Herrera out, Slade running for alderman

Carrboro Alderman John Herrera announced Tuesday night he will not seek re-election. He gave his support to challenger Sammy Slade, who announced earlier that night he will run.

"I think Sammy brings so many things to this town," Herrera said. "He is a community organizer and has planted many seeds. And I look forward to him becoming the second Latino alderman in the town of Carrboro."

In an outdoor gathering under a soft patter of rain, Slade announced his candidacy Tuesday to about 45 supporters in the Carrboro Community Garden off Hillsborough Road. Slade helped found the garden, located in the town's Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

"I believe I have much to offer Carrboro," he said. Expanding participation in the town's decisions will be a mainstay in his campaign, he said.

Slade, 34, is a community organizer, urban farmer and a carpenter and estimated he spends 60 percent of his time volunteering. He is the co-founder and co-coordinator of the Carrboro Greenspace, a group that promotes community, sustainability and public space that all can enjoy. He has been involved with the Orange County Democratic Party, including serving as a precinct chairman.

After growing up in Chapel Hill and Carrboro and then doing some traveling, Slade decided, "this is one of the best places I can be."

Slade read from a prepared statement but otherwise deferred comment on particular issues. "I plan to spend the summer laying out the details of my platform," he said. "I look forward to an active campaign in the fall, meeting the voters, and discussing the issues with them."

The Carrboro mayor and three alderman seats are up for re-election in November. The official filing period starts July 6.

Staff writer Julian March

WINSTON-SALEM

Judge grants delay in Eve Carson case

A federal judge agreed Monday to delay the federal trial of Demario Atwater, one of two suspects charged with murdering Eve Carson, the former UNC student body president.

Atwater is accused in federal court of car-jacking and kidnapping charges that could bring the death penalty if he's convicted.

The murder case is in state court.

Jim Woodall, the Orange County District Attorney, said Monday that he would try to get all the lawyers from the state and federal cases together in early July to develop a schedule for Atwater and Laurence Alvin Lovette, who also is charged with killing Carson.

Carson was found dead in March 2008 in a Chapel Hill neighborhood near campus. Investigators say Carson was shot several times by Lovette before Atwater fired a shotgun blast to her head.

Atwater has been in federal custody since November. His federal case was set for November, but his defense lawyers filed a motion asking for the trial to be delayed until May.

The federal defense team said a trial any sooner than May would not give it adequate time to prepare for the capital case.

CHAPEL HILL

Pease announces Town Council bid

Gene Pease, a veteran of community boards, is running for Chapel Hill Town Council.

He joins Penny Rich and incumbents Laurin Easthom, Ed Harrison and Jim Merritt among announced candidates for council. The official filing period opens July 6.

Councilman Mark Kleinschmidt, whose term also expires, is running for mayor, along with Councilman Matt Czajkowski and Augustus Cho, chairman of the town Transportation Advisory Board.

Pease has served on the OWASA board, Chapel Hill Planning Board, Chapel Hill Public Library Building Committee, Horace Williams Citizens Committee and a Citizens Budget and Finance Committee.

"Professionally, I have over 20 years experience with managing budgets through difficult economic cycles as the chief executive officer of several privately held companies," he said. "These experiences have collectively prepared me to help guide Chapel Hill through uncertain, yet exciting times."

Pease says the town needs to better balance essential town services and progressive social policies. He said he will not be using taxpayer dollars to finance his campaign. The town is testing out a pilot public financing program that will give candidates money in exchange for limiting their spending.

"My family has lived in Chapel Hill for the past 13 years. My wife is active in the local arts community, my oldest daughter graduated from Chapel Hill High and UNC, and my youngest graduated from East Chapel Hill," he said. "Chapel Hill is a very special place. I want to continue to work to make this an interesting, diverse, and stimulating place to live for everyone."

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