Chatham County Commissioner Jim Crawford said he didn’t get re-elected last week.
“I was allowed to keep my job,” he said, “so I’m going to keep working.”
Chatham voters returned Crawford and fellow Democrat commissioner Diana Hales to their positions last week with margins of about 11 percent over their respective Republican challengers Neil Lindley and Brian Bock.
After the election, both incumbents admitted the draining nature of a rigorous campaign season; at the same time, each said they were keeping a steady eye on the future of their new four-year terms.
Crawford reflected this week on the future of Chatham County while working at the Chatham Cider Works cidery. In between filling kegs for delivery and unexpected visits from constituents, Crawford focused on one of the major projects the board will address during his coming term.
“The big thing is working on the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO),” he said. “This is how we can implement some of the ideas from the award-winning Plan Chatham.”
Plan Chatham is a broad, comprehensive plan Chatham’s commissioners approved last year. The plan has been nominated for a $250,000 award from AETNA for healthy communities. Crawford explained that the UDO would be the actual code impacting zoning as it is implemented.
“That’s going to be an extensive process,” he said. “It will likely take 18 months.”
Hales, the commission board’s current chairman, also noted the importance of moving forward following approval of Plan Chatham.
“The comprehensive land use plan is a significant document on how we are going to address growth, transportation, health, and services in Chatham County,” she said.
Separately, Crawford and Hales noted the importance of attracting, training, and retaining young people in Chatham County. Whether in terms of education, economic development, or affordable housing, each said they believed that one of the greatest challenges and opportunities for Chatham as it grows is its ability to support young people as the majority of the county’s population ages.
“We have an opportunity relative to economic development to attract young people by jobs they want to work as well as provide the services required in serving our retiree needs,” Hales said.
Crawford noted the board’s continued support for new schools and investments in Carolina Central Community College, such as the Health Sciences building, were invaluable for ensuring a viable workforce for any businesses looking to locate in Chatham County.
Crawford also voiced strong support for Chatham Promise, a proposal from CCCC by which certain Chatham County graduates will qualify to have two years free tuition at the college.
“As important as the options on the megasites were for job prospects, no matter what company decides to come here, we will be able to handle their training needs immediately,” Crawford said.
Hales, Crawford, and Commissioner Walter Petty, who ran unopposed, will be sworn in during the December meeting of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. The chairman and vice chairman roles for the upcoming year will also be decided at that meeting.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners meets the first the third Mondays of the month at the Historic Chatham Courthouse in Pittsboro.