dway@heraldsun.com; 918-1035
CHAPEL HILL — With the first votes in Orange County about to be cast this week in municipal elections, candidates are still slogging through what has been a lengthy and intensive candidate forum schedule.
Several more forums are on tap in coming days as candidates attempt to convince voters their stances on issues are the guiding light for the future and voters weigh those positions against their own value systems, beliefs and desires.
Meanwhile, the so-called One Stop (Early) Voting begins Thursday in Hillsborough, and on Oct. 19 in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Those who failed to register to vote by last Friday’s deadline may both register and vote during the one-stop period, which ends at 1 p.m. Oct. 31.
Following is a summary of candidate forums that are yet to be held:
Hillsborough
A “Meet the Candidates” panel discussion will be presented for Hillsborough Township by Northern Orange Black Votes Alliance at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Fairview Community Police Substation, 501 Rainey St. The township comprises Grady Brown, Hillsborough and part of the West Hillsborough precincts.
Participating candidates on the panel will be Mayor Tom Stevens, who is running unopposed, and Town Commission candidates Michael Gering and Frances Dancy, both incumbents, and Bryant Kelly Warren Jr., a challenger for one of two seats being voted on.
They will tackle the topics of water and sewage, abandoned cars, crime, health and safety, housing and parks.
Carrboro
On Thursday, the Hogan Farms and Town Hall precincts of the Orange County Democratic Party will host a Carrboro mayoral and alderman forum at the Lake Hogan Farms Clubhouse, 101 Commons Way.
The forum will begin at 7 p.m. with a brief meet-and-greet between candidates and audience members before transitioning at 7:30 p.m. into a question-and-answer session moderated by Orange County Democratic Party chairman Jim White. The questions asked will be drawn from those submitted by audience members in advance of the forum. Time permitting, there will also be an opportunity for audience members to directly ask questions of the candidates.
This forum offers an opportunity for citizens to meet and hear from the candidates wishing to lead Carrboro. All eight of the candidates on the ballot Nov. 3, three seeking the mayoral post and five seeking the three slots on the Board of Alderman, will be in attendance.
The general public and news media are invited to attend this forum, one of only two this fall bringing together all eight of the candidates. For further information on the event, contact Hogan Farms precinct chairwoman Susan Romaine at romaines@nc.rr.com or Town Hall precinct chairman Christopher Brook at christopher.a.brook@gmail.com.
Chapel Hill
Neighbors for Responsible Growth will sponsor a “Conversation with the Mayoral Candidates” from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Chapel Hill Public Library. The public and neighborhoods are being invited to learn about the person who will be the next mayor of Chapel Hill.
Neighbors for Responsible Growth’s questions will focus on neighborhood concerns and the shape of future growth in Chapel Hill and are based on concerns the group has heard from citizens. Major topics will include the goals of growth, the development review process, density, Carolina North’s impacts on transportation, and how to ensure public participation.
Most important, the organization says, is it wants to know how the mayoral candidates will approach building consensus and leading the town.
See www.nrg-nc.net for more information about Neighbors for Responsible Growth or contact Madeline at 929-9024.
Countywide
The Orange County Democratic Women will hold a municipal election candidates’ forum for candidates from Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 22. The public is invited to attend.
The session will be held at the OWASA Community Room, on the lower floor of the Administration Building, 400 Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro. Contact Linda Foxworth at 942-0045 or l_foxworth_2000@yahoo.com with any questions.
Endorsements
As the forums grind on, the Sierra Club already has released its candidate endorsements. They are: Mark Chilton for re-election as Carrboro mayor; incumbents Jacquelyn Gist and Randee Haven-O’Donnell and challenger Sammy Slade for the three open Board of Aldermen seats; Mark Kleinschmidt for Chapel Hill mayor; incumbents Laurin Easthom, Ed Harrison and Jim Merritt and challenger Penny Rich for the four open Chapel Hill Town Council seats; Tom Stevens for re-election as Hillsborough mayor; and incumbents Frances Dancy and Mike Gering for Town Commission.
