NAME: Frank Abernethy

AGE: 49

OCCUPATION: Quadraplegic, unemployed

EDUCATION: B.A, psychology, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1987

POLITICAL PARTY AND EXPERIENCE: Democrat

CIVIC ACTIVITIES AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS: Disabilities Awareness Council; Literacy Council; won Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service for work with Helpline, a former 24-hour crisis line, trained counselor Steven Ministry at University United Methodist Church

WHY SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED? I've lived in the town of Carrboro since 1987, and my uniqueness of being a quadraplegic for 26 years and an able-bodied person for 23 years gives me a two-way perspective on life. I would add to the diversity of the Board of Aldermen.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 919-932-1314, frankabe@bellsouth.net, No. S6 The Villages, 100 Smith Level Road, Carrboro 27510

1. What specific steps would you take to diversify Carrboro's tax base?

FRANK ABERNETHY: a) Increase the small businesses in the town by possibly offering them some short-term incentives to come to Carrboro. But by doing so we need to ensure that we don't create a bunch of businesses that take advantage of our Hispanic and other less-educated residents by only offering the minimum wage and b) if we can annex more property into the town, we could also have a broader tax base

2. What has the town learned from recent annexations that it can apply to make future annexations more smooth and productive?

FRANK ABERNETHY: It is my belief that if you're going to tell someone that you're going to annex them into the town, you don't make promises you can't keep. If the town promises people they can provide services, they need to make sure the service is going to be provided. The northern area was under the impression that they were possibly going to have an alderman for their area, but they did not get annexed until January and the election was held in November. So that promise was not kept. They were also under the impression the fire station would be built, and it keeps getting pushed back more and more.

3. What kind of growth do you want to see in the northern area, including but not limited to the placement of mixed-use developments.

FRANK ABERNETHY: Building that kind of development would definitely help the tax base, but we need green space too. We can't grow but so big. All the development increases the runoff and pollution in our creeks. If the town of Carrboro wants to build another community like Southern Village they should think about making a park in the community to ensure that we still have woodland or parks for people to enjoy and relax in. Also, if we do expand out there we need to make certain we can keep that area safe by hiring new police officers.