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Something strange is happening in Chatham: Everyone’s uniting to eat, drink and raise revenue

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Staff

By Jeffrey Starkweather
and Randy Voller

Something strange is happening in politically polarized Chatham County. All ideological persuasions are uniting behind the same financially potent but missing brew – cocktails with meals. But without the usual conflict, will voters show up for the May 5th countywide mixed-beverage referendum?

Chatham was recently cited as the most politically active county in North Carolina. Some have said it is also one of the state’s most political contentious, battling over immigration, sprawl, district voting and land-transfer referendums. We have a strong alliance of progressive, sustainable community advocates that defeated an outside real estate sprawl lobby. Opposition has come from arch-conservative property-rights and anti-tax groups. Natives and newcomers inevitably misunderstand each other.

When a former county commissioner announced at a public hearing that holding a mixed-beverage referendum would be “extremely divisive,” we braced for another battle. But a funny thing happened on the way to the referendum debate forums. We could not find opponents willing to debate us publicly.

In fact, residents of every previous conflicting persuasion have united to support the referendum. Nearly 150 business and civic leaders have signed up as members of our pro-sustainable economic-development referendum committee, Positive Revenue Options (PRO). They include two county commissioners, the mayor and the majority of the Pittsboro town board, two school board members, six members of the Chatham County Economic Development Corporation and the president of our community college.
Community leaders are not signing on because they want booze with their grass-fed beef. Chatham is bleeding badly – from lost manufacturing jobs.

Sixty-four cents of every retail dollar spent by Chatham residents is spent outside the county. Chatham cannot sustain its economic health when 60 percent of workers commute to jobs outside the county.

Before county leaders united behind the booze ballot they came together behind a sustainable business plan. That plan is based on the concept of “place-based” economics – preserving and enhancing our rural, small-town character and bountiful natural resources to grow and attract green and creative growth companies. We need to expand our innovative alternative energy, sustainable agriculture and green building clusters, which are supported by our nationally recognized community college programs. We must promote our thriving local arts community, Main Streets and rural crossroad centers. Finally, we have to develop biking and hiking trails, protect our environment and entice quality overnight accommodations to take advantage of our eco-, agriculture- and arts- tourism potential.

This strategic economic-development plan has been enthusiastically endorsed by our county commissioners, school board and our towns. They are working together with the business community to implement it. The first recommended implementation action was placing this mixed-beverage referendum on the ballot.

Leadership in the county is united behind the referendum because it is the ultimate win-win issue. Its passage will bring sales-tax revenues to local governments without raising property taxes. The City of Sanford, with less than half the population of Chatham, makes about $400,000 more than Chatham in annual ABC profits from its mixed-beverage sales. Its passage will enhance our quality of place and promote tourism by increasing quality restaurant choices. More eateries in our lively Main Streets and new commercial centers will attract quality retail choices, hotels and additional sales tax revenues to support schools, outdoor amenities and culture needed to entice innovative growth companies and high-paying jobs.

Admittedly, there are some who oppose it on false fears. Some say DWIs will increase. Au contraire. We already have off- and on-premises beer and wine sales, ABC liquor stores and private mixed-beverage clubs everywhere. Every county surrounding Chatham allows mixed-beverage restaurants. Residents will no longer have to drive outside the county for a drink with their meal and risk driving home under the influence. Others worry about dangerous honky-tonks. Facts belie that fear. There are extremely strict license and safety requirements, including that 30 percent of restaurant revenues must come from food sales. Chatham residents can veto licenses that are “detrimental” to the community. Finally, those who fear ugly franchises must recall that controlling the quality of our community can only be protected by electing smart-growth local officials.

Now that we’ve convinced you, don’t forget to vote May 5th at your normal polling place; or vote early, starting Thursday at the Board of Elections’ office in Pittsboro (8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays). To learn more, see chathamvote4mixedbeverages.org.

Jeffrey Starkweather is PRO campaign advisor, Chatham County Economic Development Corporation Board, and Randy Voller is mayor of Pittsboro and PRO chair.

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