Kille persecution column applauded

Regarding the article about Marilyn Kille's persecution ("Tyranny unjust for construction of apartment," Oct. 18), thank you so much for allowing some of the facts that have been suppressed by the Carrboro mayor and attorney. It's about time that someone took a REAL look at the facts instead of just taking the mayor's word for "fact!"

Mary Anne Kendall

Efland

Brownstein can solve problems creatively

I would like to endorse Michelle (Shell) Brownstein for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education and encourage your readers to vote for her on Nov. 3.

I have worked with Shell as part of two important parent groups at Mary Scroggs Elementary School: the PTA and School Governance Committee. I found Shell to be a creative problem solver, forward thinking, a good listener and a strong advocate for all. When addressing issues she always solicited opinions from across the community to ensure that our decisions were representative and fair. I appreciated the manner in which she would dig through data and facts to ensure that our underlying assumptions were correct.

Shell will be an excellent school board member.

Stacia Cooper

Chapel Hill

Voters decide to switch to Czajkowski

If you feel, as we do, that the Chapel Hill Town Council needs new leadership to address the many critical issues that we now collectively face -- integrating Carolina North into the town fabric, restoring the vitality of Franklin Street and downtown Chapel Hill, preserving the social diversity of our community by achieving a more sensible balance between commercial and residential development -- please join us in voting for Matt Czajkowski for mayor.

Although we have voted in past elections for Matt's main opponent, we believe strongly that Matt is the best choice for Chapel Hill.

Allison and Ford Worthy

Chapel Hill

Raymond's intellect prompts endorsement

My endorsement of Will Raymond comes from having experience working with him on the Town Technology Committee both as a "visitor" and as a "member." As a "visitor," he would show up at a meeting, disrupt the agenda and distract the members and town staff. Nevertheless, he had great information, insight into Town Operations beyond that of most people on the committee, and a real passion for doing the right thing by the town. It was never biased -- just fact-based, intelligent opinion. Sometimes lots of it.

Once I invited Will to join the committee as a "member," his approach really changed. Will played by all the rules and brought his enormous intellect and passion to the table in a productive and organized way.

He was a model member of the committee after I took the steps to include him. I am glad I did, and would do so again in a second. There were other members of that committee I would have traded a hundred Will Raymonds to get rid of, because they lacked his intellect, experience, common sense and passion for what might be the right solution for the town.

Very detail oriented, Will could review construction documents for the Town Operations Center as fast and well as I could. He spotted so many issues created by the old town manager, but always kept that knowledge contained and never abused his privilege.

At the end of the day, Will has the very human desire to be adequately recognized for the gifts he has to offer. Moreover, his gifts are significantly greater than most people could, would or do offer their community. Adequate recognition for Will can never happen in four-minute time slots standing before the Town Council podium. Everyone recognizes Will campaigns for his seat on the Town Council to do what he (and myself) enjoys most -- being a servant leader of the community we passionately enjoy living in.

I enthusiastically recommend voting Will Raymond for Town Council on Nov. 3.

Gregg Gerdau

Chapel Hill

Slade involved in great initiatives

My family grew up with the Slades. Sammy is one of the most sincere and down to earth people I know. We are all thrilled that he has decided to run for the Carrboro Board of Alderman, not for reasons of self-interest, but because he truly wants to make a difference in a community toward which he has already shown tremendous dedication.

Lots of good things are happening in Carrboro, and Sammy Slade has been a part of many of these great initiatives (ie, co-founder Carrboro Greenspace, co-founder the Carrboro Community Garden Coalition, chairman of the Local Living Economy Task Force and co-founder of the budding LocalMotive; Carrboro's community based business alliance).

There are lots of challenges ahead, and I believe Sammy Slade is highly qualified to help Carrboro move toward being an even better place.

Leslie Montana

Chapel Hill

Don't miss chance to elect Czajkowski

For two years Matt Czajkowski has brought to the running of our town government a welcome background of business acumen and practicality.

I have known Matt for virtually the entire decade he and his family have lived in Chapel Hill, and I know him to be one of the most thoughtful, practical, and inclusive people I have ever met. For someone of Matt's leadership capability, integrity and practicality to be willing to serve us as mayor is an amazing offering of service to our community. Let us not pass up this opportunity.

John McAdams

Chapel Hill

Czajkowski keeps taxpayers in mind

Matt Czajkowski is a sensible candidate who sets political ideology aside, understands the economic challenges Chapel Hill faces today, and recognizes when tax dollars are being recklessly spent. Czajkowski was the only Town Council member who voted "No" to providing current and previous council members with lifetime health coverage. This measure was set to cost more than $20 million and was to be paid for through new taxes on lower-, middle-, and upper-class families in Chapel Hill.

Czajkowski also voted against allowing taxpayers' money to be spent on political campaigns, because he knows there are far greater priorities during these pressing times and that using tax dollars to fund a political campaign is nowhere close to the top of that list.

I am baffled as to how Mark Kleinschmidt, who voted in favor of both measures, can claim he has the best interest of Chapel Hill in mind when these two measures demonstrate he simply had his own interest in mind when voting in favor of them? Today Kleinschmidt, thanks to his vote for "voter-owned elections" is eligible to receive up to $19,000 in taxpayers' dollars to fund his political campaign. Forgive me, but shouldn't that money be spent on something more genuine and in the public interest, like on our public school system?

Enough is enough!

I urge my fellow citizens to vote for someone who has Chapel Hill in mind, Matt Czajkowski for mayor.

Kendall Law

UNC-2011

Business Administration

Neighborhood alliance encourages all to vote

"Neighbors for Responsible Growth (NRG) works for responsible growth for our town and county by serving as a network for neighborhoods, helping citizens to understand the local government process, and advocating for policies that protect the environment, health and welfare of our neighborhoods and community. We do not endorse candidates.

Every election is important. This 2009 municipal election is especially so because our elected Town Council is in the midst of recalibrating a long-term plan for Chapel Hill 's growth. We need leaders who can 1) articulate a unifying vision for growth that reflects the values and qualities that draw people to this town, 2) communicate that vision to the public, and 3) work collaboratively with their colleagues on the council to advance the town's priorities.

NRG has worked to give citizens and neighborhoods detailed information about the candidates' views by sponsoring forums for both Chapel Hill mayoral and Town Council candidates and asking them to complete questionnaires about their views on local growth issues. Those results are available at the NRG website at nrg-nc.net.

We encourage all citizens to research the candidates carefully and exercise their right to vote, beginning Oct. 19 with early voting and ending on Election Day Nov. 3.

Madeline Jefferson and Julie McClintock

For Neighbors for Responsible Growth

Slade committed to Carrboro interests

Having known Carrboro Board of Aldermen candidate Sammy Slade for several years now, I am impressed by his deep knowledge of and commitment to Carrboro. He has demonstrated his love of our community and its values through a variety of projects that have helped to make Carrboro a better place to live. He has been at the forefront of innovative projects in Carrboro and would continue to bring path-breaking ideas in service to our community in his capacity as alderman.

In these times of unprecedented political vitriol, Sammy brings a refreshingly gentle and soft-spoken eloquence to political discourse. What an asset to our community to have another voice that combines passionate conviction with a calm demeanor, serving to build bridges and work for consensus.

Please join me in supporting Sammy Slade for alderman.

Paula Michaels

Carrboro

Cook seeks seat for a better Carrboro

As I vote for Sharon Cook for Carrboro Board of Aldermen, her qualities of solid integrity, persistence, fair-mindedness, common-sense, intolerance of injustice, and environmental awareness come to mind.

As a town Planning Board member, she knows that the decisions made by our town boards ultimately affect each of our neighborhoods as well as our schools. As a proponent of the construction of a traffic light and sidewalks along Homestead Road, she worked for years with government officials for its completion.

When Sharon advocated with Rogers Road residents against the placement of yet another garbage facility next to them, she showed herself to be a community activist in the best sense of the word.

Carrboro needs Sharon Cook, who seeks office not for personal political gain but rather for the betterment of all of Carrboro.

Yolanda Heiser

Carrboro

Czajkowski will make a difference as mayor

We chose to move to Chapel Hill for the quality of life here. It is an amazing place that we are fortunate to call home. But Chapel Hill has some fundamental problems right now that will determine our future.

Our tax base is unsustainably lopsided. Our government is gridlocked when it comes to clear vision and execution for our future. And our beautiful collegiate downtown (with the potential to be one of the best downtowns in the nation) is dysfunctional.

I encourage everyone to visit www.MattforMayor.org to learn more about Matt Czajkowski and his vision and passion for Chapel Hill. He will truly make a difference in our now, and, more importantly, our future.

A. Carter Linstead

Chapel Hill

Raymond has vision; is the voice town needs

Will Raymond is a person that knows the issues and the effect it has on policies making in local government. Will has been and still will advocate for social and environmental justice. Will is one who sees the importance of citizens' voices and will be the voice of those that are not at the table where decisions are made that affect them.

We are at a critical point in planning for our future of our town. Construction will soon begin in a Chapel Hill planning district, a waste transfer station is part of the development which must be addressed. Will Raymond knows our roads, schools, housing and right to basic amenities will be on the minds of citizens.

Local and political education, accountability, honesty and democracy are the keys to transparency in government. A vote for Will Raymond is a vote for Green initiative and sustainability. We need new vision on the town board. Make the right decision and vote for Will Raymond, a man that sees from within and not from without, one who has been at the meeting and has seen and heard the voice of the people.

I, Robert Campbell, call for all friends, family members, church members, citizens and veterans to vote for community service and experience. Vote for Will Raymond.

Robert Campbell

Chapel Hill