Lydia Lavelle, a law professor at N.C. Central, is seeking her third term as mayor, having served in that capacity since 2014 and on the Board of Aldermen for six years before that. Under her leadership, the board has pushed back against regressive state policies to show support for immigrants and the LGBTQ community and encourage affordable housing via density bonuses. Lavelle has helped communicate Carrboro’s values as an environmentally conscious, transit-friendly, and welcoming town.

Her opponent, former Southern Rail owner Mike Benson, shares many of the same values and stresses issues fundamental to the town’s business community, such as parking. But he can’t match Lavelle’s experience.