Local Issues

Local Policy Agenda

Development

Support public policies and regulations that promote sustainable residential and commercial development, while opposing measures that create unnecessary barriers to investment, economic growth, and project feasibility. This includes excessive impact fees, rent control, restrictive inclusionary zoning requirements, mandatory community benefits agreements, and similar policies that may discourage responsible development.
Support innovative tax policies and financing tools to attract investment and drive economic development in areas in need of revitalization and economic development.
Advocate for offsetting the impact of increasing government-imposed fees by rolling back and/or reducing millage rates, helping to maintain a balanced tax burden while supporting economic growth, business investment, and affordability for business owner and residents.

Burdensome Regulations

Championing the modernization, streamlining, and transparency of licensure and permitting processes across municipal departments to reduce administrative barriers, expedite business investment and development, and foster long-term economic growth while eliminating unnecessary red tape and burdensome review processes.
Advocate for policies that support and protect local businesses by opposing unnecessary ordinances and regulations that impede operational efficiency and competitiveness, while recognizing and promoting businesses that consistently comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and local ordinances.
Advocate for the enforcement of existing ordinances and regulations over the creation of new ordinances and regulations that will accomplish the same pro-business, pro-resident goals.
Establish regular reviews of all existing overlay districts to evaluate their effectiveness and continued need.

Public Safety

Encourage strategic investment in the recruitment, training, and retention of fully staffed public safety agencies, while promoting the consistent and proactive enforcement of local laws and ordinances to enhance public safety, foster community confidence, and maintain a secure environment for residents, visitors, and businesses.
Support continued strategic cooperation among local governments and non-profit service providers that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of homelessness prevention, and accountability for those that do not adhere to local ordinances and state laws.

Workforce & Education

Support initiatives that expand access to early childhood education, improve student attendance, and strengthen literacy outcomes to build a well-prepared talent pipeline and cultivate a skilled workforce that supports the long-term growth and competitiveness of business and industry throughout our region.
Increase access to quality early learning by streamlining local requirements and leveraging existing community resources. Encourage local governments and school districts to partner with early learning providers and make underutilized public buildings and classroom space available for early learning programs.
Strengthen early literacy from birth through third grade by supporting local partnerships that advance Science of Reading–aligned instruction, family engagement, and summer learning, with a shared community goal of third-grade reading proficiency.

Infrastructure

Support a well-governed, adequately funded, and efficiently operated countywide public transit system that provides safe, reliable, and accessible mobility for residents, visitors, and businesses while supporting economic growth and regional connectivity throughout Chatham County.
Develop policies that ensure public rights-of-way are accessible, safe, and equitably shared among residents, visitors, businesses, pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and other community stakeholders.
Encourage transparency and updates on government expenditures to support critical infrastructure improvements, with an emphasis on addressing stormwater drainage needs and advancing transportation projects.

Updated September 2026