CHAPEL HILL – Former Chapel Hill Town Council member Laurin Easthom sat on her final council meeting last week. She chose not to seek a third term this year. Serving since 2005, Easthom said she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and two daughters.

As for whether she would run again, she said she was keeping her options open.

“I’m young enough that I could do it again some day—hopefully, maybe if I ran again and I got re-elected, (though) I don’t presume that would (automatically) be the case,” Easthom said.  “At least I would have another chance at some point, so I’m lucky for that.”

Fellow council member Gene Pease did not seek re-election this year. Newcomers Maria Palmer and George Cianciolo, who will replace Easthom and Pease, will be sworn into office Monday evening.

Outside the Council, Easthom is a dentist and has a master’s degree in education. She also served on Chapel Hill’s Transportation Advisory Board, the Horace Williams Citizens Committee and the Orange-Chatham Sierra Club.

In September, Eathom announced her intention to seek the North Carolina House seat in District 50, which was formerly held by now State Senator Valerie Foushee.

Easthom said that one of the accomplishments she was proudest of during her time in office was the cooperation reached between the Council and UNC to reach the Carolina North Development Agreement.

“When I first got on the Council, there was a Town/Gown tension unlike ever before. It took a lot of work to work toward common goals and get through some of that tension,” Easthom said. “The end result, after a lot of meetings and time spent, we were able to come up with an agreement that benefited not only the University but the Town.”

Easthom said she also proud of her part in improving the efficiency of the Town’s technologies. The fiber optic systems of traffic signals were upgraded to a fiber that the Town can use for future purposes such as municipal broadband internet services.

Her advice for Cianciolo and Palmer is to welcome the input of residents, as Easthom said it can be intimidating for citizens to speak during Council meetings.

“Listen—to make sure to listen. I know they [Cianciolo and Palmer] will because it is not an easy thing for people [to speak at Council meetings],”  she said.

Easthom said she has no timeline for returning to town politics, if she were to do so. For now, she said she will spend time with her family and concentrate on her work.

Related Stories
‹
UNC-Founded Eats2Seats to Create Entrepreneurial "Third Space" with New Franklin Street Headquarters
Growing from a class project to a nationwide business, Eats2Seats recently celebrated the decision to keep its headquarters local.
Our Town: The Story of Ted Voorhees, Chapel Hill Town Manager
The Town of Chapel Hill in collaboration with 97.9 The Hill WCHL & Chapelboro.com present “Our Town: Stories of Chapel Hill.” Each month you’ll hear from the people at the heart of your local government who are learning, serving, and working together to build a community where people thrive. This month, Ted Voorhees reflects on his first six months serving as town manager; and tells the story of why he chose to come to Chapel Hill. 
Top Stories of 2025: In Orange County, An Anticlimactic Election
The municipal election was always going to be one of the top stories of 2025 in Chapel Hill - though this year's race was unusually quiet.
Chapel Hill, Carrboro Town Councils Swear In New and Returning Members to Close 2025
The Chapel Hill and Carrboro town councils held their final meetings of the calendar year and swore in November's election winners.
Orange County Elected Officials Share Support of Local Families, Speak Out Against ICE Raids
Elected officials in Orange County affirmed their support of immigrant community members and criticism of federal efforts that recently brought U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and Border Patrol agents to North Carolina through a statement on Tuesday. As part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s policy goal to crack down on illegal immigration — and […]
EXCLUSIVE: Karen Stegman Announces Campaign for Orange County Commissioner Seat
Chapel Hill native and former town council member Karen Stegman plans to run for the Board of Orange County Commissioners in 2026.
Berry, Miller-Foushee Reelected to Chapel Hill Town Council; Newcomers Rivers, McMahon Earn Most Votes
With the early vote totals and nearly all of Chapel Hill's precincts reported on Tuesday night, the Chapel Hill Town Council election appears unofficially decided.
2025 Candidate Introductions: Chapel Hill Municipal Races
Five candidates for Chapel Hill Town Council are vying for four seats — two of which are open — while the mayor's election is unopposed.
Sierra Club Releases Endorsements for Chapel Hill and Carrboro Elections
The N.C. Sierra Club recently shared the candidates it is supporting in the upcoming Chapel Hill and Carrboro municipal elections.
Candidates Drop Out in 2 Chapel Hill Races; Town Council Opens Applications for Brief Vacancy
A pair of candidates in two Chapel Hill elections withdrew recently. Meanwhile, the town council is taking applications for a vacant seat.
›