareshian in a news release.

The Varsity will show recently released and classic movies, with all tickets costing just $3. In addition to regular movie showings, the theater will be available for rental for children’s birthday parties, private screenings, lectures and corporate functions.

Cho: Was Wolff's "withdrawal" a ploy?

mschultz — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:16:40 -0400

Augustus Cho is asking whether Kevin Wolff's announcement that he was leaving the mayor's race was really an attempt to get onto the council or to get Cho to drop out, giving Wolff "ever so slight a chance" of defeating Matt Czajkowski and Mark Kleinschmidt?

Wolff asked Cho to leave the race with him at last week's candidates forum sponsored by WCHL. Cho declined.

"Could it be that if Kevin Wolff truly had withdrew and got me to withdraw with him that Matt Czajkowski -- if elected mayor -- would agree to appoint Kevin Wolff to his vacant seat on the council?" Cho asks on his blog Chautauqua.

"Worse," he continues, "is it possible that Wolff was trying to get me to drop out so that he might then not withdraw from the race, continue campaigning and, with ever so slight a chance, actually win by deception -- through the back door?"

"In any event, it is unfortunate that Wolff may have used a local media WCHL, to dramatize his perceived exit from the campaign."

Wolff, incidentally, has sent out an e-mail saying he will take his campaign signs down after the election. He says in the e-mail, posted on Cho's blog (Oct. 19), that a number of his supporters intend to vote for him even though he has withdrawn from the race.

Why Czajkowski didn't vote before 2007

mschultz — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0400

Mayoral candidate Mark Kleinschmidt asked Matt Czajkowski at Sunday's NRG forum why he didn't vote in local elections before 2007. Kleinschmidt said he learned the importance of civic participation when he came to UNC, his adopted hometown of 21 years, and has voted since he was eligible.

Czajkowski said at 18 he was serving in the Navy. "I think I have my [civic] credentials," he said, then offered this answer.

"I was like 85 percent of the people in this town, which is really a shame," he said. "I was disengaged. At the end of the day I didn't care too much because all in all life was pretty good."

He said that changed one day when he took his kids to Ben and Jerry's on West Franklin Street. He felt uncomfortable eating outside with them. (Note: The bench outside the store is a frequent gathering spot for street people; we did a story a while back about a former police chief's suggestion to make benches less comfortable so people would not recline on them.) Czajkowski contrasted the scene with being able to eat ice cream on the rocking chairs outside Mapleview.

Kleinschmidt is appealing to principles on the campaign trail: inclusivity, civic involvement, repeated references to his being the candidate who best represents Chapel Hill's historic values. Czajkowski is telling stories and appealing to people's pocketbooks (i.e., his calls for a two-year freeze on the town tax rate and a second look at town employee health benefits).

Chapel Hill-Carrboro senior leadership declines bonuses

sadialatifi — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:27:33 -0400

The senior leadership team of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will not be receiving bonuses this year.

But they wanted it that way.

At the annual superintendent's evaluation last Thursday, superintendent Neil Pedersen, assistant superintendent for instructional services Denise Bowling, assistant superintendent for support services Todd LoFrese and chief technology officer Ray Reitz, petitioned the school board to forgo their annual bonuses in light of the economic downturn.

The senior leadership team was eligible to receive a bonus according to terms of their contract.

"You are eligible to receive a bonus of up to $12,000 for the satisfactory achievement of the priorities and goals. The partial accomplishment of the priorities and goals qualifies you for an award of a bonus," said school board chairwoman Lisa Stuckey.

But because of the economic considerations facing the school system, from teachers to the custodians, the board agreed with the senior leadership team's request.

"I appreciate the School Board's evaluation of my performance and its recognition of the progress that the district made last year. We had many successes that I attribute to the incredible staff in our schools and central office. I declined the bonus that my contract calls for due to the financial position of the district and the fact that other employees received no salary increases and incentive bonuses. We're all in this together," Pederson said.

Czajkowski repeats call for tougher anti-panhandling ordinance

mschultz — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:25:38 -0400

Matt Czajkowski repeated his call for tougher anti-panhandling rules at Sunday's Neighbors for Responsible Growth forum.

The issue came up in the section of the two-hour meeting where candidates got to ask one another one question. Czajkowski and opponent Mark Kleinschmidt have disagreed on this and did so again.

The town already has a tough ordinance, Kleinschmidt said: no panhandling on buses, within six feet of bus stops, 20 feet of banks and ATMs. The town web site says arrests declined, from 28 in 2006 to 14 in 2007.

"I don't think legislation is the way to get at this," Kleinschmidt said. As a former high school teacher, he added, "I'm never attracted to solutions that take a group of people, no matter who they are, and say we don't want you here."

Augustus Cho, the third candidate for mayor, said he agreed with Kleinschmidt but said if the system isn't solving the problem, the system needs to be re-examined. "We have to look at solutions that don't sacrifice the rest of us."

More from the forum in tomorrow's Chapel Hill News.

Orange County Schools forms special education PTA

sadialatifi — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:01:13 -0400

The Orange County Special Education PTA will meet for the first time this week.

Following this summer's court battle concerning the education of a student with autism (which is still ongoing - visit the mother's blog for updates), some parents say this group couldn't come soon enough.

The meeting will take place Thursday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. at AL Stanback Middle School's media center, 3200 NC 86 South in Hillsborough.

The introductory meeting will be immediately followed by a parent information session on public health funding programs for special needs children, which will last until 8:30 p.m.

Record numbers at annual walk for education

sadialatifi — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:10:04 -0400

More than 4,000 people walked down Franklin Street Saturday afternoon to show their support for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system.

The Public School Foundation's "Lucky" 13th Annual Walk for Education raised more than $83,000 to support the schools.

Seawell Elementary had the most walkers at 426. Rashkis Elementary raised the most money.

For photos from the walk, visit the Chapel Hill-Carrboro flickr site.

In today's Chapel Hill News

mschultz — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:57:17 -0400

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

WOLFF'S INVITE: Kevin Wolff told Matt Czajowski he might be dropping out of the mayor's race before he announced his decision Thursday night. Czajkowski said no deal was made. "It never crossed my mind that I had anything to offer, or that I would." Read our story.

OH, DEER: So we asked wildlife vet Bobby Schopler whether guns or bows and arrows were more humane. Schopler said it depends on the accuracy of the hunter. He called too late to get into today's story, but you can read what the Town Council had to say in our report.

GROCERY SHOPPING: The redevelopment of University Square is several years away. But local residents and merchants have already put a grocery on the shoping list. Eric Ferreri has our story from this week's meeting with the university foundation's consultants.

CARRBORO CANDIDATES: And Julian March has the first of two reports on what the candidates for Carrboro mayor and aldermen are saying about growth, taxes and watershed protection.

Plus, today's My View by Carol Henderson (why she rarely goes to the post office anymore, and why that's a bad thing), Jeff Hamlin on the Wildcats breaking their football drought in dramatic fashion and more on this week's development on the political front. And 25 letters from readers! (But remember, the deadline for letters endorsing candidates has passed.)

Catch the candidates for Chapel Hill mayor starting at 3 today at the Chapel Hill Public Library. I'm going to try to get there too. Say hello and let me know how we're doing.

Got my dog Travis sleeping at my feet after a hike in the woods this orning (cold out there). A definite plus for working from home.

Thanks for reading,

Mark

Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Orange honored for high grad rate

sadialatifi — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:49:25 -0400

Both school systems in Orange County were honored Monday for having high graduation rates.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools received recognition at a state ceremony held by the Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh. State Superintendent June Atkinson and former govenor Jim Hunt presented the honors.

North Carolina's overall graduation rate is 71.7 percent. At Chapel Hill-Carrboro, the overall rate for their student cohort was 86.7 percent; in Orange County Schools, the rate was 81.4 percent for the class of 2009.

The student cohort rate tracks the progress of all students who enter districts in the ninth grade.

Wolff's big surprise

mschultz — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:30:45 -0400

Political observers should not be surprised by anything three-time mayoral candidate Kevin Wolff says. Still, last night's announcement that he was dropping out of the race was a stunner.

Wolff, who had run ads urging Matt Czajkowski to drop out of the race, said with two moderates running, it had just become clear to him that neither could win. Here's what he told his fellow candidates at last night's WCHL forum:

TO MARK KLEIINSCHMIDT: "Mark, I do expect you will win this race and become mayor due to the strength of the Democratic Party in Orange County."

TO MATT CZAJKOWSKI: "Matt, I encourage you to the run the very best campaign you can. But be mindful that you are running against the designted mayoral candidate of the Democratic Party, which should not be taken lightly. When you return to Town Council, I hope you will work to make allies with all the other members and work as a team toward common visions and common goals. Good luck."

TO AUGUSTUS CHO: "Augustus, I encourage you to join me and bow out of the race and let these two candidates compete against each other for the good of our town."

Wolff ineligible for public campaign funding

mschultz — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:43:44 -0400

Kevin Wolff surprised many when he announced he had filed for public campaign financing under the town of Chapel Hill's new "Voter-Owned Election" program.

Wolff has been a harsh critic of the voluntary program, which provides qualifying mayoral candidates up to $13,000 in public money.

"In one sense, I guess it's an attempt to keep the playing field level," he explained last month." It's my tax dollars that are going to be used, and I think I'm entitled to it as much as anybody else. It doesn't change my position that I oppose the current language of the voter owned election, which I call public financing."

But Wolff will not be eligible for any public money, a state Board of Elections official said today. Wolff loaned his campaign $10,000, surpassing the maximum $6,000 candidates for mayor may raise if they want to receive public funds.

"Kevin Wolff is no longer considered to be a participating candidate," said Amy Strange, compliance specialist. "Kevin Wolff, based on the loan he made himself, has made himself ineligible for the Voter Owned Election campaign financing."

Gravelly Hill principal named OCS principal of the year

sadialatifi — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:22:21 -0400

The principal of Gravelly High Middle School, Jason Johnson, has been named the Orange County Schools' 2010 Wachovia Principal of the Year.

Johnson has been the principal since the school opened in 2006. Over the past three years, Gravelly Hill has shown a decrease in the achievement gap and a 20 percent improvement in both math and reading scores, according to the school system.

"This is not my award. This belongs to the students, teachers, cafeteria staff, office staff, every community and everyone who works at Gravelly Hill," said Johnson, in a release.

The principal of the year program is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the Center for School Leadership Development Principals' Executive Program and the Wachovia Corporation.

Johnson began his career as a teacher in Chatham and Guilford County schools before becoming an assistant principal at A.L. Stanback Middle School.

He will go on to compete with other regional award recipients for the regional title and if he wins that, the state title in April.

Czajkowski passes $21,000; Kleinschmidt gets "rescue" money

mschultz — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:04:33 -0400

Matt Czajkowski has passed the $21,000 fundraising threshold, triggering the release of an additional $4,000 in "rescue" funds for his chief opponent in the race for mayor, fellow Councilman Mark Kleinschmidt.

Czajkowski, who has two years left on his Chapel Hill Town Council seat, has raised $23,629.50, according to a campaign finance report filed Friday.

He has spent $12,857.77, according to the report.

Among Czajkowski's new donors are developer Carol Ann Zinn ($100); retired teacher Lillian Lee, wife of former mayor and state Sen. Howard Lee ($25); UNC political science professor Thad Beyle ($25); former Town Council member Nancy Preston ($50); and former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Donald Boulton ($100).

Kleinschmidt, who gave a up a chance to keep his seat to run for mayor, had raised $4,505.50, according to his latest campaign finance report filed Sept. 28. He is allowed to raise up to $6,000 while receiving an initial $9,000 in public funding and now the additional $4,000 in "rescue" funding.

Kleinschmidt had spent $2,988.85, according to the report.

Chapel Hill mayor hopes to pick Strom successor Nov. 9

mschultz — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:32:35 -0400

Mayor Kevin Foy wants the Chapel Hill Town Council to appoint someone to finish Bill Strom's term Nov. 9 -- after the Nov. 3 election, but before the new council is seated in December.

In an interview today, Foy said picking the fifth place finisher doesn't make sense since the three council incumbents chose not apply for the seat. What if one of them finished fifth, he asked.

But if the council won't go for the fifth, or sixth or seventh finisher, why not wait until December? That's what Matt Czajkowski wants.

"Absolutely, absolutely," Czajkowski said this afternoon. "The newly elected council will reflect the most recent sentiment of the voters in the town who should decide," he said.

Not so, said the mayor. The Strom seat went to the voters two years ago and the current council is going to fill it.

"This is the council that was presented with the vacancy," he said. "This council could have made the decision to appoint someone immediately. We didn't. We decided to take the election into account. But that's not the same thing as saying let the next council do it."

Look for more on this in tomorrow's News & Observer.

Orange County Commissioner Mike Nelson won't seek re-election

mschultz — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:53 -0400

Orange County Commissioner Mike Nelson announced today he will not seek re-election when his seat comes up next year. Here is his statement:

"Though the primary is next May, the filing period begins shortly after the first of the year. I’m announcing early to provide sufficient notice to those who have interest in running for the Board."

"It takes considerable effort to create a campaign organization, recruit volunteers, raise money and to do all the other things necessary to run a campaign in a county as large and diverse as Orange. I want to make sure interested parties have time to build strong campaigns."

"Orange County rich with talent, and I am confident that a number of public service minded candidates will emerge."

"I'm grateful that the citizens of Orange County gave me the opporunity to serve. You are passionate, engaged, progressive and dedicated. You insist on quality schools, a clean environment, a social safety net that protects the weakest amongst us, and you believe there is strength in diversity. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve you."

Greene on bowhunting deer: 'No way, no how'

mschultz — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:40:35 -0400

Sally Greene is the quiet Chapel Hill Town Council member. But when a petition Monday night suggested the town allow deer hunting in the Mount Bolus neighborhood with bows and arrows, she spoke up quickly and decisively.

"I cannot support an urban archery program," she said. "No way, no how."

Professor Jesse White supported the request. "This has become a real growing program in our neighborhood," he said, adding it took only 10 days to get 27 signatures. The deer eat people's plants and host disease-carrying ticks, he said.

The state's urban archery program runs from Jan. 9-Feb. 13, and 16 towns have adopted it, the nearest in Pittsboro. All are smaller than Chapel Hill, and one town's past hunt generated trespassing and other complaints. In a memo, Police Chief Brian Curran said having to follow up on such complaints could deplete his resources.

Councilman Matt Czajkowski found the chief's recomendation "difficult to accept."

"One out of 16 is more an anomaly than a trend," he said. If the hunt was limited to Mount Bolus, residents there could make sure there were no complaints, he said.

But Councilman Ed Harrison said police are already stretched. "It's a lightly policed town by some standards," he said. "I don't think we want police time spent on this."

Council member Laurin Easthom said she would oppose an urban archery program, even though she's had two car accidents with deer. In one, she said, if she had pushed down the brakes instead of taking her foot of the gas, the deer would have come flying through her windshield.

Council member Mark Kleinschmidt said he needed to know more about where the deer were coming from and how. If the herds aren't thinned, the deer will die from other causes, he said. He suggested the town might consider an option like Australia's rabbit-proof fence (amazing movie, by the way).

In the end, Mayor Kevin Foy said the issue was not a police matter. He asked Town Manager Roger Stancil to come back with recommendations.

Wolff repeats call for new Orange County landfill

mschultz — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:36:21 -0400

Mayoral candidate Kevin Wolff repeated his call for a new Orange County landfill at this week's forum.

Wolff had already called for a landfill at a forum sponsored by the Sierra Club. This time he spoke at a forum sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Empowerment Inc., the Daily Tar Heel and WCHL.

Wolff said he does not want a transfer station near the Rogers Road community or to send the town's waste outside Orange County. "We can take the time and do it right and do our own landfill," he said. "We are fools as a town if we invest in outting our waste in somebody else's town."

Augustus Cho said the solid waste question is outside the town's control. He noted that waste disposal is a county function that town has little say in, other than offering or rejecting its land for a solid waste facility. "Beyond rhetoric there's not much we can do about it."

Matt Czajkowski said he opposes a transfer station but did not say what the town and county should do with its trash. Mark Kleinschmidt said the trash laid at the doorstep of the Rogers Road community needs to come to an end. But he said a transfer station might be necessary in the short term on the way to a regional solution.

The county is considering a partnership with Durham on an epxansion of that city's transfer station. Chatham County has also said it might be interested in a regional partnership as it considers building a new landfill.