Showing posts tagged “Matt Pohlman”

Seven applicants make case for Strom seat

Joe Schwartz · 9 Dec 2009, 10:15 PM · 1 Comment


CHAPEL HILL — As Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ward discussed the particulars of the time limit —what the different colored lights meant, etc. — during Monday night’s special Chapel HIll Town Council meeting, Jason Baker, who moderated the Sierra Club’s municipal election forum, remarked, “This is quickly becoming as much fun as your forums.”

Though Baker was one of seven candidates vying for office, each having applied to fill the remaining two years of resigned Councilman Bill Strom’s seat, the meeting set for each of them to make their case took on a distinctly non-forum tone.

Two candidates, including Baker, advocated against themselves. One told his life story. Another said he was conflicted about leaving his name in the applicant pool. 

Each of them — Baker, Donna Bell, Joe Capowski, H. Brock Page, Matt Pohlman, Will Raymond and Aaron Shah — had seven minutes to make their case. Some pointed to experience on boards and committees, some to November election totals, and others to racial diversity. The council plans to make its appointment Monday night. Continue reading »

Chapel Hill, Orange County, politics , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A relieved and jubilant Kleinschmidt basks in Chapel Hill mayoral win

Joe Schwartz · 4 Nov 2009, 3:31 AM · Comment


*Reporter’s note: Scroll to the bottom if you want the quickie results from Election Day (no suprises in Carrboro or Hillsborough. CHCCS followed the Indy endorsement. Chapel Hill Town Council went to Penny Rich, Ed Harrison, Laurin Easthom and Gene Pease). If you’d like to read a scene-setting piece from Chapel Hill Mayor-elect Mark Kleinschmidt’s victory party, then read on.

Councilman Mark Kleinschmidt celebrates is victory as his twin sister clutches his shoulder and his mom bursts into tears.

Councilman Mark Kleinschmidt celebrates his mayoral victory as his twin sister clutches his shoulder and his mom bursts into tears.

 

Supporters erupted. His mother burst into tears. His sister shouted. Mark Kleinschmidt just smiled contently, arms crossed but giving the kind of ear-to-ear grin you could feel across the room, satisfaction and disbelief merging together on his face. The campaign had just received word that rival Matt Czajkowski had made his concession speech at the Franklin Hotel. 

The progressive bloc had won. They’d just escaped a new, moderate business-centered group gaining traction and council seats. Not so fast.

Word came back that one precint, Patterson, was yet to report. Kleinschmidt was up a scant 168 votes. The jubiliation turned to shocked concern. It was too close to call.

“I don’t want a Dewey defeats Truman headline,” Kleinschmidt warned reporters at his R&R Grill party. The pack of local politicos returned to the laptop, clicking refresh again and again. 

Moments later, the candidate’s ever-buzzing cell phone went off once more. It was Mayor Kevin Foy calling to congratulate him.

Kleinschmidt cautioned him, but thanked him for his support. Then the results flashed on the TV screens. It was final — Kleinschmidt had won.

Continue reading »

Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Orange County, politics , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Poll finds Chapel Hill municipal races neck and neck

Joe Schwartz · 2 Nov 2009, 2:15 PM · 1 Comment


The race for Chapel Hill mayor is too close to call between Matt Czajkowski and Mark Kleinschmidt, according to a poll released today by Public Policy Polling. The councilmen have 45 and 44 percent, respectively, with a 4 percent margin of error. Competitors Augustus Cho and Kevin Wolff each have 3 percent.

The survey found incumbent Ed Harrison (12 percent), Gene Pease (11 percent) and first-term Councilwoman Laurin Easthom (10 percent) leading the race for four seats on the Chapel Hill Town Council with Jon DeHart (9 percent) and Matt Pohlman (9 percent) battling Penny Rich (8 percent) and appointed Councilman Jim Merritt (7 percent) for fourth place. Will Raymond came in last at 3 percent.

The poll was conducted Saturday and Sunday with 30 percent of the 614 voters contacted responding as still undecided. Election Day is tomorrow.

Continue reading »

Chapel Hill, Orange County, politics , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Czajkowski, Bell, Chilton, Meeker and Enloe file in CH, Durham, Carrboro, Raleigh for mayor

Lisa Sorg · 9 Jul 2009, 11:48 AM · Comment


Is that the sound of a cash register? First term Chapel Hill Town Councilman Matt Czajkowski has filed for mayor of Chapel Hill; like fellow mayoral candidate Augustus Cho, he has not opted to participate in the voter-owned election program, allowing them to raise large sums for their campaigns.

Czajkowski loaned himself more than $17,000 for his 2007 town council campaign.

Town Councilman Mark Kleinschmidt is also expected to run, but has yet to file.

Update at 5 p.m.: Matt Pohlman has filed for Chapel Hill Town Council. He has not enrolled in the voter-owned election program. Mark Chilton has filed for Carrboro mayor

In other Orange County filings, Gary Wallach and MaryAnne Gucciardi are running for Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board.

In Durham, the Ward 2 race got more interesting as a third candidate, Sylvester Williams, a minister, is running against incumbent Howard Clement III and Libertarian Matt Drew.

Update at 5 p.m.: Incumbent Cora Cole-McFadden has filed for Durham City Council in Ward I.

And in the No Big Surprise department, incumbent Mayor Bill Bell is running for a fifth term, effectively dousing Mike Woodard’s mayoral aspirations this year. Woodard is running for re-election to City Council.

In Wake County, candidate filings for District 7 are popping up like mushrooms after a rain: Deborah Prickett and Jerry Ballan are running against Karen Simon.

Meanwhile Rodger Koopman is running for re-election in District B and Anthony Integlia is the sole person seeking the District C seat. 

Update at 5 p.m.: Chris Augustine has filed for Wake School Board District 2, bringing the candidate total in that race to four. In Cary, Jennifer Robinson will face Cynthia Sinkez in District A. 

In Raleigh, incumbent Mayor Charles Meeker filed for re-election; he’ll face Mark Enloe, who also filed today. Nancy MacFarlane is running for another term in Council District A; currently, the only district without a candidate is District E.

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