Weaver Street Market elections gearing up

Board of Aldermen candidates aren’t the only ones running for office in Carrboro this election season.

Elections for the Weaver Street Market Board of Directors began earlier this month and will continue through Nov. 1.

One seat is up for grabs in the Board of Directors for consumer-owners of the co-op.

The candidates for the consumer seats are Robert Short and Rickie White. The board’s responsibilities include policymaking and educating owners about the co-op.

Voters will have a chance to meet Short and White at a meeting at Carrboro’s Century Center on Oct. 25. Author Michael Shuman will speak about the economic benefits of local food businesses.

The candidates will also make an appearance from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Southern Village location, where visitors may ask them questions.

How does the co-op work?

Owners pay a one-time fee to shop at the market and receive dividends when the market is profitable. This dividend will be given in profitable years based on the amount each owner purchased that fiscal year.

Owners receive coupons on their purchases at the market and can participate in numerous activities such as wine tastings.

Weaver Street holds elections every two years to fill two consumer-owner and two worker-owner spots on the board. The board is rounded out by two board appointees and the market’s general manager.

How is the co-op doing?

Weaver Street experienced a loss of profits in 2008. But their last quarter, which ended in September, showed improvement, said Ruffin Slater, general manager of the co-op.

He attributed the decline in sales in 2008 to the general economic situation and competition from other food markets.

The newer store in Hillsborough is more successful than the ones in Carrboro and Southern Village, he said.

But the co-op is still trying to make up for the $1.2 million loss from last year, according to the market’s 2009 annual report.

Consumer-owners now receive dividends instead of discounts, Slater said.

Eliminating the discounts has saved the co-op $60,000 per month and has helped make up for their losses.

Do people vote in this

election?

Although 14,000 Weaver Street co-owners could be affected by the election, the co-op has historically had low voter turnout.

Last year, only a few hundred of the consumer-owners showed up to vote, Slater said, adding that the turnout was normal for a food co-op.

Many Weaver Street owners said they aren’t planning on voting this year.

“As long as things are going well, members aren’t as likely to vote,” owner Donell Kerns said.

Another owner, Chris Long, said he hadn’t felt compelled to vote.

Owner Maria Hitt said at the market last week that she probably won’t vote, adding that she wasn’t even sure who was running.

“I’m not sure the board has that much power,” she said.

Board chairman Dave Rizzo said he didn’t know why voter turnout is typically low.

“Generally speaking, people are happy with the market,” he said.



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