Watch this space

FYI: I'm posting official statements from the candidates atcarrborocitizen.com/politics  

on the CCsI couldn't find one for Earl McKee, which is understandable for a new comer. I saw Alice has one which looks pretty well put together:http://alicegordon.com/I couldn't find one for incumbent Barry Jacobs, does anyone know of one?I guess it only matters if more people get in the race, since right now Alice, Barry, and Earl are each running unopposed in their districts (or at large) for the primary unless more people step up.Its probably a good thing that than Mike Nelson's former spot is going to leave no incumbent running in district 2 so that the county gets more representation since, from my understanding of the districting rules, District 2 doesn't always get the final say on who represents county interests.I wouldn't mind seeing younger candidates (the average age of those running this time is 63), not that the people running & serving aren't fully qualified, but considering how much of county budget goes to school & education & youth related concerns having a diversity of ages and a balance that includes some who went through the education process more recently might produce some interesting insights.  That some candidates may be running campaigns without a campaign website seems totally foreign to me as someone who had computer classes in school since elementary school... especially given the increasing importance of technology in education and government. I see that Mike Nelson was on the Animal Services board, I wonder if any of the people running will take up a place there?  Before going back to grad school I worked with Sarah Fallin from OC Animal Services to start up an annual pet food drive at Carrboro Plaza Vet, and I remember all the discussions with clients and shelter goers about the effect that the negative effect the economic downturn had on animals and how many were being abandoned.  So it would be nice to have another voice looking out for them. I'm excited though, even if these aren't the big races, I like to think of myself as a little bit of a politcal junkie (& local ones affect us more anyways right?)... who needs sports when you have elections & state of the unions?  (although seriously, way to go Saints!!!)

A few weeks ago we read in all the local papers about Chapel Hill 'nabbing' the 'smash and grab' suspect.  All the stories indicated which agencies helped catch the guy who was making his rounds in Orange and Chatham Counties. Durham and Chatham Sheriff, Hillsborough PD, and Carrboro PD helped nab this guy.  Reading between the lines, I wonder why OC Sheriff was not mentioned.I suggest a topic to be brought up should be on the lines of collaboration. Which candidates support sharing information with other LE agencies? Another discussion involving collaboration and information sharing being the outdated communications system the OCSO is using. Note every agency within a 50 mile radius is using the new system that allows agencies to easily jump to other agency's channels.  The OCSO chose to not migrate to the new system, and as a result, does that put them in a disadvantage in case of a regional disaster?  I do not know, I am not an expert on this but I have overhead other discussions about why everyone went to the new system.