Letters to the Editor
Excerpt from
letter: Planning
Board Chair Backs Three
I have had the great pleasure of working with Lydia Lavelle on
Carrboro's Planning Board. She takes a patient, scholarly and
professional approach to the complex issues that come before us. She
brings strong community values and ecological awareness to the task at
a time when we are greatly challenged to create a sustainable urban
fabric that will serve our children and grandchildren in the future as
well as it serves us today.
James
Carnahan, Carrboro
Chapel Hill News,
November 4th, 2007
Excerpt from
letter: Alderman
Endorses Three for Board
Lydia Lavelle proactively shared her skills and expertise leading the
New Horizon Task Force. Lydia's long experience with open space and
trails inform her current work on Carrboro's Planning Board.
Randee
Haven-O'Donnell, Carrboro
Chapel Hill News,
October 31st, 2007
Excerpt from letter:
Three Will Be Good
Aldermen
...And newcomer Lydia Lavelle will represent the newly annexed area of
Carrboro well. She is level-headed and knowledgeable, and will do what
is right, not just for her immediate neighbors, but for the good of
Carrboro as a whole.
Heidi
Perry, Carrboro
Chapel Hill News,
October 24th, 2007
Vote for Lavelle
I am writing in support of Lydia Lavelle as Carrboro alderman. Although
I am not a resident of Carrboro, I have many opportunities to work with
town representatives. I have also had a long working relationship with
Lydia.
Lydia Lavelle and I worked together as law partners for almost a
decade. During that time we encountered all of the vagaries that
business partners typically encounter, including the stresses and
strains of such mundane things as meeting payroll and paying the rent.
I had the opportunity then to get to know Lydia as a person who is
completely trustworthy and reliable.
However, it was when we worked together advocating for clients that
Lydia’s true qualities stood out. She was always thorough and
objective in her research, even when she was sympathetic to a cause.
She never failed in bringing her most honest assessment to the matter,
but she was also able to communicate her analysis in a way that our
clients would understand and accept. In short, she is thorough, honest
and straightforward. I can think of no better qualifications for a
public servant.
I was most fortunate to work with Lydia. I hope the people of Carrboro
have the same opportunity that I have had, and if they do, I am
confident that they will benefit from it.
Kevin
Foy
Mayor, Chapel Hill
Carrboro Citizen,
October 17th, 2007
Chilton, Broun, Coleman, Lavelle
Earlier this week, the NC Chapter of the Sierra Club announced its
endorsement of Mark Chilton for mayor of Carrboro and Joal Hall Broun,
Dan Colemen and Lydia Lavelle
for the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. I myself cannot vote for these
candidates because I do not live in Carrboro. However, if I lived in
Carrboro I would vote for these candidates. I have followed
Mark’s environmental initiatives since he was on the Chapel
Hill Town Council while a UNC student. Joal Hall Broun, Dan Coleman and
Lydia Lavelle
are all working on transit, an issue crucial to the future health of
our community. Dan Coleman is working with the Planning Board to
develop green building guidelines.
All of these candidates are environmental leaders and will take action
to ensure that we have a healthy environment for the future. I am sure
that as a team they will work diligently to implement the commitment to
the Sierra Club’s “Cool Cities” campaign.
Carrboro has pledged to reduce carbon emissions to 7 percent below the
1990 level by 2012.
Bernadette
Pelissier
Carrboro Citizen,
October 17th, 2007
Unique Candidate for a Unique Town
I practice law in downtown Carrboro. As a businesswoman, I am pleased
that Lydia Lavelle is running for alderman.
I have known Lydia for 17 years. We attended law school and clerked at
the N.C. Court of Appeals together. Lydia is a hard worker and a good
listener who respects others' opinions. She is very effective at moving
people toward solutions.
Lydia is a unique candidate in that she is a resident of the newly
annexed northern part of town, yet she has been working on issues that
face all of Carrboro for some time now.
Consider supporting Lydia for alderman.
Alice
Glover, Carrboro
Chapel Hill News,
October 13th, 2007
Excerpt from letter supporting incumbents and Lydia
...Ms. Lavelle became a resident of Carrboro when her neighborhood was
annexed in January 2006. She was the chairwoman of the New Horizons
Task Force, which was formed to help ease new residents into the town.
Of the three candidates from the annexed neighborhoods vying for a seat
on the BoA, only Ms. Lavelle has the experience, temperament and
skillset to work collaboratively with other board members in order to
effectively represent these new residents and all of Carrboro. In her
career as an attorney, Ms. Lavelle regularly brings together parties
with divergent viewpoints — it’s where she excels.
She is levelheaded, brings efficiency to process and is a master
thinker. She is a staunch advocate for the environment and brings a
wealth of experience from her involvement on numerous Durham City
advisory groups.
Gary
Kramling, Carrboro
Carrboro Citizen,
October 11th, 2007
Candidate has shown good leadership
Carrboro voters, please consider
Lydia Lavelle for Board of Aldermen.
I worked with Lydia on the Town of Carrboro New Horizons Task Force,
chartered to serve as a "communications conduit" between the town and
its recently annexed residents. We could have easily become mired in
bitterness over the annexation, but Lydia guided us into positive,
productive activities, to the benefit of our neighbors and the town.
She is a consensus builder, a listener, with a strong sense of ethics,
years of experience in public service and a background in law. She is
truly "levelheaded leadership for Carrboro." --
Charlie
Buckner, Carrboro
Chapel Hill News,
October 10th, 2007
Supporting Lavelle
Carrboro is fortunate to have Lydia Lavelle running for a seat on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen this fall. Lydia is an outstanding candidate and human being. I have known her for 23 years and her character, qualifications and dedication are all beyond reproach.
Lydia has extensive municipal and volunteer experience. She has a long-standing commitment to open space, trails and greenways. The board will benefit from her leadership on these issues.
She demonstrated her collaborative approach to leadership with her positive, assertive response to the recent controversial annexation of 300 households north of Homestead Road by serving as the chair of the New Horizons Task Force. This group served as communication conduit and liaison to guide the transition. In addition, she used her service on that group to spearhead the creation of guidelines and protocol to guide future annexations in a way that will be less contentious for the town and more respectful of the soon-to-be annexed.
Lydia currently serves on the town’s Planning Board, which has given her an understanding of the complicated design review process and working knowledge of the Land Use Ordinance. This service has allowed her to develop relationships with town staff and elected officials. She is eager to use knowledge and these relationships to benefit the town as an alderman.
Lydia is the rare individual who has the skills to lead, the passion for service and the personality to get things done. I encourage you to join me in casting your vote for Lydia Lavelle.
Nancy Duffner, Carrboro
Carrboro Citizen,
October 11th, 2007