County government matters, and many of us pay close attention to the decisions that impact schools, economic development and critical county services for public health and safety.

In that context, we encourage District 1 voters (Chapel Hill and Carrboro) to please re-elect Pam Hemminger as County Commissioner District 1. Pam is a thoughtful and engaging leader who truly cares about the people of Orange County – all of us.
Pam is leading the way to improve transparency to county government. She introduced online video streaming of commissioner meetings –which has helped many of us follow what the commissioners are doing.

Pam’s comfortable with the truth – and regularly chooses it over pandering to select groups. She has built open and candid relationships with community groups, and actively seeks citizen input on key issues such as transit, the landfill closing and Rogers Road, and economic development.

Pam knows money is tight – which is why she vocally opposed a $1 million conference room for the county commissioners and is moving cautiously to ensure that the county’s funding for libraries is sustainable. Pam was the single voice that stopped the commissioners from putting a waste transfer station in Bingham township – which in hindsight saved taxpayers millions of dollars in capital and ongoing expenses.

A sustainable future for Orange County will not be found in the triumph of towns over county or vice versa. It takes open, transparent leadership to find the rich and creative solutions that serve our growing and diverse community. Pam Hemminger exemplifies that leadership and everyone wins if Pam continues to serve as Orange County Commissioner

Tish Galu
Bonnie Hauser
Susan Walser

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Startup Accelerator Receives $230,000 Gift to Aid Growth
Launch Chapel Hill, the local innovation space to help accelerate startup companies, recently received a substantial gift to aid its growth. According to UNC, who is one of the founding partners of the resource center and co-working space, investment firm Lee-Moore Capital recently awarded Launch with a gift of $230,000. The donation will allow the […]
Orange County Mayors Set Sights on New Development After Re-Election
Mayors Pam Hemminger, Lydia Lavelle and Tom Stevens are turning their focus to the future of their respective towns after re-election, and a large part of that future includes development. After plans for a new Wegmans were approved by Chapel Hill’s Town Council, Hemminger says the next project they hope to tackle is finding a […]
Officials Unsure Sanctuary City Bill Impact Locally
North Carolina operates under a law that prohibits any county or municipality from restricting local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with federal immigration officials. Therefore, there are no technical sanctuary cities in the state. However, that hasn’t stopped different local law enforcement from choosing what to prioritize in their respective towns. But now multiple proposals […]
Federal Loans Considered for Durham-Orange Light Rail Project
Financing options for the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit Project were presented to the Orange County Board of Commissioners last week during a regular meeting. The presentation was made by Danny Rogers on behalf of GoTriangle, a state-sponsored public transit authority that started research on regional rail systems in 1992. “We want to make sure that […]
Local Government Meetings: June 1-5, 2026
This week in local government: budget decisions for Orange County, Carrboro, and Durham, and the final vote on a CHCCS school closure.
Facing Pressures In All Directions, Orange County Commissioners Near Budget Decision
Orange County Commissioners are holding a public hearing on next year's budget Thursday, May 28, with major decisions yet to be made.
Orange County: Budget Amendments, Memorial Day, Upcoming Public Hearing
Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jean Hamilton spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, May 27, discussing county news and events. She discussed the recent movement on the budget, which as seen a flurry of amendments as commissioners and staff try to reconcile some tough budget choices without raising property taxes. She also previewed the upcoming public hearing on the budget, reviewed Memorial Day events in our community, and more.
Rabid Raccoon Reported By Orange County After Altercation With Two Dogs
Orange County Animal Services said Wednesday it confirmed a positive case of rabies in a raccoon found in Chapel Hill. The raccoon was sent for testing by OCAS on Saturday, May 23 after it got into an altercation with two dogs. The condition of the dogs is unknown. It was found by animal control near […]
Gov. Stein Appoints Orange County Residents, Including Sheriff, to Advisory Boards
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein appointed five Orange County community members to the Historic Hillsborough Commission and two other boards.
Garbage Collection, Local Transit and More: How Memorial Day Will Impact Local Services
The observation of Memorial Day Monday, May 25 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will be closed. Residential trash will not be collected on Monday, with the make-up day […]
›