Six people have already filed their paperwork to run for the Cary Village Board.
The candidates are:
- Dale Collier
- Jim Cosler (Incumbent)
- Kimberly Covelli (Incumbent)
- Ellen McAlpine (Incumbent)
- Tim Ritter
- Shawn Wheeler
Incumbents Kimberly Covelli and Jim Cosler were elected in 2015 via a record-breaking write-in campaign which was largely themed on restoring people’s voice in local government.
Pedcor low income housing project had just been approved despite serious resident opposition to its location.
Throughout their term the two have made significant strides by interacting with their constituents through use of their Facebook page (Cary Connection).
Of the four other candidates, Collier, McAlpine, and Wheeler have joined to form a slate they call “We Unite Cary”.
Their website www.weunitecary.com lists “The Issues” as
- taxes
- economic development
- Maplewood
- village Board conduct
With Trustee Ellen McAlpine as the incumbent in this slate, one must cast a skeptical eye on at least two of their platform issues, taxes and Board conduct.
In 2017, McAlpine was scolded by the State’s Attorney for an improper vote on the use of taxpayer funds, a type of vote which she repeated in May 2018.
She has also championed a higher property tax levy as a panacea for Cary’s budget problems, leading the vote two weeks ago to raise the Village’s property tax levy.
Newcomer Tim Ritter is relatively unknown, but the real story here will probably come down to Cosler/Covelli versus an attempt to control the Board under the leadership of Mayor Mark Kownick.
Kownick narrowly defeated Cosler in the 2017 round of village elections.
If the slate prevails, Mayor Kownick will have the Board votes he needs on any issue.
I look forward to running and bringing to light the issues that the current board faces.
Having the entire Cary Village board run by the Cary-Grove Chamber of Commerce might not be the best of ideas as the Chamber would have the power to pass any legislation they want.
With the conduct of the Mayor and others from the Chamber, I question if their motives will truly benefit the citizens of Cary instead of their own personal agendas.
With three shady dealings to date this year alone involving the Mayor and Trustee McAlpine, can we really afford to have more backroom deals and shady behind the scene actions take place?
I do not really count on them anymore to do what is right for the people of Cary like they are supposed to as elected representatives.
I prefer an open public government system.
Something only a few current of our officials care about.
Let’s not go in the wrong direction this April.
Ooooh that big bad scary…Chamber of Commerce!?
Seriously?
The Chamber of Commerce?
Cary never fails to amuse.
Thanks for the info Tim, I don’t believe trustee Costler has any vision for Cary, other than to oppose anything Mr. Kownick brings before the board. Now it looks like you don’t either.
I can safely scratch you off the list of a potential vote.
As an adult male i can’t even buy a pair of socks in Cary.
We have open land that can be developed and yet we have nothing and only opposition to anything that is proposed.
We need to move forward and Mr Kownick has tried to facilitate that.
But with the likes of Costler, Kraus and Covelli we seem to be stuck in the Status Quo.
As long as these people oppose everything that comes along, enjoy your pizza, get your nails done, dry clean a shirt and have a cocktail because that is all we have in Cary.
“I do not really count on them anymore to do what is right for the people of Cary like they are supposed to as elected representative.”
They are not elected “representatives” they are elected “trustees”.
Please take a political science course.
They don’t “represent people” they were elected to do what they feel is in the best interest of the village, entrusted as it were.
If you think you are going to “represent the people” you are in for a rude awakening.
Perhaps you can convey to the candidates my continuing willingness to publish press releases from any local candidate.
It would be funny if all three incumbents lost.
They would have plenty of time at home to think about which chair to sit in.
Sorry Stephen but if you are elected by a voting system you are there to represent the entire organization that you represent. In this case the people of Cary. It doesn’t really matter if you call it a trustee or Representative, the job remains the same. Do what is best for Cary.
I have a large scale view moving forward about how to attract the businesses that you seek. I say one way to do that is to start moving to more sustainable systems.
I don’t own a business but I would imagine that if I tell a potential new business owner that he will have cheap constant electric rates for the next 20 years that it would give him a competitive edge over his competition who has to deal with rate increases.
I agree though that many on the current board have very little long term planning views. Not even the comprehensive plan is defined enough moving forward. If you are going to vote against something that you don’t agree with then you had better put up an alternative idea.
I can tell you that Covelli and Cosler did vote stuff down often but offered very little as another path or option. I certainly do not do that.
“I have a large scale view moving forward about how to attract the businesses that you seek. I say one way to do that is to start moving to more sustainable systems.”
Talking point?
What are those?
You need to convince me.
You sound like a politician making promises with no substance.
How do we get cheaper electricity?
How do you facilitate that?
What is that path or options?