One of the Chapel Hill Town Council’s more experienced members will not on the ballot again this fall.

Michael Parker shared with the community Wednesday morning that he will not be seeking a third term for his council seat. He becomes the first sitting member of the council to announce their plans on whether to run again.

In the email, Parker said the decision to step away this winter was not easy to make, but that it is “the right one for both me and Chapel Hill.”

“It has been an honor and privilege to be able to serve the residents of Chapel Hill on the Town Council over these past seven and one-half years,” he wrote, “and I am incredibly grateful to our residents for putting their trust in me. I hope that I have not let them down. Meeting so many of our residents, learning about them, and experiencing their remarkable generosity of spirit firsthand has been more rewarding than I could ever have imagined.”

Over his tenure, Parker has been a clear voice in favor of improving and expanding transit options. Before being elected to town council, he worked as the Chair of the Transportation Advisory Board and since served as the Chair of the Chapel Hill Public Transit Committee. He is a member of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization board and has served as the Chair for the GoTriangle system’s Board of Trustees.

In his Wednesday message, Parker also pointed to the town’s achievements in economic development, climate action, affordable housing, and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as benchmarks he’s proud of. He said he aims to continue making Chapel Hill “more prosperous, more equitable, and more inclusive” during his final five months on the town council.

“Chapel Hill has a bright and exciting future ahead of it,” wrote Parker, “and I am confident that the next group of town leaders will have the commitment, wisdom, judgement, and passion to ensure that we continue to realize our full potential as a preeminent innovative, 21st century college town.”

As is the case every two years, there are four Chapel Hill Town Council seats up for election during this local government cycle. Parker’s decision to not run means there will be one open seat, while the seats of incumbents Jessica Anderson, Tai Huynh and Amy Ryan will also be on the ballot. Two challenger candidates have already launched their own campaigns to join the council: Melissa McCullough and Michael Beauregard. The Chapel Hill mayoral role will also be up for election of a two-year term.

The official filing period for the 2023 local election cycle in North Carolina begins on Friday, July 7.

 

Photo via Parker for Chapel Hill.

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