1. Please tell us about your background and explain why you are running for Orange County Commissioner. What experience, skills, and values do you bring to the board? Why should voters elect/re-elect you?
I came to Orange County in 1971 to attend UNC. I’ve had decades of experience with local and regional issues, I operate a small residential green building company (founded 1987) that takes me all over the County and surrounding areas, I’ve raised a family here and been active in the community coaching youth sports, volunteering in the schools & community, I’ve served on key county boards, non-profit boards, and OWASA, I’ve lived in rural SW Orange County for thirty years & am very familiar with rural issues, and I’ve been very connected to our towns and their issues (lived in Carrboro for several years). All of this uniquely prepared me to be an effective “at-large”commissioner. After my election in 2016, that broad range of experience, and the skills I learned acquiring it, resulted in me playing key leadership roles on a wide range of issues.
2. Historically, one of Orange County’s greatest assets has been the excellent quality of our K-12 public schools. However, many parents are becoming concerned that our public school buildings are aging and in need of repair and renovation. The Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC) is fully responsible for funding the maintenance for school buildings. How do you propose to address the backlog of deferred school maintenance projects?
The process begins with school board and staff prioritization. Difficult decisions need to be made. A new program that many parents or staff desire needs to be weighed against repair needs. Their budget request is then presented to the county. The staffs collaborate in a process that considers the school priorities and financial resources. We are fortunate here that we share a strong commitment to education and are #1 in funding per student in the state despite being #13 in tax revenue per student. Dare is #2 in funding and #1 in tax resources available. The state rescinded impact fees. Local money has also been allocated to school operational needs that the state is underfunding. We do need to address the repairs and maintenance. I am open to considering a tax increase this year for that. It’s never easy since a lot of low-income people that could suffer with new taxes.
3. GoTriangle recently released an outside evaluation by a national transit organization which described management problems related to the now defunct Durham-Orange light rail project. This report said that the Orange and Durham County Boards of Commissioners and GoTriangle failed to recognize the numerous warning signs that the project could not be completed and continued to spend public money on this dead end project. Throughout the DOLRT planning process the lack of transparency, accountability and local (county and town) control over funding decisions subordinated Orange County’s interests to those of Durham and GoTriangle. What changes to the decision-making process would you urge to address these problems? Link to the report. https://gotriangle.org/sites/default/files/publications/final_report_dolrt_gotriangle_11.5.19.pdf
There’s no reasonable way to answer this loaded question in 150 words. I served on the GoTriangle Board, voted to have this analysis done and was involved in the process of digesting the evaluation. This question’s characterization is totally inaccurate. It‘s important that community leaders resist the urge to use simplistic misinterpretations of complex issues to create divisiveness. My first meeting in 2016 featured hours of DOLRT discussion. I resolved to fully inform myself on the many issues. I met with opponents. I studied BRT & other options. I went to Richmond to learn about their BRT. I immersed myself. When project costs were mounting for Durham, I was the first Commissioner to say that we should make a strong, public commitment against committing more funds than our initial agreement. I was not willing to risk the fiscal health of the County. Wish I could fully respond in this format.
4. What actions and/or policy changes should the BOCC take to improve public transit service for Orange County residents and reduce congestion on our roadways?
Our new County Transit Plan needs to focus on 1) expanding and improving bike ways and pedestrian options 2) ensure that development is compact and transit-oriented 3) expand Transportation Demand Management in both the private and public sector (TDM is “application of strategies and policies to reduce travel demand, or to redistribute this demand in space or in time.) 4) Complete the North-South BRT and accommodate as much transit-oriented development along the route as possible. 5) Ensure that Orange County works with its neighbors to improve regional connectivity (for example – there is interest in exploring BRT along the 15-501 corridor) 6) Continue to add electric vehicles to our fleets.
5. The 1986 Joint Comprehensive Land Use Plan established urban service boundaries for the largest Orange County towns and a rural buffer. In your view, how does the existence of the rural buffer benefit Orange County? What costs does it impose? What changes, if any, would you support making to the 1986 Joint Comprehensive Land Use Plan?
The creation of the Rural Buffer in 1988-89 was a visionary land use strategy that has prevented sprawl, protected watersheds, protected farmland, steered more compact development toward the urban areas, provided natural areas, and surrounded the urban areas with more beneficial tree growth than would have been there without it. Overall, it’s value far exceeds any costs. The only change I would consider is possibly moving the northern border where it runs along NC 10 next to the Buckhorn Economic Development District an eighth of a mile or so south since that road frontage has drawn a lot of interest from companies considering locating here.
6. What actions and/or policy changes should the BOCC take to preserve and increase housing that is affordable for less affluent OC households, especially those earning below 60% of AMI?
We can create a historic affordable housing/mixed use development on the Greene Tract. It is government owned (Chapel Hill, Carrboro, & County) so it would be incredibly cost-effective. The County owns an additional 60 acres which are slated to become the largest publicly-accessible natural area in Chapel Hill. I am committed to moving this forward as quickly as possible, working with our municipal partners to get it done. The RENA neighbors have been waiting for this part of their vison for the greater community to manifest.
7. What actions and/or policy changes should the BOCC undertake to reduce carbon emissions in Orange County? What do you think is achievable within the next 3-5 years?
Our transportation planning will be critical, since it’s the highest source of emissions in the County. We must get people out of their cars. The County’s Climate Action Tax will provide needed funds for many projects including low-income weatherization, distribution of LED bulbs, accelerating alternative energy installations, etc. Land use planning will be critical to shortening travel distances (Greene Tract is a good example of a great opportunity.) It’s impossible to quantify what our gains will be, but there is no doubt that we will see significant gains. As the urgency increases, we will see increased support and participation from the Climate Urgency Deniers.
8. What actions and/or policy changes should the BOCC take to conserve agricultural, forest and park land in Orange County?
Preserve and defend the Rural Buffer. Continue its great work in agricultural preservation policies and parkland expansion. Support in any way we can the creation of compact, transit-friendly, walkable, bikeable communities and development in Chapel Hill.
Submitted 2/5/20, 6:46 AM