Showing posts in the “Cary” category
Joe Schwartz ·
26 Jan 2010, 11:28 AM ·
Comment
Four victims of the Haitian earthquake are scheduled to arrive in the Triangle this morning to receive medical attention, according to a press release sent by the N.C. Division of Emergency Management.
The four, one of whom is accompanied by an uninjured child, are being transfered to North Carolina to receive treatment for burns as Florida hospitals cannot handle the massive overflow of Haitians in need of help.
Three will be sent to the UNC Hospitals’s Jaycee Burn Center. The other will be treated at the Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center. The patients, three men aged 24, 29 and 61 and a 54-year-old woman, were set to land at Raleigh-Durham International Airport this morning.
Cary, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Orange County, Wake County, national earthquake, Haiti, North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, UNC Hospitals, Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center
Lisa Sorg ·
3 Nov 2009, 9:30 PM ·
Comment
Republican incumbent Jennifer Robinson has defeated Democratic challenger Lori Bush by 269 votes in the runoff election for Cary Town Council District A. The margin of victory is 53 percent to 46 percent, or 2,170 votes to 1,901, according to unofficial results from the Wake County Board of Elections.
In the primary, Robinson won by 244 votes, but did not receive 50 percent of the vote, which gave Bush the right to call for a runoff. Some political observers speculated that Republicans might stay home since the Wake County school board race was decided in October; that could have boosted Bush’s chances of winning.
Cary, politics Cary Town Council District A, Jennifer Robinson, Lori Bush
Lisa Sorg ·
6 Oct 2009, 8:51 PM ·
Comment
Incumbent Jennifer Robinson squeaked by challenger Lori Bush by 247 votes, but it may not be enough to thwart a runoff. According to unofficial results from the Wake County Board of Elections, with 11 precincts reporting, Robinson received 49.47 percent of the vote, compared with 42.54 for Bush.
Under election rules, the second-place finisher can ask for a runoff if the first-place finisher doesn’t receive 50 percent plus 1 of the vote.
According to the Bush campaign, the candidate and her advisers are considering asking for a runoff.
A runoff election would be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Robinson, a Republican, won her 1,763 votes by clinching eight of the district’s 11 precincts and tying with Bush in two. Bush, a Democrat, won one precinct and received 1,516 votes.
Cynthia Sinkez received 5.1 percent of the vote with 184 votes; Terry Thorne got 2.7 percent, or 98 votes. Their combined 282 votes could make the difference in a Bush-Robinson runoff.
Robinson could not be immediately reached for comment.
In District C, Jack Smith won by nearly a 2-1 margin with 65 percent of the vote over Catherine Evangelista.
In the at-large race, Julie Robison ran unopposed, garnering nearly 79 percent of the vote after her challenger, Philip Scarsella, dropped out of the race.
Check back Wednesday for news on the possible runoff. The Indy will endorse in runoff elections in the Oct. 14 issue.
Cary, politics Catherine Evangelista, Cynthia Sinkez, Jack Smith, Jennifer Robinson, Lori Bush, runoff, Terry Thorne
Lisa Sorg ·
6 Oct 2009, 8:04 PM ·
Comment
In District A, Town Council incumbent Jennifer Robinson leads Lori Bush by 202 votes with nine of 11 precincts reporting. Cynthia Sinkez has 165 votes; Terry Thorne has 90.
In Distict C, incumbent Jack Smith has an 859-vote lead over Catherine Evangelista with 80 percent of the precincts reporting.
Cary, politics Catherine Evangelista, Cynthia Sinkez, Jack Smith, Jennifer Robinson, Lori Bush, Terry Thorne
Lisa Sorg ·
24 Sep 2009, 3:47 PM ·
11 Comments
A Wake County voter has filed a complaint with the state board of elections regarding District A Cary Town Councilwoman Jennifer Robinson’s campaign finance reports. Read the complaint here:
In his complaint, Van W. Kloempken formerly of DavisHighHouse.org , a citizens’ group supporting Lori Bush, Robinson’s challenger, raises questions about Robinson’s seemingly feeble campaign finances–feeble, , until after the mandatory reporting period passes.
He uses the 2005 campaign as an example, when she reported that she received just $295 during the election cycle as of Sept. 1.Then after the mandatory reporting period, she raised more than $16,000. Kloempken alleges Robinson, a Republican, either accepted donations and held them until after the reporting deadline passed or her backers were told to wait until after the deadline to write checks. He contends that the delay helped Robinson, in that it kept the public from knowing her who backers are.
In an interview with the Indy, Robinson vigorously denied withholding financial information until after the reporting period. “To say they were held or manipulated to deceive people is completely false,” Robinson said. “The way I run my campaign is I raise only what I need. I determine what my expenses are and I shoot out an e-mail saying, ‘I have these expenses to pay.’”
As for her contributions from developers, Robinson said, “No contribution would influence me to make a decision.”
In this election, Robinson reported raising $1,450 as of Sept. 1. Her latest report is online on the Indy’s election page.
Cary, politics campaign finance, Cary Town Council, Jennifer Robinson, Lori Bush, N.C. Board of Elections complaint, Van Kloempken
Lisa Sorg ·
31 Aug 2009, 9:50 AM ·
1 Comment
At-large incumbent Julie Robison and District A challenger Lori Bush have received the endorsement of DavisandHighhouse.org, a Cary citizens group.
Robison is running unopposed; Bush faces incumbent Republican Jennifer Robinson.
The organization formed in 2007 to oppose the a dense development proposed for the intersection of Davis Drive and High House Road.
DavisandHighhouse.org did not endorse in District C, which pits incumbent Jack Smith, a Republican, against Catherine Evangelista, a Democrat.
Robison and Smith both were endorsed last week by the Sierra Club’s Capital Area chapter. However, that group did not endorse in District A.
Cary, politics Catherine Evangelista, DavisandHighHouse.org, Jack Smith, Julie Robison, Lori Bush
Lisa Sorg ·
17 Jul 2009, 12:18 PM ·
1 Comment
If elections are the ultimate (sur)reality show, Susana L. Dancy, who filed for Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board, is qualified to at least run for office. In Season 1 of the Fox Reality TV show, “Worlds Apart,” Dancy, her husband, Jim Rogalski, and their three children, Marshall, Taylor and Helen, “are transplanted from their pristine new home in an upscale section of Chapel Hill to live in a communal longhouse with the Tinsang family of the Iban tribe in the remote jungles of Malaysia,” the show’s Web site reads. It goes on:
“Emong Tinsang and his wife, Sendie, greet the Dancy-Rogalskis with a pig that Jim must sacrifice in order to ward off evil spirits – and the adventure begins. Susana, the only breadwinner at home, grapples with the domestic responsibilities expected of her, as Jim comes face-to-face with his mid-life crisis. Marshall and Taylor are thrust into the world of Iban manhood, and little Helen serves as the voice of reason when the family has a heated discussion. New rituals, animal sacrifices and a shamanist culture test the Dancy-Rogalskis both physically and spiritually, while a cockfight, a naming ceremony and an American birthday celebration bring them closer as a family and to the Iban tribe.”
Sorry we missed it.
Until yesterday, it appeared that the Carrboro Board of Aldermen contest was going to be a snoozer, with three candidates running for three seats. Well, rise and shine: Sharon Cook who serves on the planning board and ran unsuccessfully for a board seat in 2007, is vying again for an alderman seat. She lives in the Highlands neighborhood of north Carrboro, which was forcibly annexed by the town in 2006, angering many residents in that area.
In Cary, Philip Scarsella, a controller at NeoNova Network Services in RTP, has filed to run against incumbent Julie Robison for an at-large seat on the town council. Meanwhile, District A has a new candidate, Lori Bush, whose Twitter page says she has an “insatiable curiosity for intersection of technology, public good, and fun.” John Harvilla Jr., a member of the Western Wake Republican Club, is running in District C.
Bonner Gaylord has competition in Raleigh City Council District E, and will face fellow planning commissioner Waheed Raq, Haq, who also was appointed to the N.C. Ethics Commission by Gov. Mike Easley in 2003. Because we know you’re wondering, Raq was born in Pakistan, but became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002. He received his master’s degree in engineering from N.C. State University.
Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, politics elections, Jim Rogalski, John Harvilla Jr., Lori Bush, Philip Scarsella, Sharon Cook, Susana Dancy, Waheed Raq, Worlds Apart reality show
Matt Saldaña ·
13 Jul 2009, 11:35 AM ·
8 Comments
Cary resident Lois Nixon announced her campaign today for Wake County Board of Education in District 9. As of 11 a.m., Nixon had not yet filed.
In a press release (DOC, 40KB), Nixon listed her experience as former director of Wake County Keep America Beautiful, and a certified environmental educator.
Meanwhile, Durham Ward 2 Councilman Howard Clement has a third challenger–relative unknown Sandra Howell, who filed this morning.
Also, Bull City Rising is reporting that Donald Hughes will challenge City Councilwoman Cora Cole-McFadden for Ward 1 in Durham.
Hughes, a frequent speaker at city and county meetings, is the son of former Councilwoman Jackie Wagstaff. As BCR notes:
Wagstaff herself lost a re-election bid for Council in 2001 to Cole-McFadden — the very candidate her son finds himself challenging eight years later.
Hughes has spoken passionately on a wide range of topics, including education and jobs creation. He sided with developers during the contentious April 13, 2009 vote on whether to conduct a public hearing to change Jordan Lake’s boundaries in order to accommodate a 164-acre mixed-use project, citing the potential for an increased tax base. Oddly, Hughes said that since Durham does not currently use Jordan Lake as a drinking-water source, the lake’s water quality should not be factored into the county’s decision. Durham purchased water from Jordan Lake during the 2007-08 drought.
“It’s been presented time and time again that this project is going to affect water quality in Durham. Durham’s water does not come from Jordan Lake; to present this as harming Durham’s water quality is false,” Hughes said at the meeting.
Hughes will kickoff his campaign on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., in the parking lot of the old Winn-Dixie at Hopkins Street & Alston Avenue, his campaign’s Facebook page has announced.
If you want a sneak preview, a commercial under Hughes’ name has been listed on YouTube, and a campaign brochure under the same name has been uploaded to scribd.com.
Cary, Durham, Durham County, Wake County, environment, politics 751 Assemblage, Cora Cole-McFadden, donald hughes, elections, Howard Clement, jackie wagstaff, jordan lake, lois nixon, sandra howell
Lisa Sorg ·
8 Jul 2009, 1:20 PM ·
Comment
Two days down, eight to go: Candidate filing for the 2009 election opened Monday, with candidates seeking the top spot as Chapel Hill mayor and duels brewing in Durham Ward 2 and on the Wake County school board.
In Raleigh Council District D, incumbent Thomas Crowder is expected to run against architect Ted Van Dyk, who had not filed as of press time, but has announced he will soon. Two at-large seats are up for grabs Bill Shakespeare, Ricky Lee Sartain and Robert Claris hope to dethrone incumbents Russ Stephenson and Mary-Ann Baldwin, who plan to run as well.
The board of education candidate list is packed. (See “Wake school board race takes shape,” June 27.) Deborah Vair and Rita Rakestraw will spar in District 1, while John Tedesco, Horace Tart and Cathy Truitt go head-to-head-to-head in District 2. Karen Simon has filed in District 7 and Ray Martin has staked his claim for District 9.
In Cary, incumbent Julie Robison is seeking re-election to an at-large seat, with Cynthia Sinkez and incumbent Jack Smith filing for District A and C, respectively.
So much for rumors that Mike Woodard would run for Durham mayor: The councilman is seeking a second term in Ward 3, which includes parts of north and west Durham. Meanwhile, in southern Durham, Ward 2 voters can choose, so far, between incumbent Howard Clement III, who’s running for a seventh term, and Durham County Libertarian Party Chairman Matt Drew.
Early voting for these races (Durham’s is a primary) begins Sept. 17. Election Day is Oct. 6, with runoffs, if necessary, on Nov. 3. The Indy’s endorsements issue will be published Sept. 16. Wake Board of Elections and the Durham Board of Elections have additional information.
This is the first year for voter-owned election funding in Chapel Hill, which adds to the intrigue, since Mayor Kevin Foy is not running for re-election. Under the pilot program, mayoral and town candidates can qualify for public funds maximum $9,000 for mayoral candidates, $3,000 for council candidates.
To be eligible, mayoral candidates must declare they haven’t collected more than $1,500 in seed money since Jan. 1; that limit for participating town council candidates is $750. Subsequently, mayoral and council hopefuls can raise and spend $4,500 and $2,250 in qualified contributions, respectively. Qualified contributions are those made by Chapel Hill residents in amounts from $5-$20. Once those requirements are met, the candidates qualify for public funds.
Vying for the top job is Town Councilman Mark Kleinschmidt, who works as an attorney at the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, is expected to run, although he has yet to file. First-term Town Councilman Matt Czajkowski, who had not attended a town council meeting before he was elected in 2007, hasn’t yet filed but will reportedly try to out-conservative Augustus Cho, a bigwig in Orange County’s small GOP circles who lost in the Congressional District 4 Republican primary to Cary’s B.J. Lawson.
For Town Council, Gene Pease has said he will run, while Penny Rich, who was unsuccessful in her last bid, has filed and will take advantage of the voter-owned election funding. A new group, Citizens For Responsible Government, composed of some top developers and longtime players in Chapel Hill—Omar Zinn, Phil Post and Bruce Ballentine—has stated it “expects to play a significant role” in Chapel Hill’s elections.
In Carrboro, incumbents Jacquie Gist and Randee Haven-O’Donnell are running for another term on the Board of Aldermen, while activist Sammy Slade is looking to occupy the seat of John Herrera, who is not running for re-election. All these candidates have pledged to raise no more than $3,000.
Just one person has filed so far for the three vacant seats on Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board: Michelle Brownstein. She has taken the $3,000 pledge.
Tom Stevens is running for his third term as Hillsborough mayor. He has pledged to accept the $3,000 limit on campaign contributions. Likewise, Mike Gering plans to run his campaign on the cheap, less than $3,000, as he for runs for re-election to Hillsborough’s town commission.
In Chatham County, no one has yet taken the plunge for Town Council, although incumbent Mayor Randy Voller is running; he will face at least one challenger, William Crawford.
Durham, Orange and Chatham counties hold early voting Oct. 15-31, with Election Day Nov. 3. The Indy will endorse in those races, and any Wake County runoffs, in the Oct. 14 edition.
The Orange County Board of Elections and Chatham County Board of Elections have additional information. Look for daily updates as candidates continue to file.
Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Orange County, Raleigh, Wake County, politics Augustus Cho, Bill Shakespeare, Citizens for Responsible Government, Cynthia Sinkez, elections, Gene Pease, Howard Clement III, Jack Smith, Jacquie Gist, Julie Robison, Mark Kleinschmidt, Mary-Ann Baldwin, Matt Czajkowski, Matt Drew, Michelle Brownstein, Mike Gering, Mike Woodard, Penny Rich, Randee Haven-O'Donnell, Ricky Lee Sartain, Robert Claris, Russ Stephenson, Sammy Slade, Ted Van Dyk, Thomas Crowder, Tom Stevens
Matt Saldaña ·
8 May 2009, 6:58 PM ·
Comment
Just in time for next Monday’s appearance before the House Judiciary I Committee, the Bill Formerly Known as “Disapprove Jordan Lake Rules” (HB 239) has been freshly minted “Restore Water Quality in Jordan Reservoir.” The original version of the bill would have done just the opposite, by rejecting the N.C. Environmental Management Commission’s strategy to restore the polluted lake to federal Clean Water Act compliance. Earlier drafts of a compromise bill that the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources ironed out last week would have allowed the EMC’s rules to go forward, but weakened critical pollution controls, and delayed their implementation by up to 17 years.
According to Elizabeth Ouzts, state director for Environment North Carolina, a newer version of the compromise bill now contains improved environmental protections to go along with that fancy new name.
“It’s all about, ‘Do you meet water quality standards or not?’” she said in an interview.
Specifically, the timelines for determining whether sub-watersheds are responsible for pollution controls, and implementing those controls, have been reduced by three years. An additional check-point for the Upper New Hope Creek Arm–which first placed Jordan Lake on the EPA’s Impaired Waters list in 2002, due to excess nutrients–has also been bumped up by three years. And language that would have exempted that sub-watershed, which includes the City of Durham, from enacting critical pollution-reduction measures due to cost concerns has been eliminated, Ouzts said.
The Cities of Durham and Greensboro have been lobbying the Legislature to minimize the EMC’s ability to regulate pollution that results from existing development, arguing that such controls would be financially burdensome for local governments. Ouzts said this latest revision reflects a compromise between that position, and environmentalists seeking protections for the lake.
“It’s not quite as far off from the original [EMC] rules,” she said.
The Judiciary I Committee meets Monday, May 11, at 3 p.m., in LB 1228 to discuss HB 239. If passed, the bill will then come up for a vote on the House floor–where another round of budget vs. environment is sure to take place.
Cary, Chatham County, Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, Orange County, Wake County, environment, media jordan lake, jordan lake rules, NC General Assembly
