Meet Kate O'Brien
Kate O'Brien cares deeply about the environment and about our community. She wants people to feel successful and know that their contributions are valued. She envisions people having the resources, education, mentorship, and support to express their full potential.
Join her campaign for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Priorities
Environment
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Protect the rural character of Chatham County and preserve Farmlands.
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Protect water quality for humans and wildlife. Conserve this precious resource.
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Preserve forests and trails for the community to enjoy.
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Ramp up efforts to educate people about the principles of REFUSE/ REDUCE/ REUSE/ RECYCLE.
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We could reduce the cost of shipping our waste to another county by approximately 23% if we would all compost food waste. Additional savings can be achieved by capturing textiles, construction materials, yard waste and recyclables from the solid waste stream that ends up in a landfill.
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Support local farms and community gardens.
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Provide public transportation to reduce traffic and emissions.
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Promote the use of electric and hybrid cars.
Special Project: Organize a free 5K Parkrun each Saturday to promote health and social cohesion. Encourage local high schools to spearhead the volunteer squad at the weekly events to develop organizing skills, responsibility and civic engagement in consultation with Chatham Parks and Recreation.
Economic Development
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Protect our area from Fracking and Data Centers.
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Encourage business owners to pay their employees living wages and benefits.
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Do not give tax breaks to huge corporations. Those taxes should go towards infrastructure and social services.
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Invest in renewal energy sources.
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Weatherize homes and commercial buildings to reduce power costs for owners and strain on our resources.
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Promote affordable housing for low and middle income residents through a variety of measures. (The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines “affordable housing” as housing on which the occupant is paying no more than 30 percent of gross income for housing costs, including utilities. Jan 8, 2024)
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Identify properties owned throughout the county that might be suitable for affordable homes.
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Partner with Habitat for Humanity, Central Carolina Community College, Faith Communities and residents to build more homes in the county for families.
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Investigate whether Community Home Trust could purchase properties and offer them to residents at affordable prices.
Social Supports & Services
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Address food insecurity through better jobs, increased buying power, community gardens, small farms, collecting surplus from grocery stores for distribution through food pantry.
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Safeguard all of our community members: uphold the right to be free from illegal search and seizure, the right to due process, the rights to assemble, to protest, and to free speech.
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Ensure access to culturally-sensitive counseling services in or near schools and throughout the county.
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Focus on equitable health outcomes for mothers and babies.
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Develop regular outdoor recreation options for community members such as swimming, hiking, biking, running, pickleball and so much more.
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Continue to provide all the wonderful social and recreational services for our older community members including fitness classes, senior games and silver arts.
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Develop shelter options in our community for survivors of domestic violence and people who are unhoused.
Schools & Job Training
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The 1997 Supreme Court decision unanimously affirmed that the North Carolina constitution guarantees every child of the state “an opportunity to receive a sound basic education” .
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Advertise early college and Chatham Promise broadly. Support students to take college credits while still in high school to decrease overall college expenses. Students can earn a degree, diploma or certificate in one of fifty programs while in high school so that they will have a reliable source of income and can choose to pursue further education or training without accumulating excessive student debt.
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Ensure that the library community outreach programs such as film series, meet the author, history of Chatham, art and agriculture offerings, computer classes, and so much more continue.
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Take Action
Click for more information about voting in Chatham County.
- During Primary and General Elections, voters in Chatham County may vote at any of the following Early Voting sites, regardless of their assigned precinct: +Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center 1192 US 64 Business West, Pittsboro, NC 27312 +CCCC Chatham Health Sciences Center 75 Ballentrae Court, Pittsboro, NC 27312 +Goldston Town Hall 40 Coral Avenue, Goldston, NC 27252 +Earl B. Fitts Community Center 111 S Third Avenue Siler City, NC 27344 +New Hope Baptist Church 581 New Hope Church Road, Apex, NC 27523
What do County Commissioners do?
- County commissioners generate a budget allocating tax-payer funds for infrastructure, schools, public safety, county agencies, and non-profits. Decisions made by the panel of five commissioners are of significance to every resident of Chatham County.
When do I need to register?
- You must register at least 25 days before Election Day. For this primary the date is Friday February 6th, 2026. If you miss the deadline, you can register and vote at the same time during EARLY VOTING ONLY if you: +Live in Chatham County for at least 30 days before Election Day +Complete a voter registration form at the early voting site +Show proof of address (utility bill, government doc, or valid ID) +Present photo ID at check-in
- During Primary and General Elections, voters in Chatham County may vote at any of the following Early Voting sites, regardless of their assigned precinct: +Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center 1192 US 64 Business West, Pittsboro, NC 27312 +CCCC Chatham Health Sciences Center 75 Ballentrae Court, Pittsboro, NC 27312 +Goldston Town Hall 40 Coral Avenue, Goldston, NC 27252 +Earl B. Fitts Community Center 111 S Third Avenue Siler City, NC 27344 +New Hope Baptist Church 581 New Hope Church Road, Apex, NC 27523
Where do I vote?
- During Primary and General Elections, voters in Chatham County may vote at any of the following Early Voting sites, regardless of their assigned precinct: +Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center 1192 US 64 Business West, Pittsboro, NC 27312 +CCCC Chatham Health Sciences Center 75 Ballentrae Court, Pittsboro, NC 27312 +Goldston Town Hall 40 Coral Avenue, Goldston, NC 27252 +Earl B. Fitts Community Center 111 S Third Avenue Siler City, NC 27344 +New Hope Baptist Church 581 New Hope Church Road, Apex, NC 27523
I’m in high school. When can I vote?
- Good news! Voters who will be 18 years old by the general election on November 3rd 2026 are eligible to vote in the March primary!
What documents do I need to vote?
- Most voters will simply show their NC driver’s license, but many other types of photo ID are accepted. All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID. Voters who do not have acceptable ID may complete an ID Exception Form and vote a provisional ballot.
When do I vote for Kate?
- The primary Chatham County local election is March 3rd 2026. Early voting is February 12th to February 28th.