Quotes

"The argument that Northwood won't be filled up is crazy"

- Commissioner George Lucier's comment. BOE member Deb McManus said northeastern Chatham is not growing as fast as predicted. Northwood, she said, is supposed to get only 60 new students before the new high school opens. - 7/19/07

"The legal issues presented by moratoria are numerous and potentially subject a governing board to legal liability."
- County Attorney Kevin Whiteheart wrote in a two-page letter denying The News & Observer's public records request for minutes from closed-session meetings where commissioners discussed the county's development moratorium on large subdivisions. - 6/07

"They have to release the minutes, and if they get sued, they get sued. A potential plaintiff has the right to know what they did in that meeting."
- Cathy Packer, who teaches media law at UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the threat of a suit is not a basis for withholding the minutes from closed-session meetings where commissioners discussed the county's development moratorium on large subdivisions. 6/07

"We will do our best to implement new policies that will make this administration the most open in Chatham County history."
- Chairman Carl Thompson makes the claim in a county press release 13 days after the News and Observer asked for the release of closed session minutes concerning the moratorium ordinance. 6/19/07

"I don't know what we're going to do if we don't get this 1 percent."

Chatham County Commissioner Mike Cross, explaining the need for a proposal for a 1-percent land transfer tax that would help pay for county needs.

"We didn't open a business to just try it. You have to make it happen. So you adapt. If we only had antiques, I don't think we'd still be around."

Jacques Dufour, owner of French Connections, describing how his Pittsboro antiques and art shop has adapted to changing economic trends by de-emphasizing French antiques and selling more African art.

"You don't really expect to be on TV, especially not SportsCenter. It's a dream come true."

Siler City native Jordan Snipes is featured on SportsCenter for his game-winning 87-foot cross-court shot.

"This is credible expert information. Why anyone would refuse to listen to it is beyond me."

Booth Mountain neighbor Allison Weakley said the planning board voted without gathering enough public comment.

When I first started out serving and running, I indicated that I would do so long enough to have substantial influence. I'm able to do that now, and I think that's a benefit to my constituents."

- State Rep. Joe Hackney on his decision to run for a 13th term in the State House.

"I don't believe they would waste their time and money with staying around if they didn't believe they could fulfill it."

- Chatham Commissioner Bunkey Morgan, on developer Newland Communities' plans to submit a revised proposal for Briar Chapel, a massive mixed-use development in northern Chatham, now that a regulatory "compact communities ordinance" is in place.