I was recently disappointed to learn that Mayor Dick Sears was running for re-election here in Holly Springs. For some reason I was under the impression that we had a 2 term limit for that position. My bad. I’m writing this in the hopes that you will publish my thoughts on why we are no longer in need of Mayor Sears services. When I moved back to Carolina in 2002 from Los Angeles, I chose Holly Springs specifically because it was the polar opposite of LA. It still is, although under Mr. Sears tenure the town I moved to has vanished. The Mayor and his allies on the Town Council have pushed through zoning changes from low to high density, gone on the payroll of developers doing business with the town, and ignored the wishes of many of the residents. I can speak of several of my entreaties to the Mayor which fell on deaf ears. A small town that had real potential to blossom into a wonderful, unique place to live, has instead, under his guidance, become just another soulless suburban stop on the way out of Raleigh. The only goal of he and his pals seems to be, “Tax Revenue”. It’s my opinion that an elected representative only needs to consider three words when making decisions for the town. Those words are “Quality of Life”. Will this proposal, or that proposal, increase or decrease the quality of life for the residents? I say this knowing that I am not alone in this view, having talked at length with many fellow residents. But turning Holly Springs into a veritable Noahs Ark of corporate franchises, strip mall after strip mall, and staking out every square inch of land for development does not increase our quality of life. Do we really need that Burger King, right next to that Chik-fil-A, across from the Taco Bell/KFC? We are Cary Jr. There is no longer anything unique about this town. It’s not Los Angeles, and never will be. But if Mr. Sears and his cronies could have their way, it would be. Eight years is enough Mr. Mayor. Exit gracefully, and continue your employment with the developers. That is of course, if they’ll still want you once you’re no longer “The Mayor”.

Doug Colescott