8
Tuesday, October 31,1995
Carrboro Races Present Mixed Bag of New and Old
ByAmyCappiello
STAFF WRITER
This year’s election presents
Carrboro residents with a choice be
tween new and old, a traditional way
of conducting the business of town
government and a slate of candidates
who embrace a more open town hall.
OutgoingMayorEleanorKinnaird,
who is not seeking re-election, said
Mayor Should Help Curb Growth
For second-year Carrboro Aider
man Mike Nelson, focusing on fight
ing bad development projects and pro
tecting the environment are the two
issues motivating his campaign for
mayor this fall. “My number one rea
son for running is for controlling
growth,” he said. “I have a record on
the board for standing up and fighting
development that I don’t agree with. I
think it is important for a mayor to
stand up and say ‘no’ to developers
when the developer’s plans are bad for
the community.”
Nelson also said he wanted to play
an active role in determining how the
Carrboro community grew. “Carrboro
is on the verge of experiencing an
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JIMK Mayor
the town government must address a
slate of issues ranging from gun con
trol to public housing to development.
Kinnaird said several candidates
were supportive of gun control mea
sures. But while the board has been
very involved in handgun reform, the
people of Carrboro have not voiced an
opinion, Kinnaird said. “We did a
door-to-door survey of a middle in
come neighborhood, and no one
Randy Marshall
Age: 51
Previous Experience:
Carrboro Alderman, nine years;
Orange County Visitors Bureau,
chairman
Occupation: Principal of
Carrboro Elementary School
Children: Two
Length of Time in
Community: 18 years
Colleges Attended: Eton
College and UNC
explosion of growth,” he said. “Our
population will almost double in the
next 15 years. We can either grow in a
smart way by protecting the environ
ment, or in a dumb way. I would be
interested in working with developers
who focus on the environment.”
Nelson said his previous experi
ence on the board would help him
work efficiently on such issues as de
velopment, the environment and so
cial issues if elected mayor.
“I’ve learned the board’s dynam
ics,” he said. “I’ve been involved in
getting some things passed and can set
goals and know how to meet thm.”
In the past, Nelson has helped in
setting up the Environment Advisory
Charles Riggsbee
Age: 50
Previous Experience: Carrboro
Planning Board
Occupation: Insurance
salesman
Children: Two
Length of Time in
Community: 50 years
College Attended: UNC
wanted to talk about it,” she said.
“But, when we had a forum, more
people were in favor of gun control
then the other way around.”
Another issue facing Carrboro is
the rapid increase in development the
town has faced in recent years. “In the
past 10 years, Carrboro has doubled
in population, our bus service has in
creased greatly, the price of houses
has tripled or quadrupled and new
Carrboro Needs Experienced Leader
Randy Marshall said he felt his ex
perience and leadership made him a
perfect candidate for the position of
Carrboro mayor. “I have the experi
ence and the leadership the commu
nity needs,” Marshall said. “Like the
new chancellor at the University,
Carrboro will have anew mayor. I feel
like I have the support of the board,
and I think that’s important.”
One of the motivating forces be
hind Marshall’s campaign is improv
ing development transactions, hesaid.
“I think we need to look very carefully
at every development that comes be
fore the board,” he said.
The board sets up regulations for
which developers must comply,
Board and the Domestic Partners pro
gram. Besides having experience work
ing with the board, Nelson said he
thought he would bring a unique per
spective to the mayor’s position. “Be
ing a renter in the community gives
me a different perspective than a home
owner,’’hesaid. “Beinggayandyoung
also gives me a different perspective.”
Nelson said he thought the current
board had dealt well with the issues
brought before it and that the budget
was something of which to be proud.
“I am very proud of how we run our
town government,” he said. “The
more I learn about it, the more I see
how we run efficiently on so little.”
PROFILE COMPILED BY SUZANNE WOOD
Town Needs Better Business Base
Charles Riggsbee, a long-time resi
dent of Carrboro and candidate for
mayor, said he saw the need for a
more representative government and
for more issues to be put on referen
dums for a vote from the public. “I’m
a life-long resident of Carrboro,” he
said. “I probably know the area better
than the other candidates. From that
respect, I think I would be able to get
along better with the older Carrboro
residents. In general, I think that is a
plus for the mayor.”
Asa former member of the Carrboro
Planning Committee, Riggsbee said
he saw several things he would like to
change about the town government if
elected to the mayor’s office.
businesses have entered the area,”
Shetley said.
Kinnaird said all of the recent de
velopment has caused a decrease in
affordable housing in Carrboro, a
problem that she believes is especially
noticeabletostudents. “Unfortunately
the board is very anti-multi-housing. ”
Kinnaird said the Carrboro board
recently passed a proposal for anew
apartment complex which the town
Marshall said. Most of the developers
do comply with these regulations, but
the board turns down or delays the
projects anyway. The board needs to
work out a better way of informing
developersofwhatis expected ofthem
before they bring their ideas to the
board, he said. “I think we should
play fair,” Marshall said. “We need to
look at our zoning and our permits
before the developers spend a lot of
time and money on their plans. It’s
terribly awkward to have them do
exactly what our ordinances say and
then tell them no.”
Bringing in business to the commu
nity is also an issue of concern with
Marshall. As for development,
“I would like to see a more repre
sentativegovemment,"Riggsbee said.
“We should put bigger, more expen
sive things on the agenda and let the
public make comments.”
Development is an issue of concern
for Riggsbee. He said forcing develop
erstodelaytheirprojectsat the board’s
request cost the community money in
the long ran. “The delays cost money
to the developer, and it usually hurts
the renters by raising their rent,” he
said.
Riggsbee also said he was concerned
about the cost of living in Carrboro. “I
am running because I am dissatisfied
with the way the present board is
moving,” he said. “I think it will make
ofjr Sally ®ar Heel
desperately needed. “Mike Nelson
said at a forum, right before the vote,
that we needed more low-cost hous
ing,” Kinnaird said. ButNelson voted
against the proposal for the complex
while Marshall voted for the newbuild
ing, she said. Kinnaird said that mod
erate development of Carrboro, with
places like the Cat’s Cradle, had made
Carrboro more visible without caus
ing it to lose its charm.
Marshall saidhe was concerned about
carefully mixing residential and com
mercial areas. “I think development is
one of the greatest sources of interest
in the community,” he said. “People
move here wanting that small-town
charm. Some are concerned (about
losing the small-town charm), espe
cially in the northern area.”
The services offered by the town
are beneficial to the community and
must be protected, Marshall said.
“We’re offering excellent services to
Carrboro. Despite our high tax rate,
we’re doing it economically. We bal
ance our budget and have one of the
best credit ratings for a town our size. ”
PROFILE COMPILED BY SUZANNE WOOD
Mike Nelson
Age: 31
Previous Experience:
Carrboro Alderman, two years
of first term; Landfill Owners
Group
Occupation: Travel agent at
Main Street Travel
Children: None
Length of Time in
Community: Eight years
College Attended: UNC
the town more exclusive to live here.”
Riggsbee said he was interested in
implementing the Small Area Plan for
Carrboro’sNorthem Transition Area.
“Mainly, Carrboro is a residential
area,” he said. “Small businesses are
important, especially away from the
central business area. I think we need
a better mix of business and residen
tial areas.”
Riggsbee said he wanted the chance
to work on his concerns with the board
by being elected mayor. “I don’t have
all the answers,” he said. “But I am
willing to listen and study. I think a lot
of government is about using com
mon sense.”
PROFILE COMPILED BY SUZANNE WOOD