Slade receives enthusiastic support

Having worked with Sammy Slade on the Carrboro Local Living Economy Task Force, I can enthusiastically support his candidacy for the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. It's been especially refreshing working with Sammy as he is an independent thinker who actually invites differences of opinion. Once everyone is heard, he is particularly adept at bringing a group to consensus.

His unassuming style pairs well with his exceptional energy and dedication. Above all, Sammy is a person of action -- simply put, he gets things done. Having done so much for Carrboro behind the scenes, I'm grateful Sammy has stepped up to take a leadership role in our town. Please join me in voting for Sammy Slade, Carrboro Board of Aldermen.

Gary Kramling

Carrboro

Cook's leadership is thoughtful, balanced

A vote for Sharon Cook for Carrboro Board of Aldermen is a vote for fair and balanced leadership for our town.

Sharon has been an advocate for many issues facing our town, including safe paths to schools, preserving the Bolin Creek corridor, and protecting the character and safety of existing neighborhoods as adjacent properties are developed. Sharon listens to residents' concerns and brings thoughtful input to the Carrboro Planning Board discussions.

You can find out more about Sharon's commitment to making Carrboro a better place for all of us at www.SharonCookforCarrboro.com.

Patty Williams

Carrboro

McElveen capable of building consensus

As a lifelong resident of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro community, a proud graduate of Chapel Hill High School, and a parent of two sons who received an excellent education in this school district, it is important to me that education remains a priority here. And because education is the "great leveler" in providing opportunity to every child, it becomes increasingly important that dedicated and committed individuals are charged with its governance. For this reason I support Gregory McElveen for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education

I have known Greg for about 10 years. During this time, I have had the opportunity and pleasure of working with him in our church and community. I have been particularly impressed with how he works with the youth at our church and his desire to see that all of our youth are successful. Greg has been a Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate with the district since 2005, giving his personal time and talent to help enrich a young person's life. Since his appointment to the school board last year, he has hit the ground running to ensure equal opportunity and access for every child.

Greg is "level headed" and a consensus builder. He is respectful, selfless, a good listener, has good judgment, and will be able to discern how best to serve all of the district's constituents. His experience in marketing research and his problem-solving experience are additional assets for consideration. For these reasons, I urge you to keep Greg McElveen on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education.

Stanley Foushee

Chapel Hill

Town has benefited from Harrison's lead

We live in Parkside in Chapel Hill and encourage our fellow residents to support Ed Harrison for Town Council. During his eight years on the council, Ed's efforts have benefited our community by safeguarding our natural resources and expanding efforts to provide affordable housing.

We share Ed's vision of bringing Chapel Hill a 21st century transit system with sidewalks, bike lanes, safer streets and a first-class transit system. Ed is a co-author of our Economic Development Plan, which will provide more revenue from quality growth and reduce our reliance on residential property taxes.

Ed is also very responsive to constituent concerns. When we recently had occasion to raise a concern to the Town Council, Ed was the only member to respond, he helped to put us in touch with the appropriate parties, and mediated a solution acceptable to all. This is the type of approach we need in our local government. Please join us in re-electing Ed Harrison to the Town Council.

Jeff Danner, Heather Benjamin

Chapel Hill

Kleinschmidt won't set aside town values

I have known Mark Kleinschmidt for over 10 years. He is a seasoned leader and consensus builder.

During my tenure as chairwoman of the Public Housing Advisory Board, I found him to be one of the most informed, hands-on, and responsive members of the Town Council. Mark brings an excellent combination of vision, passion, and experience. He will not sideline the values that define Chapel Hill in the name of "being sensible." Instead, he will provide the leadership we need to ensure that the town is both economically sound and true to its progressive roots.

At stake is Chapel Hill's hard-fought commitment to civil rights, social justice and environmental stewardship. Fortunately, you don't have to choose between your values and your wallet. Please join in me in voting for Mark Kleinschmidt for mayor of Chapel Hill.

Karen Stegman

Chapel Hill

Homeless comments bothersome to voter

As a teenager, I was appalled when my dad would invite the occasional panhandler to lunch and talk to them about who they were and how they ended up on the street. As an adult and father, I can't thank him enough for teaching me that every homeless person is a person first and homeless second.

So I was more than a little bothered by Matt Czajkowski's story of being spurred into political action after encountering homeless men while stopping by Ben & Jerry's on Franklin Street with his kids. Instead of taking the opportunity to talk to his kids about how hard life can be and how some people struggle more than others to make it in society, he showed us all that you can build a political career by criminalizing homelessness.

This stereotype of homeless man as criminal is what feeds the flood of red-shirted families trying to keep the IFC shelter out of sight and out of mind, when in reality that shelter is a step toward helping the homeless back into homes. Mr. Czajkowski is not a leader for the entire community as his ad touts. He is a leader only for the community with whom he feels comfortable, and I am not comfortable with that.

I will be voting for Mark Kleinschmidt on Nov. 3, a candidate who, I believe, demonstrates a strong respect for all of Chapel Hill's citizens.

Brandon Rector

Chapel Hill

Hillsborough's Gering deserves re-election

Hillsborough has been fortunate in recent years in having an exceptionally strong Town Commission. This autumn, one of these commissioners, Mike Gering, is up for re-election.

Mike is smart, well-informed, honorable, remarkably energetic and fully committed to the welfare of all the citizens of Hillsborough. He has been a leader in many of the projects that have been undertaken during his time on the board, and he has a vision of where the town should go from here.

Mike is willing to devote four more years to the stewardship of Hillsborough and we should take him up on it. Please vote for him on Nov. 3, or better still take advantage of the early voting provision and vote for Mike.

Craufurd Goodwin

Hillsborough

Obama waffles over War on Terror

When is Obama going to man up to Afghanistan, where he promised the American people Afghanistan would be the war he would give his full support to. His hand-picked general has begged for more troops, yet nothing from Obama.

Obama needs to man up and either say I made a mistake and pull the troops or take this War on Terrorism with full support. Obama needs to quit worrying about his presidential legacy, stop worrying about those liberals he may upset and be a leader. This community organizer is showing his true colors about our troops; he does not see them as a priority. Well I, as a veteran, do. It's why we went down to Fort Bragg last week to support the troops.

This has been the deadliest month for troops in Afghanistan since the War on Terrorism began in this country, yet we have a president that remains quiet with no decisions, which in reverse he campaigned on about the Afghanistan War.

Randy Dye

Pittsboro

UNC, Chapel Hill should end coal use

I read your story about how UNC is getting more into the sustainable movement, however, I still see coal being shipped to them by rail. I'd like to know where that coal is coming from? If it's from West Virginia, then I'd like UNC to consider banning the coal, because of mountaintop removal. If it's from Virginia and coming from a regular mine, then that's OK.

However, UNC should really look into solar and other green energy. I hope Chancellor Holden Thorp and the mayor of Chapel Hill can make improvements to the university and the Town of Chapel Hill by scrapping coal in the near future.

Thayer Jordan

Chapel Hill

Council should name Pavao to vacant seat

I have known Lee Pavao for over 15 years and during this time he never ceases to amaze me with his concern and knowledge of local issues, dedication and leadership in a vast multitude of community services and general caring for others.

He is intelligent, with a strong business sense, and knows the way to lead and make sound choices. He has been the chairman or served in valuable roles on so many diverse boards including Chapel Hill Parks and Rec, the Library Board of Trustees, the Ronald McDonald House, IFC, Planned Parenthood, the Friends of the Seymour Center and the Triangle United Way.

This is only a small sample of his continued commitment to improve the quality of life for our neighbors. Our existing or new Town Council would be wise to appoint Lee to the vacant council seat vacated by Bill Strom. We have not had the sensible and sensitive common sense approach to governing that Lee has always demonstrated. We need to have a representative on the council that really has the entire community's best interest at heart.

Robin Bailin

Chapel Hill

Tell your friends about these candidates

Vote Matt Czajkowski for Chapel Hill mayor; and for Town Council vote for Jon DeHart, Gene Pease and Matt Pohlman. Remember these names; it's time for a change.

If you agree, send the names to everyone on your e-mail list. Call at least 10 of your friends, and make small cards to hand out to your friends. I have been doing this for years, and your friends appreciate it. It's easy to forget names so take these names with you to the polling place and vote on Tuesday Nov. 3.

P H Craig

Chapel Hill

Column expressed much-needed truth

Having been born in Durham almost 70 years ago, educated in their schools, worked in various jobs both in Durham, Winston Salem, Pinnacle and Pittsboro, I have always subscribed to the Durham papers (both The Durham Morning Herald and The Durham Sun, which I home delivered in Durham more than 55 years ago) when I have been able to have it delivered.

The article on Friday, Oct. 16, ("Lots of Prayers are needed for city, state and nation") by Gary Gaddy happens to be the most correct, most thought provoking, most needful and most accurate portrayal of the situation we face in our city, state and particularly as a nation.

I have never seen a time when sin and wickedness are so overlooked, when people have no concern for laws, when human beings don't care for God, the Bible or for each other. There is corruption at every level of government and many times it is overlooked with just perhaps, a slap on the hand. We wonder why the youth of today live lives of greed and self-will.

We truly have forgotten God, forgotten His Word, forgotten the Gift of His Son and we also forget that there is a judgment day coming.

Mr. Gaddy, I applaud you for writing the truth, the whole truth and being faithful to our Maker, who will forgive our sins, but only if we confess our sins and trust His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us all and rose again from the dead.

Charles W. Baker

Efland

Know the candidates before you cast votes

As moderator of the candidates forum that was recently held at the Wexford clubhouse, I would like to commend Beth Velliquette on her excellent report ("Aldermen candidates face off at forum," Oct. 25). I thought her article was very balanced and fair and portrayed the views of all the candidates. I also commend you on the amount of space devoted.

However, for the sake of the voting public, I feel it was unfortunate that almost the entire article dealt with only one question I asked. There were several other questions that I feel gave a good indication of the candidates' positions and political stance.

My opening question concerned the fact that every candidate in every Carrboro election promises to improve our commercial tax base. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved. I asked the challengers to tell the voters why they should expect something different if they are elected, and I asked the incumbents to tell the voters why they should expect the situation to improve when it has not improved over all their previous terms.

Another question that I feel went to the heart of a politician's view of government was the one I asked regarding the decision by the Board of Aldermen this past year to attempt to declare null and void homeowners association covenants that the aldermen feel are politically incorrect. I asked the candidates not to focus on the particular covenant in question, but rather on the principle involved in deciding that government has the right to use its power to tell people how they should live, rather than allowing them to decide for themselves.

Since the founding of our country there have always been opposing views on the role of government. The Jeffersonian view celebrates liberty and the freedom of individuals and groups to decide for themselves how they wish to live. The Hamiltonian view makes a case for strong governmental control over people's lives, but which theoretically acts in the "greater good." How the candidates answered the question regarding the actions of the current Board of Aldermen's attempt to dictate to homeowners how they should live told the public a lot about their political philosophy.

Knowing a candidate's stance on a particular issue is valuable. However, I feel it is more valuable to know their political philosophy because that tells you how they might vote on issues that have yet to become manifest.

Become informed, and then, please vote.

Michael Krasnov

Chapel Hill