As the local election season continues to pick up, an advocacy group in Chapel Hill and Carrboro revealed its endorsements of 2023 candidates on Tuesday — exclusively on 97.9 The Hill.
NEXT Chapel Hill & Carrboro is a nonprofit founded about eight years ago with a focus on promoting ways to improve transit equity, racial equity, and housing inclusivity in the two towns. Its separate 501(c)(4) NEXT Action Fund is a social welfare organization that endorses candidates whose values align with the group’s. The action fund pulled candidates’ responses during recent community forums — including NEXT’s own co-hosted with other local nonprofits — and questionnaires.
Kathy Kaufman, who works with the action fund, spoke with 97.9 The Hill about some of the top issues NEXT’s leadership wanted to see from local elected officials in this municipal cycle — and beyond.
“We look at housing as it relates to everybody in the community, transit, [and] climate change,” she said. “What are we going do to reduce our climate footprint, and who understands the nexus between all of those issues and how to move the town forward?”
With those criteria in mind, the NEXT Action Fund shared its endorsement of Jess Anderson on Tuesday in the Chapel Hill mayoral race this fall. Kaufman said the choice of Anderson over her opponent, Adam Searing, is largely based on the Town Council member’s commitment to using the recently passed Complete Communities framework. The town project adopted in December is meant to inform growth through a connected set of goals and priorities instead of considering development on a case-by-case basis.
“She’s involved on the key issues that NEXT cares about, and her understanding of housing, density and transit infrastructure really has grown,” said Kaufman. “And we think that she does understand the importance of the land use decisions that Chapel Hill has to make and she’s made some votes that indicate she understands the needs of the community, with respect to these decisions. We have to balance the needs of everybody in the community to provide enough housing, for example.
“On balance,” Kaufman continued, “we thought that was really the pick — that she would do the best job as mayor.”
Photo via Jess Anderson for Mayor/Trevor Holman Photography.
The NEXT endorsement is the latest for Anderson, as the mayoral candidate picked up endorsements from Equality NC and several elected officials — both past and present — in recent weeks.
In a crowded field for Chapel Hill’s town council, there are four seats available and three without incumbents running. The Action Fund endorsed Melissa McCullough, Jon Mitchell, Theodore Nollert, and Erik Valera in the race.
Kaufman said Tuesday those candidates stood out based on their personal backgrounds, prior experience around the town government, and stances on both housing and climate impact issues. She cited McCullough’s extensive work to address climate change during her career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and her acknowledgement of “missing middle” housing options in Chapel Hill. For Nollert, Kaufman said he demonstrated “strong, action-oriented” leadership while the president of UNC Graduate Student government and his status as a renter would provide critical perspective to council.
Mitchell’s endorsement comes from his “clear understanding of issues on the [Chapel Hill] planning commission,” said Kaufman, and his strong support of bicycle, pedestrian, and bus infrastructure during his time on the board. Valera, meanwhile, earned his endorsement through his efforts with community groups like El Centro Hispano to “bring lesser-heard voices through years of work to light,” described Kaufman. She also cited his professional life as an artist and nonprofit professional as a point of view that also represents a different part of the Chapel Hill community, which would provide him “a good toolbox” to bring to town council discussion.
From left to right: Melissa McCullough, Theodore Nollert, Jon Mitchell, and Erik Valera.
Over in Carrboro, town council member Barbara Foushee is running unopposed for the town’s mayoral role. But Kaufman said the NEXT Action Fund is still endorsing her as a signal of confidence of how Foushee will lead the town.
“We wanted her to continue her important work on equity issues and all issues in Carrboro,” she said. “I think she’s got a consistent view of what’s needed [to continue such work.]”
Barbara Foushee, who is running for Carrboro Mayor unopposed this cycle. (Photo via Barbara Foushee
The organization is also choosing to support the trio of candidates running together in Carrboro: Catherine Fray, Jason Merrill, and Eliazar Posada.
“I don’t think it’s difficult for them to separate themselves from the rest of the field,” Kaufman said of the ‘Carrboro Better Together’ slate. “I think each of them brings a particular strength to the slate — and their strengths are different, but each of them have a wealth of experience that we think is going to serve them really well.”
Fray’s years-long stint on the Carrboro Planning Board helps their knowledge of planning, permitting, and zoning stand out. Kaufman said their emphasis on the need for affordable housing also helped earn NEXT’s endorsement. She said Merrill’s endorsement is earned by how he could “provide a fresh voice to the council” as a small business owner, a member of the transportation advisory board, and his past living in Chapel Hill — which allows him an informed view of cooperating with Carrboro’s neighboring town. Kaufman added that Posada’s commitment to language equity and housing options, as well as his “clear priorities” to help the town government become more inclusive, also stood out as critical to the action fund.
Posada, who is the only incumbent in the Carrboro Town Council race, previously earned the NEXT Action Fund’s endorsement during the 2022 special election that saw him initially elected to office.
A full explanation from NEXT about its action fund’s choices in the 2023 local elections can be found on the nonprofit’s website.
The ‘Carrboro Better Together’ slate, from left to right: Jason Merrill, Catherine Fray, and Eliazar Posada.
Early voting for the fall local government elections begins on Thursday, October 19, with Election Day set for Tuesday, November 7.
For a full list of races Chapelboro is covering this 2023 local election cycle, click here. Additional coverage on candidates can be found on the Local Elections page, as well as other updates in the races as the election cycle continues this fall.
Photo via NEXT Chapel Hill & Carrboro.
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