Chapel Hill mayor candidates plan for economic growth

As unemployment rises and home prices fall nationwide, the next mayor of Chapel Hill will face economic issues locally, pushing discussion to preserve and boost the Chapel Hill economy.

Four people are running for mayor in the Nov. 3 election, a powerful position in determining the town’s agenda during his or her term.

Dwight Bassett, chief economic officer for Chapel Hill, said the next mayor will have to work to bring businesses into the town through marketing.

The four candidates have differing plans, but all want to make doing business in Chapel Hill easier.

Augustus Cho

Augustus Cho, the chairman of the Chapel Hill Transportation Board, said he can connect with small businesses as a founder of a Tae Kwon Do gym. If elected, he said he plans to:

• Streamline the license process for small business owners.
• Broaden the business base away from the University by encouraging business beyond downtown.
• Encourage use of the public transit system to connect Chapel Hill to the rest of the Triangle.

“We need to work with small business owners who want to come in. We have to be business-friendly, from a government perspective,” Cho said.

Matt Czajkowski

Matt Czajkowski said he has been in board rooms his whole career. For the last 10, he has been a chief financial officer of several companies. He said he plans to:

• Ensure proactive movement by the town to invite businesses.
• Make sure that property taxes are kept low and the commercial tax base expanded.
• Change the planning process to be a dialogue with businesses, instead of being “arbitrary and capricious.”

“I’ve spent my entire career in business, which can be determined indisputably by my resume,” Czajkowski said. “It’s not clear to me that my competitors can point to the same background.”

Mark Kleinschmidt

Mark Kleinschmidt said he gained economic understanding as a member of the Council Committee on Economic Development. He said he plans to:

• Support consumer confidence for the town by being a visible advocate.
• Bring his experience working with economics on the council.
• Continue to be active with the economic development office.

“There are actions governments can do to affect the economy, but the economy moves so much by perceptions,” Kleinschmidt said. “People who can redefine perceptions need to be up there to redefine them, not to reinforce negative views.”

Kevin Wolff

Kevin Wolff has a Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University. He said he plans to:

• Change the image of Chapel Hill to be more accepting of businesses by acting as an ambassador of the town.
• Encourage a strong business base to lift the tax burden from residential areas.
• Work with the University to improve the town’s economy.

“The first thing I’d do is promote that we want to work with business and do what we can to do equal opportunity here as would in other locations,” Wolff said.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.