Pelissier stresses perspective

• Has served for OWASA, Sierra Club
• By: Dave Pearson, Senior Writer
• Published in: Daily Tar Heel
• Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: City

Bernadette Pelissier started a long way from here.

But the path that took her to Orange County has had a deep impact on her perspective, she said.

Pelissier is one of three candidates for the at-large county commissioner seat that is on the ballot for the May 6 primary.

After working until retirement in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Pelissier has spent time on the boards of the Orange Water and Sewer Authority and the Sierra Club, as well as several county planning commissions.

"I've always had this thing of wanting to work for the larger good of the community," she said.

In an interview Pelissier smiled frequently as she spoke of a range of topics. She spoke passionately and intensely about national incarceration rates; she giggled and reminisced about Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman's novel.

The UNC alumna spoke at length about the ways her experiences have given her a unique perspective.

"People just want crime to be taken care of," Pelissier said. "We should take a step back and ask what causes crime."

Pelissier said she intends to implement what she's learned to offer a different but informed position on the board of county commissioners.

"I hope to bring more discussions to the table," Pelissier said.

Pelissier was born to French parents in Senegal; her father worked for the United Nations and her family moved often. The family moved to the U.S. when she was an infant, and she spent much of her childhood in New Jersey.

She said the several years she spent living in Syria as a young girl taught her to recognize differences between cultures and the importance of perspective.

"Issues are what motivate me," she said, adding that she sees Orange County as a good place to start addressing wider-reaching topics such as crime and climate change.

"A lot of the issues are not unique to Orange County," Pelissier said.

She said the time she spent growing up in other countries taught her the importance of water conservation, an issue she worked closely with during her time on the OWASA board.

She served as chairwoman of the board during the historic 2002 drought.

Former fellow OWASA board member Penny Rich has worked with Pelissier not only on water issues but in local politics, as well.

Rich said that she doesn't always agree with Pelissier but believes that she will work hard to finish what she starts.

"Overall I think she will look out for the community," Rich said. "I think she will be a good leader."

Today she lives with her husband on a 20-acre farm where she grows her own vegetables.

Pelissier said she hopes to focus on streamlining sustainability programs.

When explaining how she would implement sustainability, she gave the example of a three-legged stool with legs of energy, environment and ecology.

"You can't work on the three legs separately," she said.

Pelissier intends to achieve this through the board of county commissioners by creating a sustainability coordinator position. The coordinator would act as a liaison between different planning commissions.

"You can better meet the needs of one group when you meet the needs of another group as well," she said.

But Pelissier said that local government can only do so much in finding solutions and that the government must help the people do things for themselves.

"In the end it really will take all of us."

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.

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