Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Tom Vanderbeck and his wife, Laura, have lived in Hadley Township for thirteen years. Like many residents, he and Laura are Chathamites by choice. Tom was born and reared in New Jersey; Laura is originally a native of Guilford County. They live in a solar home they co-designed and built.

Tom was elected County Commissioner in 2006. He has been a leader in promoting alternative energy programs, energy efficiency, green business attraction, sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, green building, waste reduction and recycling, transit, and countywide broadband coverage.

Tom's focus on these sustainable community initiatives comes naturally from his lifelong commitment to "green" values - as a small-scale farmer, homesteader, building-trades professional, and community activist. He considers his work as a Commissioner to be his full-time job, so other interests have taken a back seat to that service. Even so, Tom and Laura still grow much of their own food, and process over 300 pounds of tomatoes annually.

Tom has been appointed to the Board of Directors of The e-NC Authority, a statewide organization focused on promoting greater access to high speed broadband in rural and distressed urban areas.

He also serves as a member of the following committees and boards:

• Orange-Person-Chatham Mental Health Board
• Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization Board (Vice-chair)
• Chatham Transit Network
• county broadband committee

In addition, he is Commissioner liaison to the following county boards and committees:

• Housing Advisory Board
• Green Building an Sustainable Energy advisory board
• Housing Coalition of Chatham
• Convention and Visitors' Bureau Board of Pittsboro/Siler City
• Solid Waste Advisory Committee
• Transportation Advisory Board
• Pittsboro Comprehensive Transportation Plan Steering Committee
  

In 2006, I was elected with a mandate to turn things around in Chatham County. I ran on a platform of thoughtful growth, sustainable economic development, quality education and open, responsive government. During my time as County Commissioner, we have truly brought government back to our people. After listening carefully to citizen input, we adopted a code of ethics for county government, enacted ordinance changes to protect our natural resources and ensure sustainable development, supported good quality schools for our children, instituted plans to preserve our farmland, and collaborated with other local officials, business owners and citizens to develop a strategic economic development plan.

I am especially proud to be a part of the team who won the 2009 County Commissioners Award from the North Carolina School Board Association for our financial support of the local public schools during a severe recession and loss of state funding. We were able to fund teacher supplements and avoid lay-offs of Chatham County teachers despite a 3% decrease in state support for our schools.

I am seeking re-election because there is still more work to be done. I want us to continue to focus on broadening our tax base by attracting high quality, well-paying jobs, to providing for a top-quality education for all our children, and to protecting our natural resources. I want us to continue our efforts to make government more responsive to the needs of its citizens and to improve their quality of life. I want us to continue our emphasis on creating the viable, sustainable community we all desire. And, I want us to continue to do all of these things with the same fiscally responsible stewardship we have demonstrated. We still have more to do to accomplish these goals, working with our citizens to make Chatham a model, sustainable community.