Aja Kelleher, candidate for Carrboro Town Council
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Carrboro Town Council candidates for special election
Who are the candidates running for the vacant seat on the Carrboro Town Council? The seat was left open when Damon Seils became mayor and has two years left on its term. Get to know your two candidates with our Voter Guide.
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Two people are competing in a special election during the May 17 primary to fill a vacant seat on the Carrboro Town Council.
Fidelity Investments consultant Aja Kelleher, who lost her previous bid to join the council in November, is running against Eliazar Posada to fill former Town Council member Damon Seils’ seat. Seils was elected mayor in November.
The winner of the May council race will serve out the remainder of Seils’ term, which ends in 2023.
Early voting in the primary begins April 28 and runs through May 14.
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: Aja Kelleher
Age: 55
Occupation: Consultant, Fidelity investments
Education: Bachelor of Science, College of Business and IT, University of Illinois at Chicago
Political or civic experience: Co-founder, Barred Owl Creek Neighborhood Coalition; member, Storm Water Advisory Commission
Campaign website: ajaforcarrborotowncouncil.org
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
I funded my own campaign and only accept small donations under $50.
What would be your three top priorities if elected? Choose one, and explain how you would address it.
▪ Accountability
▪ Infrastructure
▪ Climate action
Accountability would be my top priority. Holding the town accountable for its plans, policies and actions consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
What will you do as council member to address the town’s affordability and cost of living?
There are several ways we can help make Carrboro more affordable or help with affordable housing. By creating an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance with an easier permit process and updating our land-use ordinances to allow for multi-unit housing, such as duplexes, triplexes and retail in smaller buildings (mixed use on a smaller scale). The change in these policies and by providing incentives for development will help with our housing supply and improve affordability. It gives homeowners some rental income that can help offset their living expenses. Offering subsidies for affordable housing would be a fast and efficient way to offer help.
What would you change about the direction of Carrboro’s growth? What would you emphasize?
Carrboro has not grown much over the past decade, despite the big demand for more housing and green spaces. We would need more density and development in areas that can support it. We need to improve our land use ordinance and permitting process to encourage growth for any size project — small or large. Instead of a single-family house in downtown Carrboro, build a multistory unit and maybe include a retail storefront. I would emphasize growth that is in line with our values, develop smart neighborhoods and not just big ugly “mean” buildings.
What do you envision for the future of Carrboro’s now-rural Northern Transition Area?
When you run out of land or room to grow, expanding the town’s limits would help with housing and development. We need to be careful how we expand without creating more suburban sprawl. In rural buffers, it would make the most sense to have the one- to five-acre restrictions to keep the character and beauty of the countryside.
This story was originally published April 12, 2022 at 10:07 AM.