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16 <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners-Vacancy Application July 15, 2021 <br /> Name: PENNY RICH <br /> Address: 111 Mulberry Street#A, Carrboro, NC 27510 <br /> Email:pennyrich.ch@gmail.com <br /> Phone: 919-960-0220 <br /> Registered Voter?yes_X_no <br /> Party Affiliation: DEM <br /> 1. What motivates you to want to serve as an Orange County commissioner, including why are you <br /> seeking an appointment now, as opposed to running for the seat during a previous election? <br /> I have previously served as a county commissioner representing District 1 from 2012 to 2020. In 2020, 1 <br /> ran for re-election receiving 12,496 votes, but falling 7 votes shy of the re-election. Orange County <br /> residents in District 1 voted for me in that last campaign and many of those same residents are now <br /> encouraging me to submit my name for the vacant seat. 1 am dedicated to making Orange County a <br /> place for everyone to experience a good life by providing a sound basic education for every student; <br /> creating meaningful jobs that pay a living wage;creating housing options for our income diverse <br /> community;protecting green spaces for recreation;providing robust public transportation options so <br /> that residents can get to jobs, make doctor appointments, go to school and access our local economy; <br /> addressing urgent climate concerns;protecting civil rights, women's rights, LGBTQ+rights; rejecting <br /> bigotry in all its forms, including racism, antisemitism, anti-Asian crime and Islamophobia;and <br /> continuing the push for broadband to become a utility making it available and affordable for all of our <br /> residents, especially those in rural Orange. Orange County can be a place for"Everyone'; we just need <br /> to include everyone and hear all of their voices in order to do so. <br /> 2. What do you consider to be one of the most important characteristics of a county commissioner? <br /> What in your experience demonstrates your ability to be effective as a commissioner?What is your <br /> experience in shared governance or leadership?What steps do you take in making decisions? <br /> The most important characteristic is strong leadership dedicated to making Orange County a place for <br /> "Everyone". <br /> Over the past 8 years as a county commissioner, including four years as either Chair or Vice-Chair, 1 <br /> have developed and maintained relationships in the community and with staff;remained open and <br /> accessible to the public;showed passion and compassion in creating inclusive public policy;took risks <br /> to think outside the box;engaged with local elected officials in Orange County, our surrounding <br /> counties and state;and proved that 1 have the drive to get things done. <br /> However, the largest measure of my leadership came during the Covid pandemic.As the Chief Elected <br /> official in Orange County, I had to step into a leadership role that had no playbook, no policy, and, it <br /> seemed, no end in sight. In early March 2020, the mayors of the three towns and myself formed a <br /> working group for the COVID 19 pandemic and created State of Emergency orders in accordance with <br /> the Governor's Executive Orders. We had regular meetings every Tuesday and Thursday, and met <br /> when needed to make crucial decisions in concert with the OC Health Department, emergency services, <br /> law enforcement, UNC Health Care, UNC, OWASA, managers and attorneys offices, NC Department of <br /> Health and Human Services, and the Governor's Office. Looking back, I met with the mayors on a daily <br /> basis and sometimes more than once a day. I was literally on the phone or on Zoom meetings all day <br /> and well into the night. 1 often checked in with the health director in the morning before we had a <br /> chance to have coffee, realizing that what was happening at 7:30 in the morning could change by 9:30 <br />