Chapel Hill has never been a town given to sitting around twiddling its thumbs and talking about the weather, but seldom has it found itself looking toward a period of such profound activity as it does now.

On most issues you can point to, the town is in transition. Many of the changes havenÕt hit the ground yet, but the all-important planning for them is well underway. The Town Council we put in place for the coming term will go a long way toward determining how those changes affect the community.

UNC is moving forward with plans for Carolina North, a project that will carry enormous implications for the rest of town. Downtown is looking at major new projects, notably Greenbridge and the Lot 5 development. The thorny questions of what to do about the homeless shelter and the countyÕs planned waste transfer station refuse to go away. The town needs good guidelines for coming growth in the northwest quadrant. The evergreen issues of affordability, environmental protection, transportation, neighborhood and historic preservation . . . all are very much in play.

WeÕve been skeptical of the Lot 5 development, and we think that project would have been well served by a more questioning voice or two at the table, but on most fronts the current council has led the town wisely and well.

With that in mind, we endorse the following candidates in Chapel Hill:

Kevin Foy has deftly guided the town during his time as mayor. He has struck the right tone for the townÕs dealings with the university on Carolina North: collaborative, but firm in ensuring that the massive project be done in such a way as to minimize potential negative impacts on the town and the environment. He has led Chapel Hill to a position as one of the most environmentally progressive communities in the state. Under FoyÕs leadership the town has set policies to increase the stock of affordable housing. HeÕs been forthright in his willingness to take on the issue of homelessness. Foy is a steady hand at the helm, and weÕre confident he will keep the town on course.

Jim Ward has proved himself a strong, independent-minded council member, willing to buck the tide when he believes thatÕs necessary. He voted against the Lot 5 contract because he said it carried too great a financial commitment and he wasnÕt satisfied with its energy efficiency standards. HeÕs been a firm advocate for environmental protection and for the townÕs interests in the face of Carolina North. His principled stance on all the issues the town faces makes him a valuable member of the council.

Sally Greene has taken lead roles and helped steer the town in the right direction on a number of important issues. She chaired a community task force on affordable housing and from the very start she has been one of the leaders of the effort to end homelessness. She has been an advocate for both environmental and historic preservation. Greene is well prepared, reasoned and persuasive, and we look forward to her continued leadership in the next four years.

Bill Strom has been the councilÕs most active and vocal representative in its negotiations on Carolina North, and in that role he has managed the delicate balance between cooperation with the university and commitment to the townÕs rights and interests. In his work on the council and in the seemingly endless list of committees and work groups heÕs been on, heÕs proved himself an energetic and able advocate for the environment, affordable housing, mass transit and neighborhood protection.

Will Raymond brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the table. Few people in or out of government do as much homework as he does. His contributions to the public debate have provided valuable depth and context. HeÕs served on the townÕs Technology Board, Horace Williams CitizenÕs Committee and Downtown Parking Task Force. HeÕs been faulted on occasion for being overly fervent, but his ideas and strength of conviction, employed judiciously and tempered with a willingness to listen and compromise, can be a valuable asset.