1. Please tell us about your background and explain why you are running for Orange County Commissioner. What experience, skills, and values do you bring to the board? Why should voters elect/re-elect you?
I am running for Orange County Commissioner, District 1, because my priorities are education, equity, economic development, and the environment. I understand the intersection of these priorities and know that meeting all needs is difficult with limited resources. I know that the approach of some county commissioners to neglect education undermines equity and economic development. A new approach is needed where commissioners listen and understand the needs and values of the whole community; work respectfully and in partnership with other elected officials; use our resources efficiently and effectively; and be transparent and accountable. In my careers as a PhD economist and master-level social worker, and with my service on the CHCCS school board, non-profit boards, the NAACP, and the Democratic Party, I have built bridges and pressed for effective solutions. Vote for me and I will use my experience and values to forge a more equitable and sustainable Orange County.
2. Historically, one of Orange County’s greatest assets has been the excellent quality of our K-12 public schools. However, many parents are becoming concerned that our public school buildings are aging and in need of repair and renovation. The Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC) is fully responsible for funding the maintenance for school buildings. How do you propose to address the backlog of deferred school maintenance projects?
We start with a strategic plan to address the backlog. Health and safety should be addressed first, which means prioritizing work on buildings with air quality issues, that are not ADA compliant, and that need security and safety features. Other issues include needed repairs, renovations, and replacement of older buildings. We need to consider of all the funding mechanisms for school facilities including increasing the share to schools of Article 46 and Article 42 sales tax revenue. We should use some of the ¼ cent climate tax for school facility improvements that would also reduce our carbon footprint. We should access all lottery funds and other state funding sources. Finally, we should ask the General Assembly to reinstate the authority of Orange County to levy impact fees on new construction and put a state school construction bond on the ballot.
3. GoTriangle recently released an outside evaluation by a national transit organization which described management problems related to the now defunct Durham-Orange light rail project. This report said that the Orange and Durham County Boards of Commissioners and GoTriangle failed to recognize the numerous warning signs that the project could not be completed and continued to spend public money on this dead end project. Throughout the DOLRT planning process the lack of transparency, accountability and local (county and town) control over funding decisions subordinated Orange County’s interests to those of Durham and GoTriangle. What changes to the decision-making process would you urge to address these problems? Link to the report. https://gotriangle.org/sites/default/files/publications/final_report_dolrt_gotriangle_11.5.19.pdf
The structure of the relationship between GoTriangle and Orange County is problematic and does not foster transparency and accountability. There needs to be a change where Orange County has more control of its transit tax funds to invest in ways that make sense for Orange County. In addition, I would follow the recommendations of the national transit organization. Staff capabilities should match the project needs, the board should know its oversight role and not be a cheerleader, and consultants should be managed and educated on local culture. There should be a clear communication plan with a chief in charge of key stakeholders and a focus on securing agreements with key stakeholders before agreeing to spend more money. The GoTriangle board should be more diverse, provide subject matter expertise, and institute checkpoints at which the project can be stopped or go in a different direction.
4. What actions and/or policy changes should the BOCC take to improve public transit service for Orange County residents and reduce congestion on our roadways?
I will bring an evidence-based approach to analyze transit decisions. I see improved bus service, including bus rapid transit system in key corridors, as a better solution than light rail for Orange County given the lower upfront cost and the flexibility for meeting the needs of a county with rural areas and urban centers. Key corridors include Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, 15-501, and east-west bus routes to I-40. Regional transit should eventually connect our population centers with area schools, public services, retail centers, and job centers in Chatham, Alamance, Durham, and Wake. In addition, the BOCC should support Chapel Hill Transit and Orange County Public Transportation in improving and expanding services.
5. The 1986 Joint Comprehensive Land Use Plan established urban service boundaries for the largest Orange County towns and a rural buffer. In your view, how does the existence of the rural buffer benefit Orange County? What costs does it impose? What changes, if any, would you support making to the 1986 Joint Comprehensive Land Use Plan?
The benefit of the rural buffer is that we have an adequate water supply, public services are not spread too thin, and urban sprawl is contained. The rural buffer also protects our environment through protecting trees and allowing corridors for wildlife to live and travel. The costs include that there is less land for residential and commercial development. This means more density in the urban centers and/or higher home prices. However, many cities and towns around the nation have a lack of affordable housing without a rural buffer. With less commercial development the tax base is less diverse. I would need to have a better understanding of the plan before commenting on any changes.
6. What actions and/or policy changes should the BOCC take to preserve and increase housing that is affordable for less affluent OC households, especially those earning below 60% of AMI?
The county has limited control over market forces when it comes to increasing housing prices. I think that the county should strive to achieve affordable housing for those with earnings below 60% of AMI through a wide range of solutions. These solutions could include preserving moderate-priced housing, rehabilitating existing homes, offering rental subsidy programs, and developing affordable housing that is targeted to low- and middle-income workers. As a commissioner, I would encourage owner-occupied affordable housing to foster household investment in the community and build individual wealth. Affordable housing should be spread as evenly across the county as possible with taking transit needs into consideration. To accomplish this goal, the BOCC will have to work in close partnership with the towns and non-profit agencies.
7. What actions and/or policy changes should the BOCC undertake to reduce carbon emissions in Orange County? What do you think is achievable within the next 3-5 years?
The BOCC can reduce the carbon footprint by deciding to use alternative energy sources in public buildings and vehicles including the public schools and by leveraging the Duke Energy solar incentive. It can use AIA-2030 standards for its own new and renovated buildings and can change zoning rules to require new developments to meet the same energy performance standards. It should provide electric charging stations at public locations including parks and park and ride lots. The BOCC also has a role in educating the public about alternative energy sources and energy-efficient buildings and can simplify the permitting and inspection process for solar systems. In addition, it can require a minimum amount of green space and support native grasses and trees. It should continue to track greenhouse emissions and advocate for Duke Energy and other power utilities to move to renewable energy sources.
8. What actions and/or policy changes should the BOCC take to conserve agricultural, forest and park land in Orange County?
I support the Land Legacy Program whose goal is to protect and preserve future parklands, lands of historic, cultural, or archaeological significance, natural areas, prime farmlands, and watershed riparian buffer lands. I believe that the plan for the next three years should include projects that protect trees, parks, and greenways in the more urban parts of Orange County. Orange County can directly conserve more valuable land by developing less of the Greene Tract. The BOCC should work closely with the towns on land conservation and park development and make sure it solicits public input.