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 Look who's running
Early voting is under way in Orange County. The Orange County Board of Commissioners expands from five to seven members this year. Voters in the May 6 Democratic primary may cast ballots for candidates from the district in which they live and at large. In November, all voters may vote for all candidates. Here is a look at who's running for the Board of Commissioners. DISTRICT 1 (two seats) No primary. Pam Hemminger, the current chairwoman of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board, and incumbent Commissioner Valerie Foushee were the only candidates to file for the two open seats. With no Republicans filing, Hemminger and Foushee need only one vote each in November to win election. DISTRICT 2 (one seat) Leo L. Allison
Party affiliation: Democrat. Birth date: Dec. 28, 1932. Family: wife, Mary Sue Allison; three children and six grandchildren. Residence: 4125 Marvin Lane, Efland Military Experience: None. Education: Central High School, Hillsborough, 1950; N.C. Central University, bachelor's in mathematics,1954; Syracuse University, master's in engineering administration, 1969. Occupation: Retired Community involvement: Orange County Planning Board, six years, chairman, two years; Orange County Social Services Board, three years; Orange County Human Rights and Relations Board, six years; Orange County ABC Board, six years; Central Orange Senior Center Design & Development Committee; bond drives, 1997, 2001; Legal Aid of North Carolina Board, seven years, secretary two years, chairman one year; (first non attorney to serve as chairman); Orange Congregations in Mission, eight years, chairman two years, treasurer two years; United Voices of Efland-Cheeks, 15 years, chairman 10 years; Gaines Chapel AME Church, served as steward, trustee, and class leader. Political experience: none. Contact: www.leoallison.com; lele2@mebtel.net; (919) 563-9110. How will you measure success in your first year? I plan to visit with local organizations and community groups and fully understand their issues and needs and use this information when I make decisions as an Orange County commissioner. If I accomplish this, then I will consider my first year a success. Tell us about something you did for someone else: Tutor at Efland-Cheeks Elementary School as part of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). I read with the children and coach them in their math assignments; Filed tax returns for low-wealth seniors so they can get federal tax rebates. What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? 1) Growing jobs to meet the needs of our growing population. 2) Lowering taxes.. What is the biggest challenge facing Orange County: 1) Providing adequate but affordable school facilities for our children (currently consumes about half of the budget). 2) Reducing the increase in the ad valorem tax to relieve the tax burden on our citizens. What is the biggest challenge facing your district: Same as Orange County. Luther Brooks Efforts to reach Brooks, 52, of 2618 N.C. 86 North, for answers to a voters guide questionnaire were unsuccessful. A routine check of candidates' criminal background, civil suits and tax records indicated that Brooks owes at least $1,000 in unpaid personal property taxes. Tommy T. McNeill Party affiliation: Democratic. Birth date: June 24, 1962. Family: wife Gail, 45. Residence: 3602 Laurel Creek Way, Durham (Orange County) Military experience: U.S. Air Force Reserve, 1985-2005. Education: Hoke County High School, 1980; N.C. Central University, bachelor's degree, 1986-1992. Occupation: Hospital account manager with King Pharmaceuticals Inc. Community involvement: Member, N.C. Central University School of Business Board of Visitors; Cub Scout Master, Pack 144; member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Political experience: None. Contact: ttmcneill@hotmail.com, (336) 926-4881. How will you measure success in your first year in office? As a small business owner with 20 years of military and 13 years of corporate experience, I am a consensus builder with an understanding of business and government. I will place a strong emphasis on investing in innovation and partnering with corporations to bring in new business to Orange County. Tell us about something you did for someone else: Take a look at the 'Triangle Tribune' At Gail's Hair Salon, we are trying to become good corporate stewards ... www.triangletribune.com/ (Editor's note: We could not find this reference online.) What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? Your county? Your district? Increase funding for Economic Development Commission, fund the positions requested by the county manager and maintain farmland preservation. Steve Yuhasz Party affiliation: Democrat. Birth date: Feb. 10, 1951. Family: wife, Bev; three children. Residence: 710 Ridgelift Lane, Hillsborough. Military experience: None Education: Metuchen High School, Metuchen, N.J., 1968; Virginia Commonwealth University, bachelor's degree,1976; Arizona State University, master's degree, 1978; N.C. Central University, law degree, 2004. Employer: ENT Land Surveys Inc.; The Law Office of Steve F. Yuhasz PLLC. Community involvement: Orange County Planning Board, 1984-1990; Orange County Economic Development Commission, 1992-95. N.C. Society of Surveyors Board of Directors 2004-06. Political experience: none Contact: www.yuhaszforcc.org; steve@entlandsurveys.com; (919) 732-6262. How will you measure success in your first year in office? I will be successful in my first year in office by bringing new visibility to the special concerns of the people of my district. For example, one of my top priorities is to ensure that residents in my district have a representative who is available, accessible and willing to work to meet their expectations. Tell us about something you did for someone else: In 2006 I joined a group of volunteers with the Appalachian Service Project. My team and I spent a week repairing and renovating substandard housing in West Virginia. What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? Your county? Your district? North Carolina: Providing suitable employment for workers displaced by the stagnant economy and overseas outsourcing. County: Generating additional funding through new non-residential development in order to meet budgetary requirements and continue to provide expected services. The cost of county-provided services is rapidly outpacing many people's ability to pay for them. District: Balancing the needs and aspirations of long-term residents with the expectations and requirements of new community members. AT LARGE (1 seat) Neloa Barbee Jones Party affiliation: Democratic Birth date: age 50. Family: husband, Stanley Jones, 52; a daughter. Residence: 1708 Purefoy Drive, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516. Military experience: none. Education: Chapel Hill High, 1975; UNC-Chapel Hill, bachelor's degree. 1984; UNC-CH, master's degree, 1988.
Occupation: English\language arts education consultant Employer: Measurement Inc. Community involvement: Rogers Road Small Area Task Force; Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association; Historic Rogers Road Enhancement Task Force; Coalition to End Environmental Racism.Political experience: none. Contact: www.neloaforcommissioner.org; neloajones@bellsouth.net; (919) 369-1364. How will you measure success in your first year in office? I will measure success by a change in the dialogue between the commissioners and voters. Voters need to be more fully aware of the challenges facing Orange County and understand the impacts of policies before a crisis occurs. For example, over the next five years, the commissioners will need to spend nearly $200,000,000 for schools because of growth. Orange County will also be generating a lot more waste and spending millions to transport it. Tell us about something you did for someone else: I have routinely provided temporary work for those unemployed in my community or who lived nearby, and when I cook dinner, I feed them as well. What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? Your county? Your district? North Carolina: unemployment. Orange County: responsible solid-waste management. District One: lack of available housing for a range of family incomes. A routine check of candidates' criminal background, civil suits and tax records indicated that Jones filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2000, was reinstated later that year, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2003. Jones said that her financial problems were related to repayment of student loans. "I pay all my debt on time," she said. "This was just a special situation that occurred in my life that I had to deal with." Bernadette Pelissier Party affiliation: Democrat. Birth date: Oct. 18, 1950. Family: husband, Vann Bennett; two children and three stepchildren. Residence: 4516 Mystic Lane, Hillsborough, N.C. Military experience: none. Education: Metuchen High School, Metuchen, N.J., 1968; American University, Washington, D.C. September 1968-May 1971; University of Virginia, continuing education, Falls Church, Va., September 1971-May 1972; University of California, Davis, summer 1970; Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va., June 1972-July 1975; bachelor's degree in sociology (with honors), 1973, master's degree in sociology, 1975; UNC-Chapel Hill, September 1975-May 1980, doctorate in sociology, 1980 Occupation: social science researcher; retired from Federal Bureau of Prisons. Community involvement: Orange Chatham Sierra Club, served in various leadership roles including vice chair, political chair and chairwoman; Shaping Orange County Future Task Force; Carolina North Leadership Advisory Council; Orange Water and Sewer Authority, two of six years as chairwoman; Orange County Planning Board, current member; Community Leadership Collaboration; Orange County Commission for Environment, current member; Special Transit Advisory Committee, current member; Talking Feds -- Toastmasters Group, president. Political experience: none. Contact: www.Bernadette4commissioner.com; bmpelissier@gmail.com; (919) 643-2762. How will you measure success in your first year in office? I am running to bring to the table a discussion of the relationship of our environmental and economic policies with our social issues. The future of our county depends on our addressing these issues in an integrated manner. During my first year as a commissioner, I will bring my experience as a social scientist and its systems perspective to bear on the issues I have learned about through my many years of experience on various community boards. I will work to begin the review and updating of county policies and ordinances to implement the county's goals and objectives contained in the revised Comprehensive Plan. My success will be marked by the integrated nature of the approach to meeting the county's goals. Tell us about something you did for someone else: I have worked for many years to protect the natural resources for the citizens of Orange and Chatham counties as well as citizens across the state. I have worked to help provide clean water and clean air to our citizens. I have done so in various roles within the Sierra Club -- political chair, chair and coordinator for endorsements in legislative races. I have accepted responsibilities when there were insufficient volunteers. For example, last year I organized the statewide conference for Sierra Club members. This conference would not have occurred if I had not agreed to undertake this task. What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? Your county? Your district? The biggest challenge facing North Carolina is growth and the pressure growth places on land use, housing prices, loss of agricultural land, water services infrastructure, transportation infrastructure as well as the stress growth creates for lower-income households as a result of land and housing costs in desirable areas. The same challenge is faced by Orange County and the district I live in (District 2). In addition, Orange County, along with adjacent counties, faces the challenge of growth within the context of one of the most sprawling areas in the country. Mary Wolff Efforts to reach Wolff of Chapel Hill for answers to a voters guide questionnaire were unsuccessful. Kevin Wolff Kevin Wolff also filed to run for county commissioner at large, but the Chapel Hill Republican doesn't face an opponent in the primary. http://www.chapelhillnews.com/front/story/14038.html |
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