Beth Bronson, Candidate for Orange County Board of County Commissioners, District 2

John Rees interviewed Beth Bronson on The Carrborean Radio Hour, which aired Monday, October 19. You can listen to that conversation here. This is a condensed, edited summary of that conversation.

What does District 2 cover, and who gets to vote in this race?

Beth Bronson (BB): District 2 covers much of Orange County outside the Chapel Hill–Carrboro area, including rural communities west of White Cross and north of Weaver Dairy. In the general election, county commissioner candidates appear on every county resident’s ballot unlike the primaries, when District 2 did not appear on the ballot of Carrboro residents.

How do county commissioners’ decisions affect Carrboro residents?

BB: Commissioners approve county land-use and zoning changes and set budgets for services such as the sheriff’s office, emergency services, social services, and schools. County funding supports both Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools.

Why should residents care about the rural buffer?

BB: The rural buffer is intended to preserve farmland and larger parcels around Chapel Hill and Carrboro while encouraging development within town. It’s part of a joint planning agreement involving Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County. Hillsborough has its own extraterritorial jurisdiction and isn’t part of that rural-buffer agreement.

What are your thoughts on the recent property tax assessments?

BB: I’m learning about the revaluation and its effects from county staff and local advocacy groups. An audit presented to the Board of County Commissioners on October 6 identified issues in the assessment process. I want the county to address those findings before the next revaluation, especially to reduce harmful impacts on longtime homeowners and rural farmland.

Editor's note: You can find our summary of that meeting here.

What would you prioritize when it comes to school funding?

BB: I want teachers to be paid adequately and schools to retain the staff they need, including classroom aides. County funding also helps pay for school facilities and needs such as HVAC systems.

Why does the county budget process happen every year?

BB: I don’t have a definitive answer about why it’s structured that way and I don’t want to speak for county staff. But costs can change during the year, and budget decisions also account for projects and plans that extend five to ten years into the future.

What do you enjoy doing in Carrboro?

BB: I enjoy visiting Steel String here in town and at Pluck Farm, checking out local shows and programming, and finding trails. I’ve especially enjoyed seeing the Greenway and Morgan Creek Trail develop and become more accessible over the years.

What would you like to leave voters with?

BB: I encourage people to research the candidates and vote down the ballot. Ballotpedia and the North Carolina State Board of Elections website are useful places to start.

Voting questions? Text or call 888-OUR-VOTE (888-687-8683) or visit ncvoter.org. That is a non-partisan hotline to assist voters who have encountered issues with their registration or voting location, etc.

Voting early can also give people time to address any issues with their voter records.

A note about The Carrborean's election coverage: A note on The Carrborean's election coverage: Other local news outlets have provided information about candidates on the ballot this election season and we are not planning to repeat that coverage. You can find non-partisan information about candidates from NC Voter here.

We will interview candidates who contact us and we will offer the same opportunity to their competitors. Beth Bronson, candidate for OC Board of County Commissioners representing District 2, requested an interview with The Carrborean and that will be posted next week. We offered an interview to the other candidate running for that seat, Lou Capitanio. We have not heard back from him.