Imagine....

A new, innovative vision for a sustainable local economy

Here’s what diverse citizens across Chatham tell us they want county leaders to do:

Green/ Clean Economic Development

  • Recruit green, clean high-tech industry and business for decent wages and benefits
  • Support community-college programs for green-collar job training, alternative energy development and sustainable farming
  • Support high-speed telecommunications to encourage business and tele-commuting
  • Support “place-based” economic development that encourages local arts, tourism entrepreneurs, non-profits, and farms

Quality Schools for All Children

  • Build and upgrade all schools to 21st-century learning standards
  • Strive for small community schools with small class size
  • Attract and reward first-rate, diverse teachers

Energy-Efficient and Healthy Communities

  • Encourage energy-efficient and alternative energy design, location and construction for public and private projects
  • Encourage industries to reduce carbon emissions
  • Support public transit networks
  • Encourage energy-efficient and alternative fuels for government vehicles
  • Require developers to provide and/or fund sidewalks, trails and public parks to encourage walking, cycling and other recreation

Responsible Land-Use Planning/ Sustainable Development

  • Locate developments and infrastructure strategically to avoid suburban sprawl and protect our natural resources and farms
  • Encourage attractive and affordable housing for working people
  • Protect Jordan Lake, our rivers and streams through comprehensive watershed planning and land-use protections

Open Government

  • Develop citizen advisory councils for each part of the county
  • Be accountable for promises and actions
  • Avoid closed-door sessions and be as open as possible for all deliberations
  • Expand/revise the Board of Commissioners to ensure more representation from western Chatham to balance population growth in northeast Chatham



Sally Kost and Jeffrey Starkweather are committed to these goals and look forward to the opportunity to work as elected officials, along with Commissioners Lucier, Thompson and Vanderbeck, to fulfill them.