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Candidate fields grow crowded in local races

Posted on July 14, 2011July 14, 2011 by Susan Dickson

Sookram will challenge Kleinschmidt in race for mayor

By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

As the filing period for this fall’s municipal elections draws to a close, more candidates have signed up for the races, including Tim Sookram, who will challenge Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt.
Sookram, a web designer, moved to Chapel Hill about a year ago.
“I saw that … Mark Kleinschmidt was running unopposed,” he said. “I thought that I could have a shot and try to change things for the better here in Chapel Hill.”
Sookram said he would like to see expanded public transit service, improved parking downtown and more affordable housing in Chapel Hill.
“I’m just generally interested in politics and local politics in Chapel Hill and North Carolina in general,” he said.
Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton has also filed for reelection, but no one has announced an intent to run against him.
For Carrboro Board of Aldermen, former longtime board member Braxton Foushee joined the race this week. Foushee, who has recently served as Carrboro’s representative to the Orange Water and Sewer Authority board of directors, said he has disagreed with some of the board of aldermen’s decisions.
“My take is if you’re not of their persuasion, you’re not going to get them to hear you,” he said. “That’s the impression that I get.”
Foushee said items at the top of his agenda include rethinking development on North Greensboro Street and identifying solutions for the day laborers who gather at the corner of Jones Ferry and Davie roads.
Carrboro Board of Aldermen incumbents Dan Coleman and Lydia Lavelle and newcomer Michelle Johnson have also filed to run for seats on the board. Board member Joal Hall Broun has said she will not seek reelection.
For Chapel Hill Town Council, incumbents Donna Bell and Matt Czajkowski announced this week that they would seek reelection. Jon DeHart, who ran for council two years ago, has also filed for election.
DeHart has lived in Chapel Hill for seven years and has served on the Chapel Hill Transportation Board and was a member of the Chapel Hill Citizens Police Academy. He is a manager with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
DeHart said he wants to focus on three issues: “Housing affordability, sustainability – both environmental and economic – and public trust in our leaders and increasing transparency in local government.”
Bell, who was appointed to the council in December 2009, said she wants to focus on the economy, making sound decisions for the future and harnessing the power of diversity.
“I have 15 years experience as a nonprofit leader and educator listening and learning from communities to work with people to help solve problems and build collective capacity,” Bell said in a statement. “This is the role I want to continue to play on the council.”
Czajkowski said the economy will be a greater challenge for the council in coming years.
“I think that the demonstrated ability and willingness to address fiscal matters and other issues head on, to explain the logic of one’s decision, are criteria that every voter in Chapel Hill should be examining in regard to the candidates because that’s what we’re going to be doing,” he said.
In addition, Czajkowski wants to focus on getting a variety of residents involved in the revision of the town’s comprehensive plan, especially those who have never participated in town boards and committees before.
The candidates join Jason Baker, Augustus Cho, Laney Dale and Lee Storrow in the race for town council. The terms of Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward and council members Bell, Czajkowski and Sally Greene will expire this year, leaving four open seats. Ward has not announced his plans, while Greene said she will not seek reelection.
The filing period closes Friday.

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