11
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 200 3
ELECTIONS 2003
The Daily Tar Heel readers submitted the following letters to the editor in support of
candidates running in Tuesday's elections. More letters can befound at www.dailytarheel.com.
Residents weigh in on council race
Bachman would bring fresh
ideas to town development
TO THE EDITOR:
UNC students, faculty and staff have
an important opportunity to vote for a
candidate for the Chapel Hill Town
Council who will act effectively on their
concerns.
Dianne Bachman brings more than
10 years of community leadership
experience, along with a balanced per
spective on community and University
affairs. She will ensure that town-gown
relations are based on mutual trust and
open communications.
Dianne is an architect who has led
the Chapel Hill Community Design
Commission and the Community
Appearance Commission, as well as
serving on the Design Review Board
and the Downtown Small Area Plan
Work Group.
She supports a state-of-the-art
transportation solution for Carolina
North and an incentive-based program
for revitalizing downtown, including
affordable housing.
I have worked extensively with
Dianne and can vouch for the depth of
her concern for people, neighborhoods,
the environment and sustainable
design.
Please consider voting for Dianne
Bachman on Tuesday.
David R. Godschalk
Professor
City and Regional Planning
Experience working with town,
University an asset of Bachman
TO THE EDITOR:
Dianne Bachman is the candidate
for Chapel Hill Town Council who has
the training, background and experi
ence to bring the town to the table as
an equal partner with the University.
Her understanding of both systems
and the need for quality planning are
skills sorely need in discussions
between the town and UNC. Early
communication and collaboration on
all University projects are a far better
approach than late-stage reaction to
already entrenched plans. A “just say
no” attitude does not work.
An architect by training, Dianne has
given 10 years of her experience to
town boards. An SPA state employee
for five years, she manages already
approved projects on the main UNC
campus. Dianne’s SPA employee status
means she cannot be fired unless she is
convicted of a crime.
She will fearlessly and proactively
represent the town and its needs. She
knows how both systems work; she
knows how to approach planning
problems; she knows how to create
consensus. Electing Dianne means the
town’s best interests will be protected
Experience, fresh ideas define council race
Candidates add progressive ideas
TO THE EDITOR:
At the candidates forum sponsored this
week by student government and The
Daily Tar Heel, all 11 candidates in atten
dance talked about what they would do to
engage students in town decision-making
processes if they wore elected.
Only two candidates, however, talked
about what they had already done to
include students in their service to the
town. Those candidates, incumbent Bill
Strom and Planning Board Vice
Chairwoman Sally Greene, have shown
time and again their commitment to rep
resenting student interests, and that’s why
they’ll receive my support on Tuesday.
Reaching out to students alone would
not qualify them to serve on the council. We
need representatives who will lead Chapel
Hill in a progressive direction as pressing
issues of growth and explosion of housing
prices threaten the natural beauty and
diversity that make UNC a great place to go
to school. Strom and Greene have been
extremely strong advocates for the environ
ment and affordable housing, and that has
been reflected in the endorsements they
have received from the Sierra Club and the
Friends of Affordable Housing.
Because of the combination of their
experience, progressive activism and efforts
to reach out to students, Strom and Greene
have been endorsed by the only official
UNC student organization working in this
election, Students for a Progressive Chapel
Hill. I hope you’ll join me and the rest of the
members of that organization in casting a
vote for Strom and Greene on Nov. 4.
Tom Jensen
Chairman
Studentsfor a Progressive Chapel Hill
from the get-go.
First on the Tuesday ballot, vote
Bachman.
Edie Salmony
Chapel Hill
Greene would bring expertise
in wide set of areas to council
TO THE EDITOR:
I write this letter in support of Sally
Greene for Chapel Hill Town Council.
Sally and I served on the Planning
Board together for several years, she as
vice chairwoman during my last year
on the board as chairwoman.
In those capacities, we were afford
ed the opportunity to discuss all
aspects of the social, environmental
and business issues affecting residents
of Chapel Hill.
Sally demonstrated an exceptional
commitment to the ideals of a diverse
community, affordable housing, pro
tection of the environment, protection
of existing neighborhoods and a strong
downtown for Chapel Hill. She did this
in two primary ways.
First, on Planning Board recom
mendations to the council, she consis
tently voted for programs and projects
that expanded housing options for all
residents of Chapel Hill and for new
Land-Use Management Ordinance
provisions that will help create
Neighborhood Conservation Districts
and stronger environmental protection
regulations.
Second, Sally shared with the
Planning Board and council the ben
efits of her own legal research and
analysis capabilities by finding exam
ples of how other communities had
successfully incorporated new regula
tions to achieve some of the same
goals that Chapel Hill has enumerat
ed in its newly adopted
Comprehensive Plan.
Her work on these items —and her
presentation of these items to the
Planning Board and council in public
work sessions helped the council
adjust portions of the “draft” ordi
nances and make them truly applicable
to Chapel Hill.
I believe Sally Greene will be an out
standing council member and ask you
to vote for her on Election Day, Tuesday.
Scott Radway
Immediate Past Chairman
Chapel Hill Planning Board
Hill would help bridge town's
past and future on council
TO THE EDITOR:
Cam Hill is one of the people I am
voting for in the upcoming Chapel Hill
Town Council election.
I have gotten to know Cam well by
working with him on the Horace
Support bonds, Strom and Freund
TO THE EDITOR:
I urge all voters to support all five
bonds. In particular, the sidewalk and
greenway bonds will greatly enhance the
pedestrian infrastructure. The benefits
that these improvements will provide will
not only be immediately felt but will
accrue over time as Chapel Hill continues
to mature.
I also endorse Bill Strom and Thatcher
Freund for the Chapel Hill Town Council.
Bill’s tireless achievements in his tenure as
on the council are impressive, and can be
examined at www.stromforcouncil.com.
Perhaps as important, though, has been
his willingness to delve deep into matters
rather than merely skimming the surface.
Like Bill, Thatcher is committed to smart
planning issues, and promises independent
thinking and hard nosed dedication. His
Web site is wwvv.thatcherfreund.com.
Wayne Pein
Chapel Hill
Trio stands out in council race
TO THE EDITOR:
Three candidates for Town Council
stand head and shoulders above the pack:
Bill Strom, Sally Greene and Cam Hill.
These three take action where others
mouth platitudes. There is a lot of rhetoric
flying around now. Some suggest that
there is no conflict between responsible
town representation and University affili
ation. Perhaps, but look at the records of
the current candidates.
While Greene, Hill and Strom have
demonstrated concern and affection for
both Chapel Hill and the University, they
have also shown that they have the back
Viewpoints
Williams Citizens Committee. This
work has made me especially apprecia
tive of the qualities he will bring to the
council. He took his job seriously and
was very thorough in his reading of the
many documents necessary to under
stand the issues. His comments and
questions reflected this thoroughness.
His suggestions helped shape our
report to the council. He listened well
to comments from others.
But first and foremost, Cam Hill rec
ognizes the problems that Chapel Hill
faces with continued growth. He
understands the issue of affordable
housing, having lived in an area of
affordable houses for years. Asa native
of Chapel Hill, he has seen changes and
knows that the town has retained some
of its earlier charm but has also lost
some of that charm.
He knows that it won’t be easy to
preserve the quality of life that we still
enjoy in our town and neighborhoods.
He knows that that charm helps grad
uates choose to remain here and that
others expect it when they return to
visit.
I believe that Cam Hill will be a
council member who will work hard
and vote to support the best possible
quality of life in Chapel Hill and will
work hard and vote to preserve our
increasingly fragile environment and
natural resources.
Joyce Brown
Chapel Hill
McSwain to add much-needed
student voice on town council
TO THE EDITOR:
I write to endorse Mike McSwain for
Chapel Hill Town Council. Asa senior
at UNC, Mike understands and will
best represent the 25,000 students
whose daily lives revolve around this
community-. Asa close personal friend,
I can attest to Mike’s love of Chapel
Hill. Most of us see Chapel Hill as a
stopping point only, a wonderful place
that we will long remember. Mike sees
it differently. This town is truly Mike’s
home —and he is committed to mak
ing it a better place.
Too many in Chapel Hill view its
businesses as a liability, not an essen
tial part of a successful community.
Unfortunately, this view- has led to the
many closed storefronts and the gener
al decline of Franklin Street.
Mike promises to lead a drive for
sustainability, incorporating the values
cherished by residents and the desper
ate need for economic vitality.
Mike has already worked to improve
town-gown relations and will be a voice
of sensibility on University- growth and
needs.
And who better than a student to
represent the thousands of renters and
riders of public transportation?
bone to stand up for what they believe will
be best for the whole community, includ
ing the University community. Other can
didates have not done that.
We have been burned before by unful
filled promises. Please, before it is too late,
elect Hill, Green and Strom to the Chapel
Hill Town Council. Also, please vote for all
of the bonds.
Dana Whittinghill Steele
Chapel Hill
Candidates' actions speak loudly
TO THE EDITOR:
Chapel Hill and the University both need
a Town Council made up of people who care
about both sides of the town-UNC rela
tionship and who are able to negotiate
together without attacking one another.
Bill Strom, Sally Greene, Cam Hill and
Andrea Rohrbacher can do that. They
have already demonstrated it by their pub
lic actions over the years. Their kind of for
ward-looking participation is essential on
the council over the next crucial years.
Please vote for them. That’s Strom,
Greene, Hill and Rohrbacher.
Diana Steele
Class of 1956
Chapel Hill
Many issues at stake in local races
TO THE EDITOR:
This year’s local elections offer voters
some important choices in our communi
ty’s leadership. The towns of Chapel Hill
and Carrboro have made important
progress in managing growth, supporting
affordable housing, investing in our com
munity and taking principled stands on
Students want to live in a communi
ty with good housing and transporta
tion.
Students want a vibrant downtown.
Students need a strong voice on the
Town Council. Students are so impor
tant to this community, but so few
among us work to make this a better
town. It’s high time we speak out and
put one of our own on Chapel Hill’s
Town Council.
Steve Russell
UNCLaw
Strom works hard to balance,
protect interest issues in town
TO THE EDITOR:
I’m writing in support of Bill Strom
for Chapel Hill Town Council and to
urge your readers to vote for Bill on
Tuesday.
Four years ago, the citizens of
Chapel Hill wisely elected Bill to the
council and, as he promised to do, Bill
has worked hard and effectively for the
people of Chapel Hill.
Amid cries of “no growth” (or no
change) from some in our community
and pressures from developers, the
University and the business communi
ty, Bill has effectively advocated for a
progressive and practical approach to
issues facing Chapel Hill.
Bill understands that change is
inevitable and that we can either par
ticipate in and shape that change or sit
back, bemoan the change and have lit
tle or no impact on the future of Chapel
Hill.
With this in mind, Bill has advocat
ed a proactive, long-term approach to
planning that puts us in control of
change rather than a reactionary one
that leads to haphazard decision-mak
ing.
Bill is not a single-issue council
member and understands the impor
tance of balancing competing commu
nity interests. He has successfully advo
cated for more affordable housing in
Chapel Hill, led the way on environ
mental issues, successfully argued for
making the town bus service free (thus
increasing its ridership), worked to pre
serve more green space and advocated
for a mixed-use development plan for
downtown Chapel Hill designed to revi
talize the downtown area.
While representing the people of
Chapel Hill, Bill has not backed down
from tough issues or from powerful
community forces, including the
University.
Bill’s hardworking, mature and
courageous leadership has been a great
asset to Chapel Hill, and we are fortu
nate to have such a dedicated public
servant.
Sherri Toler Murrell
Chapel Hill
issues of concern to our state and nation.
However, we have also made some mis
takes.
Chapel Hill has been sliding down a
slippery slope from progressive small town
to bland suburban enclave. Recently, our
Chapel Hill Town Council has begun to
legislate nonissues, such as fires in bars
and red-light running. With the largest
single development in the history of our
town looming at Carolina North, can this
possibly be best use of the council’s time?
Since we do not get a choice about our
mayor this year, it is vitally important that
we express our values by electing strong
leaders for the Town Council. Please join
me in voting for Sally Greene, Bill Strom
and Cam Hill three leaders with
strength, vision and good ideas.
Also, I would ask my neighbors in
Carrboro to vote for Mark Chilton and the
two incumbent aldermen as well as Mayor
Mike Nelson to continue Carrboro’s role as
a progressive leader of communities in the
South.
Please allow me allow me to take up
some additional newsprint here to invite
readers to research their votes online. I
have collected and posted candidates’ web
addresses at http://OrangePolitics.org, a
new Web site where folks can read about
and engage in discussion of local issues.
Ruby Sinreich
Chapel Hill
Ideas on town development key
TO THE EDITOR:
As plans for Carolina North and other
University projects begin to move into the
public sector, the choice of the four people
to be elected to the Chapel Hill Town
Council tomorrow is critical to both the
dljp Sally dar MM
Support bonds,
Faley at the
polls on Tuesday
TO THE EDITOR:
Voters in Chapel Hill have a unique opportunity on
Tuesday to invest in the town’s future.
In addition to the important Chapel Hill Town
Council elections, there are five bond referendums on
the ballot which, if passed, will fund a much-needed
expansion of the Chapel Hill Public Library, speed up
the construction and repair of sidewalks, purchase
open space and greenways and make town buildings
more energy-efficient.
Investing in Chapel Hill means supporting the
public library that circulates more books per person
than any other in the state.
It means creating a more walkable town with more
space for jogging and throwing Frisbees. It means,
even if you are a student who doesn’t plan to stay in
Chapel Hill after graduation, that you are leaving a
better Chapel Hill for future UNC students.
It means supporting all five bonds and getting to
the polls on Tuesday.
Jessica Kem
Graduate Student
School of Information and Library Science
TO THE EDITOR:
Please vote to re-elect Board of Education member
Gloria Faley on Tuesday. Faley has served on the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education since 1998.
She always has been a strong supporter of the schools.
She has worked diligently on additional high school
capacity, efforts to close the achievement gap, cur
riculum alignment, opposition to the school merger
and the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.
Gloria has served on the committee to plan for
schools and parks at the Eubanks Road site and has
worked hard to educate the community about the
need to pass our bond referendums for school main
tenance and construction, as well as parks, senior cen
ters and affordable housing. Gloria Faley listens to all
CHCCS students, parents and teachers and works
tirelessly to represent them. Please join me in re-elect
ing Gloria Faley on Nov. 4.
Judy Margolis
Chapel Hill
TO THE EDITOR:
We need to re-elect Gloria Faley to the Chapel Hill-
Carrboro Board of Education. She has worked tire
lessly since 1998 on a number of projects. She helped
put together a plan for minority achievement, pro
viding support for early education and transition from
middle to high school. Another project eliminated
gaps and redundancies in curriculum alignment.
Gloria also has worked worked on high school reform:
relationship advocacy, scheduling, developing small
learning environments and school-to-career pro
grams. Currently, she is helping to make the needed
third high school a reality for our district.
Gloria has been passionate about helping all stu
dents succeed and about maintaining facilities so that
learning is the priority. That is why we need Gloria
Faley to be re-elected to the CHCCS School Board on
(or before by absentee ballot) Tuesday.
Nancy Tannenbaum
Chapel Hill
outcome of the plans and the process by
which they are considered and approved.
Tackling these very difficult and poten
tially divisive issues will require good faith
on the parts of both the University admin
istration and the council. It will be partic
ularly important to have a council that can
act with one voice to strongly enunciate
and represent the town’s interests while at
the same time be able to compromise in a
positive manner.
While there are many qualified candi
dates in the field, I feel that four in partic
ular would best serve the town's interests
in working with the University' and in
dealing with other issues faced by the
Town.
These four are Rudy Juliano, Sally
Greene, Bill Strom and Jim Ward.
Rudy has a strong commitment to envi
ronmental and neighborhood protection
and citizen participation, has demonstrat
ed an ability to deal with complex issues
and understands and has stood up to the
University administration.
Sally has been vice chairwoman of the
town’s Planning Board, a strong neighbor
hood and environmental advocate and an
enthusiastic and creative thinker.
Bill and Jim have been key contributors
to effective and cohesive councils during
the past four years. As seasoned veterans,
each in his own way has demonstrated a
commitment to the town and an ability to
work with others on tough problems.
With the retirement of Flicka Bateman
and Pat Evans, who I would like to thank
for their dedicated service to the town, we
need the institutional memory Bill and
Jim can provide.
Art Werner
Former Town Council Member