Description

Watch the Video | Visit The Chamber's Election Hub

What: The Candidates and Elected Officials Forum

About: This annual forum, coordinated by The Chamber in collaboration with the Carrboro Business Alliance, is a convenient and easy way to navigate the legislative lay of the land and connect with nearly all relevant policy makers and influencers in one quick swoop.

When: Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (*The first day of one-stop, in-person early voting!)

How: Zoom 

Why: Decisions made by elected leaders have consequences for your business. Meet your elected officials and candidates, and make your voice heard. 

Flow: 

• 8:30am: Welcome
• 8:45am: Segment 1, Introductions of Candidates and Elected Officials
• 9:30am: Segment 2, Breakout Room Discussions
• 9:55am: Closing Remarks
• 10:00am: Adjourn

Invitees: All officials representing Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro through elected positions in the NC General Assembly, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Town Councils, and the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners, as well as the Orange County Sheriff, Register of Deeds, and Clerk of Court are invited to participate. In addition, The Chamber is tracking 11 races with 39 candidates and the candidates for the following races are invited to participate in the Forum:

• NC State Senate (District 23, 1 seat, 4 candidates): Bill Cooke, Jamie DeMent Holcomb, Graig R. Meyer, and Landon Woods
• NC House of Representatives (District 050, 1 seat, 3 candidates): Matt Hughes, Charles Lopez, and Renee Price
• NC House of Representatives (District 056, 1 seat, 2 candidates): Allen Buansi and Jonah Garson
• Orange County District Attorney (District 18, 1 seat, 2 candidates): Jeff Nieman and Kayley Taber
• Orange County Board of Commissioners (4 seats, 4 candidates): Sally Greene (At-Large), Jamezetta R. Bedford (District 1), Anna Richards (District 1, unexpired), and Earl McKee (District 2)
• Orange County Clerk of Court (1 seat, 1 candidate): Mark Kleinschmidt
• Orange County Sheriff (1 seat, 1 candidate): Charles Blackwood
• Orange County Register of Deeds (1 seat, 2 candidate): Mark H. Chilton and Penny Rich
• Carrboro Town Council (special election, 1 seat, 2 candidates): Aja Kelleher and Eliazar Posada

Note about Primary Elections: Primary Elections are often punctuated with little interest and low turnout. But in Orange County, NC, where many more Democrats are registered than Republicans, the winner of the spring Primary Election almost always wins the General Election in November. Primaries matter in Orange County. Learn more about the upcoming Primary Election and review the list of candidates through The Chamber's Election Hub.

Note about Redistricting: After ever decennial census, the NC General Assembly is required by law to draw the districts from which public officials are elected in a manner that adjusts for population change and maintains equal representation, i.e., redistricting. Due to legal challenges, the NC 2022 Primary Election was postponed from March to May, 2022.   

Note about The Chamber's Election Hub: Given NC's complicated and court-involved redistricting process and the gravity of primary elections in Orange County, The Chamber is, once again, ramping-up primary election engagement and including candidates in this annual Forum. Visit The Chamber's Election Hub to learn more about the 2022 Primary Election, candidates, and overall election process.  

About the Critical Issues Series: The 2022 Critical Issues Series (formerly known as the Policy Series) includes quarterly forums that feature influential guest speakers who address timely topics for Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro related to the economy, economic development, public policy, and elections. The series is presented by Chapel Hill Media Group, Durham Tech, Glen Lennox, and Servpro of South Durham and Orange Counties with support from the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), which provides free and confidential business counseling.

Contact: For questions, contact Katie Loovis, The Chamber's Vice President for External Affairs, at (919) 696-0781 (cell) or KLoovis@carolinachamber.org.