Earl McKee, candidate for Orange County Board of Commissioners, District 2
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Orange County Board of Commissioners candidates
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Jamezetta Bedford, candidate for Orange County Board of Commissioners, District 1
Sally Greene, at-large candidate for Orange County Board of Commissioners
Earl McKee, candidate for Orange County Board of Commissioners, District 2
Anna Richards, candidate for Orange County Board of Commissioners, District 1
Three Orange County commissioners are headed to new four-year terms in this year’s election, while a fourth commissioner could be elected to finish serving a two-year term.
No Democratic challengers or Republican candidates have filed for the partisan commissioners race.
Commissioner Earl McKee will be seeking a fourth term representing District 2, which covers most of the county outside of Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
Incumbent Commissioner Sally Greene is seeking another term in the at-large district, which covers the entire county. Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford is running for the District 1 seat, which covers Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
Commissioner Anna Richards was appointed to her District 1 seat last year when former Commissioner Mark Dorosin left for a job in Florida. She is running to finish his term, which expires in 2024.
Early voting in races with primaries begins April 28 and runs through May 14. The general election, when the commissioner candidates will appear on the ballot, is Nov. 8.
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: Earl McKee
Age: 69
Occupation: Engineering inspections, Summit Engineering
Education: Associate’s Degree in Agriculture, N.C. State University
Political or civic experience: Elected county commissioner in 2010; helped form and served on the board of the Caldwell Fire Department, as well as serving as a firefighter
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: facebook.com/EarlMcKeeOrange
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Ben Lloyd, Darrell Chandler, Kaye Crawford. These are my only contributors as I am running unopposed.
What would be your three top priorities if elected? Choose one, and explain how you would address it.
▪ Education
▪ Economic development
▪ Internet access
Due to poor broadband service throughout Orange County, which really came into focus during COVID, I petitioned the board to form a Broadband Task Force, which I currently co-chair with Commissioner Sally Greene. This Task Force will be recommending a provider for board consideration this spring. I requested $5 million be set aside for this effort, and the board approved the request in the last fiscal year. I will continue to work toward reliable internet service in the coming years.
What will you do as commissioner to address countywide affordability and cost of living?
I will continue to work to attract companies that pay at a minimum a living wage based on Orange County’s cost of living. These companies will contribute to our tax base and help reduce our excessive reliance on homes and private property for our tax base.
What will you do as commissioner to address a backlog of school repair and renovation needs?
While serving as chair of the board, the commissioners placed before the voters a bond issue for school infrastructure and repair. With its approval, we have been able to renovate, complete major repairs and upgrade school infrastructure. Given the current backlog of school repair and renovation needs, I will support a future bond issue to address needed new schools and infrastructure upgrades.
What suggestions do you have for better transportation options in Orange County?
Having been a vocal opponent of light rail, I have and will continue to advocate for solutions to address the increasing public transportation needs of our rural residents. The combination of new fixed routes to our various communities and Uber-style service for those in our more isolated areas can address many of these needs. The proposed BRT (bus-rapid transit) service in Chapel Hill, once established, could be expanded to Durham by way of U.S. 15-501. A similar fixed-route service from Durham to Hillsborough and then Mebane could address a critical need in the northern part of the county. As Orange County continues to grow, this issue will become more critical and require a reliable and fiscally responsible solution.
This story was originally published April 12, 2022 at 11:48 AM.