I am seeking a third term on the Town Council
and I need your help.

When I was elected eights ago, I promised to work hard to enhance the quality of life we cherish here in Chapel Hill. I come to you now in the belief that we have made exceptional progress toward that goal.

Over the last eight years, Chapel Hill has been successful at implementing policies that focus on protecting and enhancing our fragile environment, neighborhoods, affordable housing, downtown revitalization, public transportation expansion, public safety, economic planning, park and greenway development, town-gown relations and energy conservation. In the Accomplishments section, I’ve listed some of the successes I have worked toward over the past eight years.

Although much has been accomplished, there is still a lot of work to do (see Key Issues). Over the next four years, the Council will tackle difficult issues such as Carolina North, inclusionary zoning, community-oriented economic development, the library expansion, park and greenway construction, the expansion of Chapel Hill Transit, open-space acquisition and preservation, and the implementation of our carbon-reduction pledge.

There has been no tax increase in Chapel Hill for three of the last five years, while we have increased our cash reserves and maintained a Triple-A bond rating. I pledge to continue to lead our efforts at keeping our town’s taxes in check, while we craft programs and policies that improve the community. I believe the future isn’t something that drags us along without our consent—we create it.

Last time I ran, I told you that I was proud that The Independent Weekly named me to its “Dream Team of Triangle Elected Officials” – referring to me as a global thinker. Since my re-election in 2003, I have been chosen by my council peers as Mayor Pro Tem, been honored by Leadership Triangle as the winner of the Goodmon Award for regional leadership by an elected official, and received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Orange-Chatham Sierra Club in appreciation of my long record of advocacy for the environment.

The laurels are nice, but the whole council has been tremendously effective these eight years. I have brought effective leadership and progressive ideas to the table as we have done our work, and been glad to do it. To keep doing it, I need your support once again.