Now that the electoral cycle is over, candidates and our supporters are conscientiously taking down campaign signs around the county. If you see any of my signs lingering along the roadside, please let me know at barry.j@mindspring.com or at 732-4384.

Also published in the Carrboro Citizen and the Chapel Hill News.

 	 	                Percent	Votes
Joe Phelps (DEM)		31.76%	3,689
Barry Jacobs (DEM)		52.74%	6,125
Joal Hall Broun (DEM)		15.50%	1,800
 	 	 	               11,614

Barry Jacobs has my vote for county commissioner. I hope he will have yours as well.

Frances Shetley
Carrboro

Letter to the editor published in the Chapel Hill News, April 28, 2010.

I’ve known Barry since meeting him through a mutual friend and volunteering for his first campaign 12 years ago. Now he’s running for a fourth (and probably final) term on the Board of Commissioners. I don’t agree with every vote of ANY single elected official, and Barry is no exception. But I have found him to be smart, hardworking, and open-minded.

He brings a deep understanding of many critical issues facing the county such as smart growth, affordable housing, environmental preservation, economic development, and social justice. He has the experience to know the people and history on these issues, and knows how to get things done. There’s no part of the county that Barry doesn’t care about and hasn’t worked to improve, for example he has worked for the creation of a downtown Carrboro library in addition to helping to create the existing Cybrary and supporting increased funds for the Chapel Hill library.

Also, I helped to create his web site, so I hope you’ll visit it. http://barryjacobs.org

Ruby Sinreich
Chapel Hill

Early voting starts this Thursday at the County Board of Elections. Vote Barry Jacobs, For Orange.

Paul Falduto
Efland

Published in the News of Orange, April 23, 2010.

His skill and patience in listening to and accommodating competing views is unsurpassed in the more than 40 years I have lived and worked here.

His service as chair of the Board of Commissioners, as chair of the Triangle J Council of Governments, as chair of the OWASA Board of Directors, and as chair of the County Planning Board, confirms the confidence his peers have shown in his leadership skills.

The net result of his service has advanced our community’s watershed and natural resource protection policies; assured strategic land development planning and management; produced outstanding, efficient schools; created rural and farmland enhancement programs; and, always, underscored the special importance of promoting local and regional appreciation of water supply protection and conservation.

I encourage all Orange County voters to vote for Barry Jacobs in the May primary, and to re-elect him this fall as Orange County commissioner.

Bob Epting
Chapel Hill

Letter to the editor published in the Chapel Hill News, April 21, 2010

As a citizen of Orange County, I am extremely impressed with Commissioner Barry Jacobs. Having worked with Barry on the Human Relations Commission, I have noted his commitment to social justice and safe communities. His support to quality public education is unrivaled.

I have seen his passion and desire for sustainable economic growth by diversifying the Orange County tax base and reducing our dependence on residential property taxes.

Our agricultural heritage, affordable housing, senior and library services have all seen Barry’s support and efforts.

My vote on May 4th, will be for commitment, dedication and a proven track record. My vote will be for Barry Jacobs.

Bryant Colson
Hillsborough

Letter to the editor published in the Chapel Hill news, April 21, 2010

As Ruby wrote:

Barry is smart, thoughtful, and has a talent for understanding policy. Of course he’s also quite progressive or you know I wouldn’t be supporting him! This year he has two strong challengers and I want to make sure people join me in supporting him and spreading the word about why others should as well.

This isn’t a fundraising event (although I’m sure Barry would welcome donations) and it will be 90% socializing and having fun. I just want to take the opportunity to get people together to celebrate my birthday AND to learn why the best birthday gift to me would be Barry winning the Democratic, At-large primary on May 4th.

If you’d like to join us, you can RSVP on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112885078740591

The news that Ed Davis decided to turn pro unofficially concluded North Carolina’s 2009-10 basketball season.

The Tar Heels have now yielded 19 players early to the NBA, going back to Robert McAdoo in 1972. That’s believed to be more than any other school, and an indication both of the caliber of players who come to Chapel Hill and of the handicap UNC coaches overcome year in and year out in maintaining program continuity.

In fact, you could argue the spotty results of the ’10 season reflected the difficulty, often overlooked, of adjusting to early departures.

Roy Williams did a masterful job of maintaining the program’s stride in 2006, a year after winning a national title and watching four key players leave early – Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Sean May and Rashad McCants. A similar exodus ensued following the 2009 championship, with junior backcourt starters Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington going pro alongside seniors Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green.

Given recent precedent, it was easy to assume Williams and Company would adjust seamlessly.

So much for assumptions.

Williams has been at this coaching business long enough to spy the pitfalls that lay ahead for the ’10 squad, which had scant backcourt experience. “Everybody, we always love big guys and all that stuff but I’ve got to have guards,” he said last summer. “I’ve got to have some perimeter players that know what they’re doing.”

Little did he know that he wouldn’t have an overload of big guys, either. Tyler Zeller, perhaps the best all-around player on the team, missed 10 games due to a foot injury. Each of the Wear brothers, Travis and David, was sidelined for a time.

Davis, the Heels’ interior anchor, broke his wrist and played but 23 of 37 games — and still had 62 blocked shots, more than all but two players in the ACC.

Davis’ 6.7 defensive rebounds per game would have topped the league, had he played enough to qualify among official leaders. Of course the 6-10 sophomore was in the process of developing his nascent offensive skills, too, making a handsome 57.8 percent of his shots from the floor.

Those who watched Davis in action, and wished he would work harder to get open on offense or assert himself more strongly, might have wondered if he’s ready for the NBA. (To be fair a big man only can do so much; other than grabbing offensive rebounds, he depends on guards to get him the ball.) Unfortunately, as we’ve learned after watching enough half-refined talents head for the pros, getting drafted is as often about potential as polish, especially for big guys.

While the spate of injuries to frontcourt personnel clearly handicapped the Tar Heels, there was at least one serendipitous side-effect. Call it the Vinny Del Negro effect.

Back in 1987, N.C. State coach Jim Valvano coveted speed and quickness at point guard after tall, heady Nate McMillan graduated. Valvano tried Kelsey Weems. He tried Kenny Drummond. He tried Quentin Jackson. Each fit the physical profile, but did not fill the role of disciplined, team-oriented, pass-first playmaker.

Meanwhile, the 6-4 Del Negro sat quietly on the bench, racking up about two assists per turnover when he did occasionally see action. Finally, when all else failed, in his 50th college game the junior got his first start.

Still, the Wolfpack struggled until winning its last three games of the regular season. Then State surprised everyone by sweeping to the ACC Tournament title as the sixth seed, upsetting No. 3 Duke and edging top-seed North Carolina 68-67 in the finals.

The event’s MVP? Del Negro, who went on to enjoy first team All-ACC honors as a senior and a long pro career. He is currently head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

Del Negro’s unexpected emergence at point, confounding his coach’s vision, was mirrored to a degree by John Henson’s progress this season at North Carolina.

Henson – hugely gifted, lean and long-limbed as a colt – was assigned a wing forward’s role as the 2010 season began. The team needed him there. His body-type seemed suited to the perimeter; Henson assured reporters that’s where he and Williams believed his NBA future lay.

“When we recruited him, we asked him to be able to spend a great deal of time working on sliding his feet so he’d be able to guard a perimeter guy,” Williams said in June 2009. “I would not be surprised to see John running around at the three spot. I would be surprised – no, I’ll be dead – if he’s running around at the one. I think that he can be a three or four or five for us.”

Yet it’s fair to say that, as Henson’s freshman year wore on, his shooting, passing, ballhandling, and defensive skills did not take on the characteristics of a three (second guard). Finally, with Zeller shelved, Henson spent time near the basket.

He and Davis formed a devastating defensive tandem in a loss to Duke on Feb. 10. The Heels blocked eight shots in the first half alone, four by Henson, intimidating the Blue Devils into 22.5 percent shooting for the period. “They’re an outstanding defensive team, especially when you get the ball inside,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said following the game.

Late in that contest Davis broke his wrist, sidelining him for the season.

So Henson, despite his spindly frame, became a permanent inside fixture and more or less prospered. He virtually matched Davis in offensive rebounds per minute, often flying in for electrifying follow shots. Only three ACC players blocked more shots (60), even though Henson averaged a mere 15.8 minutes per game. (He still must learn to control blocks, rather than revel in driving the ball out of bounds.)

Now Davis and Deon Thompson are gone, and the interior rotation returns four veterans, of whom Henson is clearly the most athletic.

Henson may never develop a rugged physique while playing in college. But don’t expect him to go back to wing guard any time soon. Almost by accident, amidst ill-fortune, he quickly demonstrated a knack near the basket.

However that fact was discovered, it’s good news for the Tar Heels.

Make sure to vote in the primary May 4 or we could see Mr Jacobs ousted by a candidate whose values could not be more different. Joe Phelps is the darling of the so-called “Tax Revolt” crowd; his primary objective seems to be to make it easier for developers to turn us into another version of Wake or Durham counties. Mr. Phelps was at best a disappointment as mayor of Hillsborough, and there is no reason to believe he would function any better as a county commissioner.

There is no question that Orange could use a better balance between its residential and commercial tax base. To get this right, however, will require leaders with Barry Jacobs’ experience, sensitivity and good judgment, or we will soon find ourselves living in a place we don’t recognize.

Steve Henry Herman
Chapel Hill

Letter to the editor published in the Chapel Hill News, April 18, 2010