Sierra Club Releases Endorsements in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough Elections

The latest advocacy group recently released its endorsements of candidates for local government elections in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough: the Sierra Club.

The Orange-Chatham Group, which is part of the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club, shared the candidates it is supporting on Thursday. An environment-focused organization, which has its own affiliated political action committee, the club aims to support candidates who promote environmental protection.

In the Chapel Hill mayoral race, the Sierra Club endorsed incumbent Pam Hemminger, citing her stances on land use, knowledge of transportation needs and reputation as a climate advocate. The club also endorsed candidates for all four open seats in the Chapel Hill Town Council race: incumbent Karen Stegman and challengers Paris Miller-Foushee, Vimala Rajendran and Adam Searing. All four candidates demonstrate knowledge on how improving transportation options would help the environment, according to the group’s release, while each bring different perspectives and strengths to the topic of environmentalism.

The Sierra Club said it is “enthusiastically” endorsing Damon Seils in the race for Carrboro mayor. Citing his years of experience on the town council and leadership in regional transportation planning, the advocacy group said it is supporting Seils again to further his work on climate action. Despite only three seats being available in the race for Carrboro Town Council, the club endorsed four candidates in the race: incumbents Barbara Foushee, Jacquelyn Gist and Randee Haven-O’Donnell plus challenger Danny Nowell. It said it finds “no fault with [the incumbents’] records or their platforms,” but is also adding Nowell to its endorsements because “it is beneficial to get a new and younger voice onto decision-making bodies.”

The race for mayor in Hillsborough is already decided, as mayor Jenn Weaver is running unopposed. Still, the Sierra Club shared an endorsement of her work, citing Weaver’s prioritization of climate when considering other aspects of the local government. In the race for Hillsborough’s Board of Commissioners, the club endorsed incumbent Kathleen Ferguson and appointed incumbent Robb English. The pair’s support of compact and transit-connected development and prior environmental work in the community led to the Sierra Club’s selection, according to its release.

The Orange-Chatham Group of the Sierra Club also released endorsements for the municipal races in Pittsboro. For the mayoral race, the club endorsed Cindy Perry, who is running again after stepping away from the position two years ago, and James Vose for Pittsboro’s Board of Commissioners. The group cited the two candidates’ “expertise and commitment to protecting the environment in a warming world” as how the pair earned their selections.

For more coverage of the 2021 town government elections, including endorsements from other groups, visit Chapelboro’s Local Election Coverage page.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An original version of this article did not include the Pittsboro endorsements of the Sierra Club.

Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

‹

'A New Era': Orange County's New Mayors Talk About Their Learning Curves, Communication

The recently-elected mayors of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough sat for a panel and shared how their impressions of the new role.

Trio of Unopposed Mayors Represent Latest Chapters for Carrboro, Hillsborough and Pittsboro

This local election cycle, all of the sitting mayors in Orange County and one in Chatham County decided they would not run for re-election. A trio of current elected officials threw their names into the ring early in the filing period and, ultimately, saw no competition. Carrboro voters elected Barbara Foushee as their next mayor […]

2023 Municipal Election Results for Local Races

Tuesday marks Election Day for municipal races across North Carolina. Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. in the state and will close at 7:30 p.m.

INDY Week Publishes Endorsements in Chapel Hill and Carrboro Municipal Races

The local magazine INDY Week has published its endorsements in this year's Chapel Hill and Carrboro municipal elections.

Susan Romaine Leaving Carrboro Town Council After 1 Term

Ahead of a busy local election cycle, the Carrboro Town Council continues to prepare for change. Town Council member Susan Romaine announced on Monday she will not seek re-election to her seat this fall and will become the second departing member of the current council. Romaine, who is also currently the mayor pro tem, earned […]

'It Feels Like A Good Time': Damon Seils Plans to Step Down as Carrboro Mayor

Speaking with 97.9 The Hill about his decision not to run for reelection as Carrboro Mayor, Damon Seils said he's "feeling good about it."

Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils Will Not Seek Re-Election, Stepping Down in December

After serving one full term, Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils will not seek re-election this fall. Seils shared the news on Wednesday afternoon, saying he is preparing to transition away from the town’s elected office after marking his tenth anniversary since joining the Carrboro Town Council. “Arriving at this decision was difficult,” he wrote. “Serving on […]

Report: Former Carrboro Mayor Robert Drakeford Dies

Robert Drakeford, the former mayor of Carrboro, died on Monday, according to a report from the town government. Carrboro shared a release Monday afternoon with the news, with a separate obituary confirming he was 77 years old. Drakeford, who went by “Bob” to many in the community, was the town’s first and only Black mayor. […]

Carrboro: Mayor Lavelle's Final Segment

Lydia Lavelle stops by the studio to speak with 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell for her final segment as Carrboro's mayor on Friday, December 3. The pair discuss what Lavelle is most proud of during her tenure, as well as the future of the community and mayor-elect Damon Seils. Plus: upcoming holiday events and a special election set to be held in Carrboro.

Sierra Club Releases Endorsements in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough Elections

The latest advocacy group recently released its endorsements of candidates for local government elections in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough: the Sierra Club. The Orange-Chatham Group, which is part of the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club, shared the candidates it is supporting on Thursday. An environment-focused organization, which has its own affiliated political […]

›