The Chapel Hill Town Council race is picking up another challenger candidate, as restauranteur Elizabeth Sharp announced her plans to run for office on Monday afternoon.

Sharp shared her intentions to file in the race through a press release, formally launching her campaign after indicating her interest in running. In her message, she referenced her perception of “shortsighted development” in Chapel Hill as the driving force behind her decision.

Photo via Elizabeth Sharp.

Sharp is the co-owner of Hawthorne & Wood and Bluebird — two restaurants in town that she owns with her husband, Brandon — and moved to the town in 2016. While she has not held any positions in the town government before, she listed her experience as PTA president and on the School Improvement Team at Northside Elementary as key experiences.

In Monday’s release, Sharp said she “understands the importance of maintaining a diverse and flexible town” but has concern over Chapel Hill’s “ability to attract and sustain small business.” She said as a candidate, she believes the town has been emphasizing “quantity over quality” in development and wants to ensure new growth “enhances the local community rather than detracts from it” if she is elected. Sharp also listed policy goals of improving pedestrian and bicycle safety, building a strong relationship between the town government and UNC, and encouraging “human interaction and movement.”

Addressing a culture of “divisive civic discourse” is also part of Sharp’s candidacy, which she said she has experience doing through an ongoing social experiment. The Chapel Hill resident started a project to hug 1,000 people she disagreed with back in 2020, updating her progress on social media and explaining while differences can be had, “productive conversations” can still take place.

Chapel Hill is likely to draw a wide range of candidates on the ballot this fall, as four town council seats and the mayor position are up for election. Most recently, sitting council member Michael Parker said he would not run for a third term — meaning at least one seat will be filled with a challenger candidate. Other incumbents Jessica Anderson, Tai Huynh, and Amy Ryan have not yet publicly announced whether they are running again. Two challenger candidates have also launched campaigns to join Chapel Hill’s town council: Melissa McCullough and Michael Beauregard.

Other candidates in all of Orange and Chatham County’s local elections are expected to announce their intentions to run soon — as the formal filing period for the 2023 cycle begins on Friday.

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