: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:18:16 -0500
From: Jeffrey Starkweather
Subject: Fw: Civility won in Pittsboro Tuesday
Congratulations to all of the winners as well as to all the candidates and voters in Pittsboro. They were all winners because the candidates themselves all ran positive issue-oriented campaigns.
I attended the excellent candidates’ forum co-hosted by the League of Women Voters and the Pittsboro Merchants Association. I read the candidates’ literature and talked to several in depth about the issues both before and after the election. One of the things that struck me about this campaign was that every candidate pretty much had the same platform: downtown revitalization, managing growth to preserve small town character, promoting small business, investing in water, sewer and recreation for economic development, open government, inter-governmental cooperation.
Though I am personally pleased that the three candidates I supported were elected, all the winners will work well together with incumbents Michael Fiocco and Pamela Baldwin.
I am also impressed by the willingness of those who lost in this election to work cooperatively and collaboratively with the winners and incumbents in moving Pittsboro into the 21st century.
I had a number of long talks with Mayoral candidate Jim Nass and was impressed by his understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Pittsboro and his insight that improving quality of life is one of the keys to economic development here. I found Jim to be very thoughtful and friendly. This experienced was duplicated with all of the candidates I had an opportunity to converse with about the issues.
I was particularly gratified that town board candidates John Clifford and Ray Kelley came to where Voller, Foley and Turner were celebrating their victory and offered sincere congratulations. More importantly, Clifford and Kelley both volunteered to remain involved by working cooperatively with the new board. Clifford, of course, will continue as an important member of the planning board.
I look forward to everyone coming together to continue improving the quality of life and economic opportunities in Pittsboro.
Jeffrey Starkweather, 590 Old Goldston Road, Pittsboro