The Daily Tar Heel's Endorsements for Orange County Commissioner

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified how many candidates in this primary for Board of Orange County Commissioners are people of color. There are two candidates who identify as people of color. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

Marcoplos knows ins and outs

Expanding Orange County’s housing options and reducing its enviornmental impacts are two of the most important issues of this election. Mark Marcoplos, who is running for at-large county commissioner in Orange County, has the experience to lead the County as it grapples with these growing issues. 

Marcoplos owns an advanced green building construction company that specializes in make enviornmentally friendly homes. This knowledge will be beneficial in creating new sustainable housing throughout Orange County. 

In addition to working in construction, he has experience adovating for afforable housing and serving within the local government. Currently he serves on the  Housing Authority Board. Previously, he has served as the director of the Orange Water and Sewer Authority and as a member of the county planning board.

Marcoplos has real plans to make the County more sustainable. He would serve the community well. 

Price fought for Rogers Road

Renee Price has served Orange County and District 2 well during her first term, and this editorial board believes she deserves a second.

Price is running for the one open seat in District 2, and her strong track record of advocating for the residents of the Rogers Road community — a historically low-income, black neighborhood that housed the county’s landfill for many years —means a lot to this board as the government still works to support this community. Price fought for the Rogers Road neighborhood and, we believe, will continue to fight for those who need it.

Price’s opponent, Bonnie Hauser, is not a bad candidate; however, she has views on some issues that this board sees as similar to the Chapel Hill Alliance for a Livable Town, and we are unsure if the county needs those views, too.

It is also worth noting that Price is one of only two people of color running for a seat on the Board of Commissioners and currently the only person of color sitting on the board. We believe in diversity in our government.

Dorosin has walked the walk

Mark Dorosin has earned this board’s endorsement for re-election because of his commitment to social justice in his advocacy on the board for underserved communities.

District 1 of Orange County is difficult to endorse in because there are three wonderful and eminently qualified candidates running for just two seats, but Dorosin has won voters’ trust.

He has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to social justice, but not only that, he has followed through with his vision of restorative justive for the Rogers-Eubanks community. We are impressed by the amount of time Dorosin spends advocating for ways to make amends to that community both on the board and off.

We were also impressed with his leadership on the board advocating for a greater allotment for affordable housing in the bond voters will assess in November. Like Dorosin, we would have liked to have seen more than $5 million, but we appreciate his advocacy nonetheless and would like to see it continued on the board.

Rich deserves re-election

Penny Rich’s outstanding record as Orange County Commissioner for District 1 has won her this editorial board’s endorsement for re-election.

We are particularly impressed by her advocacy for a greater share of a bond voters will see on their ballots in November to be allocated for affordable housing. Like her, we are disappointed that only $5 million was approved, but her advocacy for more shows why she is a valuable member of the board.

She has a holistic understanding of how the Board of County Commissioners can support a diverse and just community.

We are impressed by her responsiveness to the community. We are also pleased by her environmental record, which is stellar.

Jamezetta Bedford, who is challenging the two incumbents, is an excellent candidate with clear mastery of issues in the county. But she failed to demonstrate how she would be an improvement over her opponents. Voters are lucky to have such a wonderful slate of candidates to choose from.