VOLUME 8 ISSUE 22 | THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
VALERIA CLOËS | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
First row from left to right, Deputy Director Steve Simos, Director Pandora Paschal, and Election Specialist Chance Mashburn pose with Chatham Board of Election members (back row left to right) Erika Lindemann, Secretary Frank Dunphy, Mark Barroso, Bob Tyson, Chair Laura Heise, and N.C. House Rep. Robert Reives II (D-Dist.54).
Chatham County elections: Siler City mayor leads 2023 ballot By Matt Mercer North State Journal THE CONTESTS for Chatham County’s 2023 municipal elections are set. Candidate filing wrapped up on Friday, July 21 and voters in Goldston, Pittsboro and Siler City will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7. One of the most-watched races will be for mayor of Siler City. This year’s contest features a rematch between incumbent Thomas “Chip” Price III and Donald Matthews. In 2022, Price defeated Matthews in a three-person contest with 52% to 35% of the city’s vote. “We’re really at a time when leadership matters,” Matthews told the News & Record earlier this month. “We need to be able to make all of this work together for the greater good of the community. Matthews said at his campaign launch the town needs a complete “revitalization” in or-
der to prepare for new residents coming to Siler City and to improve services facilities and services for current residents. “Our infrastructure needs to be completely redone. We should be looking and working with state legislature to get them to understand we need an investment in this community,” he said. Price, for his part, has overseen impressive economic development and downtown revitalization in both his 10 years as a town commissioner and the past thirteen months as mayor. Most notable is the Wolfspeed materials facility coming to the Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site. The project is expected to create a significant number of jobs in the region. In a speech in April, he stated that Siler City is committed to economic growth both for its citizens and the surrounding regions. “(I want) to continue the vision and work already started by the town board and staff,” Price
Chatham County Board of Elections swears in its board members and chair By Valeria Cloës Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Elections swore in the board members and chair for their two-year term at noon on Tuesday, July 18, at the Chatham County Board of Elections Office. Chair Laura Heise (Democrat), Secretary Frank Dunphy (Republican) and member Mark Barroso (Democrat) have all served on previous terms while members Bob Tyson (Republican) and Erika Lindemann (Democrat) were sworn in for the first time. “I am happy to join the county Board of Elections,” Tyson, who retired from a database consultant job six years ago, said. “I want to help provide accessible and secure elections for the people of Chatham County.”
N.C. House Rep. Robert Reives II (D-Chatham) was present at the ceremony, leading the five individuals in saying their oath. In an email statement from Heise, she said she was first elected as a member of the board in 2007, and 10 years later was appointed as chair by the governor at the time. In 2021 and 2023 she was elected by Gov. Roy Cooper. “Chatham is growing, and so is the elections office,” Heise said. “We anticipate a move to a larger elections office space, perhaps by December 2023. We will be welcoming new staff as well — an additional elections specialist and a machine tech position. Next year, a presidential election year, will be a busy one!” The rest of the board memSee BOE, page A2
“The town should strive to ensure that citizens are treated fairly and equally. While there is always room for improvement, the town is currently fulfilling its mission with the resources available.” Siler City Mayor Chip Price said during his 2022 campaign. “The town should also strive to ensure that citizens are treated fairly and equally. While there is always room for improvement, the town is currently fulfilling its mission with the resources available,” he added. In addition to the contest for mayor, four seats on the Siler City Board of Commissioners are up for grabs. Three candidates are vy-
ing for one at-large seat on the board: incumbent commissioner Jay Underwood, Chandler Picot and Travis Patterson. In Districts 2 and 3, incumbents Norma Boone and Curtis Brown are unopposed for reelection. District 4 incumbent William “Bill” Hiages, the current mayor pro tem, faces a challenge from Alec Hauser. In Pittsboro, town commissioner Kyle Shipp was the only candidate to file for mayor and will be unopposed in November’s election. Backed by outgoing mayor Cindy Perry, Shipp pledged to work with the community to lead Pittsboro towards a prosperous and sustainable future. “Having served as Mayor for three terms, I wholeheartedly endorse Kyle as the ideal candidate to lead our town,” said Perry in an endorsement of Shipp. Shipp said his plan focuses on fostering entrepreneurship and creating a business-friendly environment for both new and existing businesses, generating
quality employment opportunities for residents, protecting the town’s natural resources and delivering affordable housing. Six candidates filed to run for three seats on Pittsboro’s Board of Commissioners. Incumbents John Bonitz and J.A. “Jay” Farrell are running for reelection. They will appear on the ballot with Allen Wilson, John Foley, C.P. Stewart and Kali Korey. The third municipality with elections this year is the town of Goldston – although none of their contests feature competitive races. Jonathan Hensley will continue to serve as mayor as he was the only candidate to file for the seat of the southern Chatham County town. Lisa Burke and Charlie Fields were the only candidates to file in Ward 2 and Ward 4 respectively. Finally, three seats on the Goldston Gulf Sanitary District are on the ballot with three candidates: Danny Scott, Henry Kitchings and Ricky Beal. Absentee ballots for November’s election will be available by Friday, Oct. 6 and early in-person voting begins in Thursday, Oct. 19. The voter registration deadline for this year’s election is Friday, Oct. 13. Voters will also be required to show photo identification to cast a ballot.
CORA Food Pantry hosts its grand reopening after years of renovations, welcomes individuals back into its grocery store-style pantry By Valeria Cloës Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — As Chatham Literacy Executive Director Vicki Newell stepped into the recently renovated CORA Food Pantry warehouse, she said “Oh my gosh, this is amazing!” Newell took in the sight of fresh vegetables and fruits, canned goods, refrigerators filled with chicken, ham and other meat, all of which were neatly organized to resemble any grocery store in the area. Respect. That is what the renovations to the CORA building exemplified, she said. “This doesn’t make you feel like you have a need,” she said, surrounded by ripe bananas, broccoli and pumpkins. CORA held its grand reopening event at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, where Executive Director Melissa Driver Beard said CORA has served over 230 families since
reopening its doors at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 17. In addition, according to CORA’s Impact Report for fiscal year from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, they have distributed 1.28 million meals, serving 10,220 individuals. Timeline of CORA’s renovations Though CORA only recently reopened its doors, the renovations and building process span back to 2015. Development & Communications Director Rebecca Hankins said CORA’s Board of Directors asked the Chatham County Board of Commissioners for more funding to expand its facility in 2015. Three years later in November 2018, CORA had the ground breaking for the pantry warehouse, located to the left of the original building structure. See CORA, page A6
“It’s not only CORA staff and volunteers and board that care, the community has come out, donated, and allows us to do this work and do it well.” Rebecca Hankins, CORA Food Pantry’s Development & Communications Director