Tonight the Town Council will hear presentations form 10 candidates to replace the late council member Bill Thorpe, who died in September of heart failure.
The council will nominate from among the pool and will appoint a new member next Monday night.
The applicants are (follow link to read their full application materials):
-- Gene Pease, an investment services executive who has served on various town committees
-- Will Raymond, a hi-tech businessman who has served on various town committees
-- Loren Hintz, a biology teacher at Chapel Hill High School who has served on various town committees
-- Donald Shaw, a UNC-Chapel Hill journalism professor who has served on various town committees
-- William Abb, a retired Army officer
-- J.M. Green, a UNC-Chapel Hill education professor
-- Jim Merritt, a retired school counselor and administrator
-- Willard Blaine Rogers, a former soldier, community organizer and homeless person
-- Amy Chute, who serves on the town’s Northern Area Task Force
-- Andre Wesson, who chairs the town’s Justice in Action Committee
Comments
It was great meeting all
Mon, 11/03/2008 - 22:57 — CitizenWillIt was great meeting all the applicants that attended this evening.
Amy, Gene, Don and I have worked on a couple common issues. Don was a member of the Tech Board during my tenure. I know Loren through the Sierra Club and his advocacy on a number of issues. I hadn't met JM or Jim before (though I've seen Jim around), hope they continue their involvement.
Amy Chute's remembrances of Bill over the last three years was heartfelt and touching. I didn't know she worked the "white binder" (a printed agenda is provided Council members, I read the paperless version) with Bill - that's something any future Council candidate should do regularly.
Her story about Bill's "doubling" his election day fleet took me back to when Bill and I ran together in 2005. While she didn't explicitly touch on his wit - which could be quite dry - her recollections amply revealed Bill's humor.
I thought Loren's comment on representing a diverse community - outlining how all serving members should be approachable - was on-target.
Gene's major concerns - Carolina North and the budget - mirrored mine but most other folks didn't speak to specific, urgent problems.
Laurin asked the only policy related question, which was kind of strange. Council did have business afterward, maybe they were ready to move on?
A far as the process, Mark opened the door last week to making this a "private election" - asking folks to lobby on behalf of their applicant. I'm not sure how that will work into Mayor Foy's commitment to make this an open, transparent process.