Kathleen Ferguson, candidate for Hillsborough Board of Commissioners
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Three candidates are running in the November election to fill two seats on the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners.
Incumbent Kathleen Ferguson is running for a third term in the nonpartisan Nov. 2 election. Her opponents are incumbent board member Robb English and challenger Anna Linvill.
Early voting in the nonpartisan Nov. 2 election begins Oct. 14 and runs through Oct. 30.
To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit co.orange.nc.us/1720/Elections or contact the Board of Elections at 919-245-2350 or vote@orangecountync.gov.
Name: Kathleen Ferguson
Age: 58
Residence: 517 Central Ave., Hillsborough
Occupation: Senior director, Strategic Planning, Biostatistical Consulting Services, ICON PLC
Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Alabama, Huntsville; UNC School of Government Advanced Leadership Corps; Leadership Triangle Goodmon Fellow
Political or civic experience: Hillsborough Commissioner (2 terms), Fairview Community Watch member (8 years), Chair, Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, Orange County Housing Collaborative, Orange County Local Re-entry Council Advisory Board Local Government Representative, Orange County My Brothers/Sisters Keeper/MentorNC Advisory Board, Chair, Triangle J Council of Governments, NC Regional Association of Councils of Government Elected Leaders Forum Triangle J representative, 1st Vice Chair, NC Women in Municipal Government, Orange County Opioid Task Force
Past: Mayor Pro Tem (2015-2016), Community Home Trust Board of Directors (6 years), Solid Waste Advisory Board (2 years), Hillsborough Tourism Board and Tourism Development Authority (2 years), NC League of Municipalities Board Member (1 year), Chair, Orange County Economic Development Commission (3 years), Orange County Small Business Loan Board Member (4 years), Cornelius Street/Highway 70 Corridor Redevelopment Plan task force, Hillsborough/Orange County Interlocal Boundary ( Strategic Growth) Committee, Hillsborough Heights Community Watch Co-Founder, President (9 years); Carolina Theatre Durham Volunteer Advisory Board (2 years), Carolina Theatre Durham Usher Captain (4 years)
Campaign website: kathleenfergusonnc.com
Endorsements: Sierra Club
What do you think the town’s top three priorities should be? Choose one and describe how you will work to address it.
▪ Resilience and recovery preparedness
▪ Infrastructure
▪ Affordable housing.
While I will continue to advocate for saving existing affordable housing while increasing housing affordable for our service providers, vets, seniors,(domestic violence) survivors, those on SSI/DI (Social Security/disability income), and others on limited incomes, my primary concerns relate to our needs to upgrade our public works facilities, and wastewater, and water treatment facilities and infrastructure in ways that support our clean energy goals. Given that our infrastructure needs exceed $50 million, I expect the question of when and how much of another bond referendum will come before our board over the next four years.
As the board member who led the efforts resulting in adoption of the clean energy resolution, I will continue supporting these efforts in a financially healthy manner. l also will continue to utilize my regional and state relationships to identify potential grant and funding opportunities, alert staff and fellow commissioners of potential opportunities or threats from the legislature, as well as utilize those relationships to advocate against NCGA unfunded mandates. Equally important, I will continue engaging community members to help our residents be informed of the issues and actions we are taking
What is the town doing right, and wrong, about development and growth?
Much of the growth we have been seeing is related to approvals that were voted on before the great recession. Since joining the board in 2013, we have turned down far more developments than we have approved. The exceptions were Collins Ridge — which I voted against for many reasons — and the new Habitat communities on Odie Street and behind Meadowlands, which I gladly voted for.
I continue to believe that focusing growth on infill development and smart density continues to offer the best way to ensure sufficient water/sewer capacity, the most cost-effective delivery of services, the best opportunities for increasing developer-built sidewalks, and the most effective means for limiting negative environmental impacts, and the best way to support our clean energy goals. I also believe smart infill growth is best for preserving our town’s character.
However, as we face the challenges of retrofitting a 250-year-old town, traffic will continue to be a pain point for many. It was disappointing to learn that DOT analysis showed that widening Churton Street would fail to alleviate traffic. However, we continue to work with DOT to explore how the Orange Grove/Mayo Road realignment and 86 connector can improve traffic flow. In the meantime, we are likely to see increasing usage of the 85/70 connector, Waterstone Drive, and Lawrence Road as alternative routes.
With respect to commercial and economic development, we have been successful in maintaining a 60/40 residential/commercial tax split, and we are seen as being the easiest place in the county (next to Mebane) to start and grow a business. What concerns me is that as Mebane and Chatham Park continue to grow and attract desirable businesses, I worry that many of the shops and employers our residents seek will be drawn toward their areas and that our 60/40 ratio will decrease.
This is why I continue to advocate for strong destination tourism based on our history, arts, and charm, along with smart growth that supports a healthy population density and commercial zoning that businesses look for. I continue to support commercial business in our commercial zones and the retention and recruitment of businesses that offer jobs across the skills/ income continuum.
How can Hillsborough preserve its small-town, historic character while meeting the needs of an increasing number of new residents and developments?
Several actions the town does and should continue to take to maintain our special sense of place include supporting current and new events and activities in our historic areas (Historic District, West Hillsborough, Fairview) that bring together folk from across town, especially those which evoke Small Town USA nostalgia, and continue highlighting our history, arts, and outdoors in branded advertising.
Museum, Burwell, and Visitor Center events/exhibits focusing on local history, culture, personalities along with bands/events on the Courthouse lawn and resident-driven parades such as Handmade Parade and Christmas Parade, are uniquely small town.
Our beloved News of Orange and WHUP are invaluable in connecting us and celebrating our special character. Ensuring their healthy survival is important if not integral for our community.
Additionally, once the pandemic ends, I would like to see our boards hold meetings in our neighborhoods to increase intimacy between our residents and board members.
Last but not least, focusing development on smart infill growth emphasizes our small-town character and promotes integration of new and current residents while also eliminating the type of sprawl that has destroyed many a community.
What skill or life experience do you have that would bring diversity to local government?
As a resident of a neighborhood that bridges Fairview and West Hillsborough, I continue to believe that it is important for the Town Board members to include residents from as many neighborhoods around town as possible.
Growing up in Huntsville, Alabama, as the daughter of a country boy who also was one of the founding NASA engineers from MICOMM and a registered nurse who was the costumer for Huntsville Opera Theatre, I represent perspectives that bridge a multitude of contradictions. I have always contributed to my community: 1,000 hours candystriping in high school, Madison County Women’s Political Caucus and Polk County, Iowa, Democrat Platform Committee Chair as a young adult.
Moving here, I co-founded and led Hillsborough Heights community watch that successfully rid criminal activity that made neighbors afraid to enjoy being outside, which led to participating on various task forces and boards. I still am active with Fairview Community Watch.
As a former stepmother to a grown child with traumatic brain injury and dual diagnoses, I experienced the struggles folks go through navigating our mental health, health, and social services systems. I continue the navigation now, including Medicaid, Medicare, housing, transportation, and more, as an advocate for a severe DV (domestic violence) survivor who now stays with me whenever she has one of her copious medical providers’ appointments. These experiences fill me with empathy for those who have to interact with government and have enabled me to effectively help residents connect with resources and resolve issues. My interactions with nonprofits across numerous sectors have led me to make connections between them and with others, and they inform the causes I advocate for and the decisions I vote for.
These and more drive my desire to leverage the policymaking authority granted by the legislature to create and ensure a town that welcomes and supports all, especially those whose are the backbone of our community and the vulnerable.
This story was originally published October 5, 2021 at 8:26 AM with the headline "Kathleen Ferguson, candidate for Hillsborough Board of Commissioners."