What Does the Orange County Commission Do? Who had filed for a seat?

by | Dec 20, 2019 | Elections, Mobility

What does the County Commission Do?

The County Commission is the policy board that oversees County government services that range from solid waste and recycling to sheriff and law enforcement, and emergency (911) and social services. Of particular interest to Chapel Hill residents, the County Commission has the last word on school funding. The Commission targets 48.1% of its operating budget to fund our two county schools systems. The Commission is also responsible for school capital needs and the physical condition of our schools. Finally, the Commission leads decision making for transit planning for Orange County, even though Chapel Hill is the home of the successful Chapel Hill Transit serving Chapel Hill, Carrboro and UNC and has land use plans that require still more transit. What Board could be more important to Chapel Hill voters?

What incumbents  are running and when is the election?

Four out of seven seats on the present Orange County Commission are up for election in March 3rd. We assume that all incumbents are running, although not all have announced.

  • District 1: Chapel Hill and Carrboro area: two seats currently held by Penny Rich and Mark Dorosin
  • District 2: Northern Orange County: one seat currently held by Renee Price
  • At Large: One seat representing the entire County: currently held by Mark Marcoplos

If you live in the Chapel Hill School District you are in District 1, otherwise you are in District 2. Everyone votes for the “at large” candidate. An electoral district map is here. Info on tax rates by location here.

When to file?

The Candidate filing for County Commissioner begins at noon Monday, December 2 and ends at noon Friday December 20 at the Board of Elections office in Hillsborough. The race is likely to be decided in the Democratic primary, and coincides with the presidential primary. If you would like more information about serving on the County Board please contact info@chalt.org.

Commissioners do not receive a salary but get a base pay of $24,000 which is equivalent to $44,000 when county paid health insurance, merit pay, car allowance, phone and internet allowance are added. (Serving three terms brings lifetime health benefits).

Who Filed?

County Commission, At large seat:

Amy Fowler amyfowlerfororange@gmail.com  amyfowlerfororange@gmail.com  Amy has announced for the At-large seat County Commissioner seat held by presently by Mark Marcoplos.  She is a physician now serving on the Chapel Hill Carrboro School Board. As a pediatrician, and as the mother of students receiving both gifted and special needs supports, she bring an understanding of the full spectrum of needs of the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools.  (The County Commission is the primary funder of our schools. ) Those who have worked with Amy are impressed by her intelligence and willingness to do her research and her track record of competence and problem solving.
Mark Marcoplos is running for another term for an At-large seat on the County Commission.  https://www.facebook.com/marcoplos/   Mark represented the County on the Go Triangle Board of Trustees, and oversaw the spending of $160 million of local funds to the Durham Orange light Rail project.  This money could have funded schools and affordable housing but is largely lost. The project evaluation commissioned by GoTriange says the elected officials could have called a halt much sooner to this out-of-control project costing o$3.8 billion and a huge debt obligations until 2062 which would have continued to impact local transit and school priorities.

County Commission, District 1 seat

Jean Hamilton  https://jeanhamilton.org/  info@jeanhamilton.orgJean has announced  for a seat in District One, presently held by two incumbents Penny Rich and Mark Dorosin. Jean will soon be stepping down from the School Board where she held an appointed seat vacated by former chair Margaret Samuels.  Previously Jean was elected to the School Board for the 2005-2009 term. Jean is keenly interested in the schools as well as all the many things our County Commission does for social services and transit. Jean taught economics (PhD in economics) and conducted public health research before becoming a clinical social worker (MSW) in private practice. She is a wonderful listener and her her presence would add to the effectiveness of any committee or board.
Mark Dorosin  http://markdorosin.org