Occupation: Attorney and Executive Director of the Fair Trial Initiative

Political (or relevant) experience:

Served on Chapel Hill Town Council since December, 2001.
Chair of the Council Economic Development Committee, Chair of the Council Communications Committee, Co-Chair of the Rogers Road Small Area Task Force and Council Liaison to several boards and commissions.
Member of the ACLU of North Carolina Board of Directors, President 2008-2009
Former member of EqualityNC Board of Directors 2001-2004* Active member of the Democratic Party.
Support consumer confidence for the town by being a visible advocate.
Bring his experience working with economics on the council.
Continue to be active with the economic development office.

Mark Kleinschmidt

Sarah Morayati

12/08/2009

Gene Pease was one of two new council members sworn in.

11:15 p.m. Dec. 8. - Due to a reporting error, this story incorrectly stated that none of the 10 Town Council applicants have served before. Applicants Joe Capowski and Lee Pavao are former council members. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

New mayor, council step in

Sarah Morayati

12/08/2009

Penny Rich said listening will be most important for new members.

New mayor, council step in

Sarah Morayati

12/08/2009

Mark Kleinschmidt officially took the reigns as mayor Monday.

Mayor-elect to take office

Mark Abadi

12/07/2009

Tonight, Mark Kleinschmidt will inherit a town that almost didn’t vote him into office.

But Kleinschmidt, who will be sworn in at tonight’s Town Council meeting, said any tension created during the campaign has faded and he can now focus on town issues.

“It’s great being able to have this time to take that running start,” he said. “I’m ready to get to work.”

Label him a winner

Matthew McGibney

11/04/2009

As Mark Kleinschmidt waited Tuesday his mother reassured him:“Either way, you’re a winner in my book.” DTH/Ali Cengiz

10:40 a.m. Nov. 4 - The original version of this story cited election result numbers that only included Orange County precincts. The Chapel Hill mayoral and town council races also draw votes from one precinct in Durham County. This story has been updated to reflect the numbers being reported by the State Board of Elections, which reports on election results from all counties (Scroll to view the Chapel Hill race).

In a polarizing mayoral campaign between “establishment” and “pro-business” candidates, the man labeled as the embodiment of current policies won.

After serving eight years on the Town Council, Mark Kleinschmidt won the tight race with 48.62 percent of the vote.

In the aftermath of the divisive campaign, Kleinschmidt said cooperation will be necessary to build on the successes of Kevin Foy’s term.

Label him a winner

Matthew McGibney

11/04/2009

Czajkowski supporters anxiously refreshed a computer screen as votes came in and he fell behind Kleinschmidt.DTH/Reiley Wooten

In a polarizing mayoral campaign between “establishment” and “pro-business” candidates, the man labeled as the embodiment of current policies won.

After serving eight years on the Town Council, Mark Kleinschmidt won the tight race with 48.62 percent of the vote.

In the aftermath of the divisive campaign, Kleinschmidt said cooperation will be necessary to build on the successes of Kevin Foy’s term.

Label him a winner

Matthew McGibney

11/04/2009

Augustus Cho came in a distant third in the race. DTH/Anika Anand

In a polarizing mayoral campaign between “establishment” and “pro-business” candidates, the man labeled as the embodiment of current policies won.

After serving eight years on the Town Council, Mark Kleinschmidt won the tight race with 48.62 percent of the vote.

In the aftermath of the divisive campaign, Kleinschmidt said cooperation will be necessary to build on the successes of Kevin Foy’s term.

Chapel Hill mayor's race too close to call

By Matthew McGibney

11/02/2009

Poll data released by Public Policy Polling, a left-leaning political organization located in Raleigh, shows a Chapel Hill mayoral race that is too close to call.

Candidates talk politics over golf

Kelly Poe

10/27/2009

William Thorpe Jr. introduces candidates in the election during the inaugural Bill Thorpe Golf Classic. DTH/Jessica Crabill

Candidates for the upcoming municipal elections gathered to talk golf and politics Monday during a reception following the Bill Thorpe Golf Classic.

William Thorpe Jr., son of the former Chapel Hill council member Bill Thorpe Sr., organized the event in memory of his father, who died last year.

Fifteen of the 17 candidates for mayor, Chapel Hill Town Council and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education gave minute-long speeches in honor of Bill Thorpe.

Candidates defend stances

Sarah Morayati

10/08/2009

More than 50 students and residents attended a forum Tuesday in hopes that Chapel Hill mayoral candidates could offer new solutions to local problems.

The Daily Tar Heel, WCHL 1360, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and Empowerment, Inc. sponsored the forum, which was moderated by former mayor Rosemary Waldorf.

It was one of several forums Augustus Cho, Matt Czajkowski, Mark Kleinschmidt and Kevin Wolff will use to publicize plans.

Matthew McGibney

10/08/2009

In Chapel Hill Town Council meetings, mayoral candidate Mark Kleinschmidt has restated issues and crafted positions so the rest of the council would approve them, other members said.

If elected mayor, he said he’ll keep doing the same thing.

“He did it in a way to bring everyone to table, instead of causing divisions,” said Sally Greene, who has served on the council with Kleinschmidt for six years. “He was able to use his lawyerly skills.”

Kleinschmidt, a criminal defense lawyer, said his eight years on the council would make him the most effective mayor.

Mayoral candidates target students

Taylor Hartley

10/07/2009

Mayoral candidates Mark Kleinschmidt, Augustus Cho, Matt Czajkowski and Kevin Wolff debate Tuesday. DTH/Katherine Vance

Mayoral candidates delved into their college pasts as they clamored for votes from students at Tuesday’s debate.

UNC Young Democrats and College Republicans collaborated to host the event with the goal of overcoming student apathy.

All four candidates were asked about student involvement in the upcoming election and issues such as development and safety.

College Republicans chairman John Eick said he hoped the meeting counteracted voter apathy.

Christoffer O'Connor

09/25/2009

Candidates for Chapel Hill government met at University Presbyterian Church on Thursday to discuss downtown parking and development.

Hosted by Friends of Downtown, the forum showcased the four mayoral candidates and the eight Town Council candidates.

Several of the candidates cited Durham’s policy of offering free parking as an example of a successful parking plan.

Many candidates stressed the need to streamline the process of opening a business and reduce its cost in order for downtown to develop.

Mayoral candidates

Wolff rejects ‘moral’ poll

Ben Allison

09/23/2009

Chapel Hill mayoral candidate Kevin Wolff threatened Tuesday to sue any member of the media who reports that his campaign has participated in a discussion regarding morality in the election.

Throughout the past week, residents have voiced surprise about telephone polls they said labeled Wolff as “the only candidate who can change the council” and “the only moral candidate.”

Mayor candidates debate end to homelessness

Matthew McGibney

09/11/2009

Businesses have seen fewer panhandlers, and arrests have fallen in the last couple of years. Chapel Hill mayoral candidates will have to give their ideas for continuing the trend this election season.

Several measures, like the Orange County 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and the Real Change from Spare Change program have reduced the number of panhandlers, said Jim Norton, executive director of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership.

Mark Kleinschmidt

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