Board looks to fill in blank

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the last day to apply to become the newest Carrboro alderman, 12 individuals had submitted applications.

When the aldermen sit down to peruse the forms and interview the applicants, they will be looking for one thing above all: someone open to teamwork - though not necessarily someone who agrees with every one of the current board members' positions.

"They have to be able to go beyond their own political base and serve everyone," said Alderman Jacquelyn Gist.

Gist said that means a sound understanding of the community as a whole is essential.

"You can't govern a place that you don't know or that you only know one part of," she said.

But Alderman Joal Hall Broun wasn't ready to say Carrboro experience is a must.

Instead, she wants an applicant with "a willingness to work," though she did name one specific view:

"Affordable housing is a big thing," she said.

Mayor Mark Chilton, whose vacated alderman position the applicants are vying for, said that long experience in Carrboro isn't a must, noting that he himself has only lived in the town for five years.

But he did say an appreciation of the town's situation is necessary.

"The biggest thing that I'm looking for is probably somebody who has done some fairly deep thinking about the future of our town," he said.

The applicant pool from which the board will look for that deep-thinking team player is far from homogeneous.

Four of the 12 live in an area north of Carrboro that will be annexed - despite substantial efforts by its residents - Jan. 31. Three unsuccessful candidates from November's elections applied, as did four women. The youngest applicant to list an age is 35 and the oldest is 60.

The application asks for contact information, community activities and which boards the applicants served on, among other criteria.

An attached form asks questions dealing with the town's Capital Improvement Plan, ordinance changes, diversity, leadership, public problem solving and applicants' top priorities.

The applicants took a variety of approaches to the questions.

Stephen Clossick listed "September" as his birthday; Katrina Ryan omitted the occupation field, but added her education, a Bachelor's of Fine Arts from Northwestern University. David Beck and Albert Vickers included resumes.

When asked for their top three priorities, most respondents wrote three short paragraphs, but others filled up almost an entire page.

The applications, which combined run almost 70 pages, will be digested by the aldermen before they hold a public forum Jan. 19 to interview the applicants.

 

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.