In Saturday's News & Observer, Chapel Hill mayoral candidate Matt Czajkowski "lamented" what he calls an Orange County Democratic Party voter drive asking "This is supposed to be how Chapel Hill leads when it comes to democracy?" The answer to his question is yes -- this is precisely how Chapel Hill leads in getting people engaged.

I am disappointed that Mr. Czajkowski criticizes the county party for encouraging people to come to the polls in Orange County. Apparently, Mr. Czajkowski, who is unaffiliated, fears that he will not be able to appeal to Democratic voters. Because Mark Kleinschmidt is the only registered Democrat in the Chapel Hill mayor's race, Mr. Czajkowski apparently believes that the Democratic Party should not have held candidate forums, should stop providing information about early voting, links to voter guides and information about candidate endorsements on our website, and that the party should refrain from encouraging county Democrats to come to the polls in this election.

Turnout in the last Chapel Hill municipal election was 15.6 percent. When turnout is in the low double-digits, encouraging people to vote is the responsible thing to do. The county party has not recruited or endorsed any candidates. We are not distributing literature for any candidates or coordinating with any campaigns. Our precincts and the Orange County Democratic Women held municipal candidate forums, and Mr. Czajkowski was invited to and attended all of them. He did not assert then that there was something improper about the party holding forums to educate the community and encourage people to vote.

Jim White

Chair, Orange County

Democratic Party