County politicians endorse new leadership team for Pittsboro

By Chris Hinkle
Posted Thursday, October 4, 2007

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Pittsboro, NC - Five public officials have endorsed Randy Voller for Mayor and Michele Berger, Jim Hinkley and Gary Simpson for the Pittsboro Town Board.

Four public officials attended Pittsboro Together's campaign kick-off celebration last month to personally express their endorsements for our candidates in the Nov. 6 municipal election. County Commissioner Chair Carl Thompson, Vice-Chair George Lucier, County School Board member Kathie Russell and incumbent Pittsboro Town Board Commissioner Pamela Baldwin all spoke out enthusiastically for the Pittsboro Together candidates. County Commissioner Tom Vanderbeck was out of town but also sent his wholehearted greetings of support for the team.

Pittsboro Together is a grass roots political organization that endorses candidates for the municipal election on a platform of smart sustainable growth, “high road” economic development that seeks to attract clean industries paying good wages, downtown revitalization preserving our small town atmosphere, fiscally responsible investment in clean water and adequate sewer, and open government.

Carl Thompson was the first African American elected to county-wide office in Chatham since Reconstruction when he was elected county commissioner in 1978. After serving three terms, he was re-elected last year along with Lucier and Vanderbeck. They have vowed to work closely with Mayor Voller and Commissioner Baldwin, and encouraged voters to re-elect Voller and to support Michele Berger, Jim Hinkley and Gary Simpson to form a new majority on the Town Board. Pamela Baldwin was the first African American elected to office in 30 years and the first African American woman ever elected to the Town Board. Michele Berger would be the second.

You can meet the "can-do" team during First Sunday October 7 in downtown Pittsboro from 12 noon to 4 p.m. They are eager hear about your concerns and to share ideas and dreams for the future of the town we all love.

Christopher M. Hinkle is chairman of Pittsboro Together