Laurin Easthom announced last night that she will not run for re-election in the fall. Oddly, she used her announcement as a twisted rationale for voting against a new voice on council. Her logic: A new voice on council would be good, just not now, and not until you’ve gone through the hazing process of [...]
All posts in category Elections
Greene-lash
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 24, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/24/greene-lash/
Outgoing to be incoming?
Must you be an extrovert to lead? Experts at Kenan-Flagler Business School I’ve buttonholed say no. Some leaders excel at relationship building and charisma. Others lead with their analytical abilities and strategic thinking. Still others attract a following through their insights, innovation and entrepreneurship. You’ll find introverts in all three groups. Politicians, on the other [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on January 21, 2013
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2013/01/21/outgoing-to-be-incoming/
Who chooses?
The Central West Focus Area steering committee starts work next week, on Dec. 19. Only 16 members will gather in the first-floor conference room at Town Hall that night at 6 p.m. Seventeen people were recommended for appointment, but a little political gerrymandering went awry, and council members, in a vote by secret ballot, approved [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 10, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/12/10/who-chooses/
Choose wisely
Some countries have mandatory military service for all its citizens. I wish the U.S. required every one of its citizens to do one week of census work among neighborhoods that make up the left side of the housing price bell curve. We would make better decisions in the voting booth if we had a sense [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on November 5, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/11/05/choose-wisely/
No vacancy?
Town Council holds its season opener this Wednesday, Sept. 12, and I can’t seem to rally the excitement I usually have for local politics. It’s not that the decisions council makes aren’t important – in fact, council members are set to vote once again on Charterwood, and the outcome could tip council’s hand for what [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on September 10, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/09/10/no-vacancy/
See the world
Come see the world with me, and all it will cost is a couple of gallons of gas. Granted, with the supply chain disruptions in the Midwest – a ruptured pipeline in Wisconsin and equipment problems that shut down refineries in Indiana and Illinois – that’s nearly the cost of a couple of lattes a [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on August 13, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/08/13/see-the-world/
VOE now DOA
For now, at least, beleaguered Chapel Hill taxpayers have one less expense to fund. The state General Assembly adjourned in July without enacting House Bill 1132 that would extend statutory authority for the town to continue its taxpayer-financed political campaigns, also known as the Voter Owned Election Program. The lack of action will have little [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on July 23, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/07/23/voe-now-doa/
Rich no more
Soon we won’t have Penny Rich to kick around anymore. In yesterday’s primary, Rich edged out county commissioner incumbent Pam Hemminger and came in second behind Mark Dorosin. Because no Republican candidate is running for a seat on the Board of County Commissioners, Rich and Dorosin will fill the two open seats come December. A [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 9, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/05/09/rich-no-more/
Election deadline nears
If you haven’t made up your mind about whom to vote for, you’re running out of time. Tomorrow, May 8, is Election Day, and you have many decision to make. Don’t go into the voting booth unprepared. Access a sample ballot online at the Orange County website: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/elect/precincts.asp. You’ll need to know your precinct (and [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on May 7, 2012
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2012/05/07/election-deadline-nears/
2011 highlights
A sign in the window of the tax office at Town Hall, where about a dozen of us were waiting to pay our taxes yesterday around lunchtime, lists various products the town sells to market itself: flags, tote bags, books and ball caps. As I totaled up my various tax bills – vehicle, business, real [...]
Posted by Nancy Oates on December 29, 2011
http://chapelhillwatch.com/2011/12/29/2011-highlights/