Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 17:19:21 -0500
From: Diane Pettus
Subject: Tom Vanderbeck Announces Bid for Re-election in Chatham County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 2, 2010
Contact: Tom Vanderbeck 545-2150
Tom Vanderbeck announces bid for re-election as County Commissioner from District 4
Chatham County Commissioner Tom Vanderbeck announced today that he is seeking re-election. Vanderbeck, a Democrat, resides in District 4.
“In 2006, I ran on a campaign of open, honest government, sustainable economic development, thoughtful growth and quality schools,” Vanderbeck states. “I believe that we have turned Chatham County in the right direction and have made significant progress; however, there is much more to do to make Chatham the sustainable community we all desire.”
How Has Vanderbeck Led Chatham County in the Last Four Years?
Vanderbeck has been a leading advocate on the board for transparency in government, green economic development, sustainability and rural broadband access. He was recently appointed by the General Assembly to serve on the e-NC Authority, which promotes statewide rural broadband. Vanderbeck is currently the Vice Chair of the Triangle Area Regional Planning
Organization, and also serves on the Orange-Person-Chatham Mental Health Board, the Chatham Transit Network and county broadband committee. Additionally, he is the county board liaison to the Housing Advisory Board, the Housing Coalition of Chatham, the Green Building Task Force, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Green
Economy Task Force. He states, “Four years ago, we needed to bring county government back to its citizens. I enjoy working with my fellow commissioners tackling the issues that benefit all our lives.”
Commissioners Vanderbeck, Lucier and Thompson were overwhelmingly elected in 2006 on the same progressive, no-nonsense platform and are all running for re-election this year.
Commissioner Vanderbeck cites a number of key board accomplishments during his first three years in office: enacting a Code of Ethics and a conflict of interest policy for the Board of Commissioners; making Commissioner meetings and website more citizen-friendly and expanding citizen engagement; revitalizing the Economic Development Corporation; developing affordable
housing and farmland preservation plans; purchasing land for recreation; building and financing/upgrading public schools; approving a new Siler City community college campus and expansion of the Pittsboro campus; raising teacher supplements; and securing an interim water supply from the cities of Durham and Sanford while continuing to forge a framework for a regional
water treatment plant. In addition he says, “We have approved smart growth revisions of the zoning, subdivision, watershed protection, and soil and erosion control ordinances and enacted a new storm water protection ordinance.”
Vanderbeck emphasizes that the key to turning county government around has been teamwork. He says, “These accomplishments could not have been made without the expertise and extraordinary efforts of hundreds of dedicated volunteer citizens and hard work and commitment of our professional staff. It is because of their continued efforts, and a cohesive county board, that
I feel quite confident we can make even greater strides toward sustainability in the next four years.”
Vanderbeck’s Vision for Future Initiatives
Initiatives Vanderbeck would like to work towards in the next fours years include: continued improvement in communications; formation of a transportation advisory board; completion of comprehensive sustainability, farmland preservation and transportation plans; expansion of broadband access and affordable housing; cost savings for solid waste disposal;
attraction of higher wage jobs; continued school and recreation site land banking; additional expansion of “green” programs at the community college campuses; and greenhouse gas reduction and energy conservation.
Vanderbeck’s Family Tradition is Community-Centered
Vanderbeck and his wife, Laura, returned to North Carolina thirteen years ago and settled into a passive solar home they co-designed and built. Laura, a PhD psychologist, has a consulting and clinical practice in Pittsboro. Vanderbeck, who previously worked as a small-scale sustainable farmer along with his wife, now considers himself just a part-time gardener. He says that
serving as a commissioner is his full-time job.
For additional information please see: www.Vanderbeck4chatham.org (under construction)