Disability Rights, Transit Advocate Isaac Woolsey Files to Run for Carrboro Town Council

A second candidate has entered their name into the special election for a short-term seat on the Carrboro Town Council.

Isaac Woolsey, a disability rights activist and self-described autistic comedian, filed to run for the open seat on the council last Thursday. He joins digital library director Cristóbal Palmer in the race, which seeks to fill the unfinished term of Barbara Foushee created when she was elected as mayor in the fall of 2023.

Woolsey — a Carrboro resident of five years — is a first-time candidate for public office and says accessibility throughout the town and Orange County is his main priority. Diagnosed with a stigmatism in both eyes, he says he cannot operate an vehicle and relies on the public transit system to navigate the community — but recent changes have made it harder for him to travel.

“The [Chapel Hill Transit system] used to run on weekdays till 11 p.m. and on weekends [would] run 6-8 p.m. every 40 minutes,” Woolsey wrote to Chapelboro in a statement. “Three years ago the buses stopped running at 7:30 p.m. on the weekdays because of the pandemic and it has not been restored since. I could not get a job for the longest time because of this but I would see people with cars driving around all hours of the day and night unimpeded.”

Woolsey said he has discussed bus availability with council members in both Carrboro and Chapel Hill, since Chapel Hill Transit is jointly funded by the two towns and UNC. He added he has attended meetings and organized protests about the topic, and has ideas on how to recruit and retain more drivers to allow for routes to run at later hours.

“I’m also a big proponent of disability rights,” the Carrboro resident said, “and would fight for equal job opportunities for disabled residents and also try to have more group homes for people with disabilities and mental illness to have a place to stay in a safe dignified way. Also, I will try to get more affordable housing built in Carrboro.”

The filing period for the Carrboro Town Council’s special election will remain open through 12 p.m. on Friday, July 5. More information about running as a candidate in Orange County can be found on the Board of Elections’ “Filing for Office” webpage. Early voting for the fall races — at federal, state and local government levels — begins on Thursday, October 17 in North Carolina.

Featured photo via the Town of Carrboro.

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Disability Rights, Transit Advocate Isaac Woolsey Files to Run for Carrboro Town Council

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