Carrboro’s 2023 candidates weigh in on town priorities, what they would do if elected
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2023 Carrboro mayor and Town Council election
Carrboro voters will elect a new mayor and fill three open seats on the Carrboro Town Council in November. At least two Town Council members will be new. Early voting in the nonpartisan Nov. 7 election starts Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 4..
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Once considered the blue-collar alternative to Chapel Hill and its flagship university, Carrboro has long since come into its own, with a funky, creative vibe and a tolerant attitude that invites residents and visitors alike to “feel free.”
But beneath the surface are tensions, over the future of a greenway; taller buildings downtown; and town budgets that strain already high property taxes.
The town’s population is now more than 21,300 inside of 6.5 square miles, making it one of North Carolina’s most dense towns. Infill development is happening in many neighborhoods, further driving up housing prices to a median of over $500,000. Challenges range from stormwater and climate change to equity, and the future of just a handful of tracts suitable for large commercial development.
This year, the town will elect a new mayor — current Carrboro Town Council member Barbara Foushee is running unopposed — and three council members.
The new council could fill Foushee’s vacant council seat next year. She will replace Damon Seils, who ends his first term as mayor in December.
The only council incumbent running for re-election is Eliazar Posada, a community advocate and the state’s first out LGBTQ Latino official, who was elected in a 2022 special election. His opponents are accounting software consultant Catherine Fray, former bike shop owner Jason Merrill, business development professional April Mills, and IT systems analyst Stephanie Wade.
Voting information
Carrboro voters can register through 5 p.m. Oct. 13 to vote in this year’s elections, or register during early voting, which runs Oct. 19-Nov. 4. Voters can cast a ballot at any Early Voting site.
People voting on Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 7 — can only vote in their precinct. Orange County voters can find their polling location at tinyurl.com/4p3tvhhe.
The deadline for most voters to request an absentee, or mail-in, ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 31. However, active members of the military, their spouse and dependents, and U.S. citizens who are overseas have until 5 p.m. Nov. 6.
Request a ballot online or submit a request via mail at PO Box 220, Hillsborough, NC 27278, or in person at the Orange County elections office, 208 S. Cameron St., Hillsborough.
More information about the 2023 election can be found online at orangecountync.gov/1720/Elections.
The News & Observer asked the mayoral and council candidates five questions about the town’s priorities and their ideas. Follow the links below to see how each candidate responded.
Carrboro mayor
Carrboro Town Council
