Five vie for open Chapel Hill Town Council seat

As Penny Rich prepares to leave the Chapel Hill Town Council, five Chapel Hill residents have stepped forward in the hopes of filling her seat.

“Women see the world through a different perspective,” Rich said. “It is not a prerequisite to be a woman, but if the right woman comes along, it would be good to put her in there.”

Three women and two men have announced intentions to apply for the open seat, and the council will appoint someone in January.

Maria Palmer

Maria Palmer, a former pastor, school principal and active community member, thinks her experience in the community would give her an advantage on the council.

Palmer is no stranger to leadership. She was a co-chair of the transportation theme planning group for Chapel Hill 2020, the town’s comprehensive vision for the future.

Palmer said in an email that she likes the direction the town is taking.

“I think we have everything we need to succeed in making Chapel Hill a model in every front,” she said.

Gary Kahn

Gary Kahn, a Southern Village resident, has taken interest in Chapel Hill government since moving here from New York City two years ago.

He said he has been an outspoken citizen for the past year, attending meetings and advising council members on decisions.

He said he publicly opposed the proposal to raise property taxes to fund public transportation initiatives.

Kahn believes his familiarity with urban ideals will give the council a new perspective.

“Chapel Hill is headed toward becoming a town-city, and I think that because I’m from a city like New York City that faces many big city issues, with my help, Chapel Hill could avoid some of those issues,” Kahn said.

Amy Ryan

Longtime resident and planning board member Amy Ryan said her involvement in planning the Chapel Hill 2020 initiative has led her to seek the open council seat.

Ryan said she wants to be a part of the implementation process for the goals laid out by Chapel Hill 2020.

She said she would also like to see the council use more data.

“We don’t often have the data we need to make well-informed decisions like fiscal impacts,” Ryan said.

Ryan said she feels confident in her ability to jump into the council in the middle of the term.

“I’ve been in town a long time and am familiar with how it works,” she said. “I’m not concerned that I couldn’t get up to speed.”

Jon DeHart

Jon DeHart, a branch manager at a Wells Fargo bank, said his management experience would be an asset to the council. He serves on the town’s transportation board.

“Being on the transportation board has made me familiar with how we are going to develop a light rail system to better serve our population,” DeHart said.

DeHart is also active in his church and the YMCA, and because of two unsuccessful bids for the council in 2009 and 2011, he said he knows many of the council members.

Sally Greene

Former council member Sally Greene served on the council between 2003 and 2011, where she worked on an inclusionary zoning ordinance to secure affordable housing in new developments.

Greene said she wants to do more with affordable housing and homelessness.

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.