When asked why I ran this year, I try to articulate a complex amalgam of reasons.
After more than four years of growing involvement in our Town’s affairs, years of research and advocacy on a range of issues, I had unintentionally qualified myself for a larger role in Town governance.
Joining the Technology Advisory Board, I was attempting to leverage one common denominator (or what should be a common denominator) in all our Town’s operations, technology, to address a range of issues: bridging the digital divide, increasing our operational efficiencies, improving our delivery of services, reducing our cost basis, opening the doors of governmental participation to a much wider segment of our community. While our board could help craft policy, we were missing a strong champion for those new policies. I was ready, willing and maybe uniquely qualified within the pool of candidates to champion a new way of doing our Town’s business.
Residing here for 14 years, an “informal Chapel Hillian” for over 26 years, I certainly realized that Chapel Hill hadn’t casually arrived at its current destination – that many hands had shaped our community – that many shoulders had borne its varied responsibilities. I thought “maybe it was my turn to show up” – to give back, as a Council member, to our community some of the largesse it had bestowed on myself, my family, my friends – to stand and deliver on behalf of all our citizenry.
I was prepared, I was ready to lead and maybe it just was my time to shoulder that responsibility.
All this is a long, long windup to my second (but not final) “How well do you know Chapel Hill?” puzzle! I apologize to my readers for not doing this sooner.
I selected this location on the eve of this election because it reflects, maybe best, why I jumped into the fray.
First person to accurately identify the place gets a beverage of their choice – maybe even this Tuesday night – compliments of your humble servant. Bonus points for relating any small reminiscence you might have sparked by the same location.
