Election News & Endorsements

Mr. Portman:

On behalf of the Political Committee of the Capital Group of the Sierra Club, I want to thank you for taking the time to return our questionnaire. We enjoyed reading your responses and learning more about your goals for Cary.

The North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club is very pleased to inform you of your endorsement for re-election to the Cary Town Council At-Large seat in 2007. We will notify our membership about the endorsement. Please feel free to mention our endorsement in your ads and other campaign materials.

Please contact me with any questions.

Sincerely-

Chris Dowdle Political Committee Chair Capital Group Sierra Club

Serving on the Council with Erv, I've come to admire the diligence, energy and experience he brings to the job, but his greatest asset is the significant brain power he applies to solving problems. He asks the tough questions, then presses for high-quality solutions. We need Erv and his many talents to help us forge Cary's future at this critical time.

Marla Dorrel - Member Cary Town Council

Portman a good choice for our community

I appreciated his thoughtful analysis of the issues and his concern for balancing the interests of property and business owners with the well-being of our community and environment. This is a responsibility that I saw Erv take very seriously as he tried to place himself in the shoes of both landowners seeking to develop their land and concerned neighbors. For years I had no idea of whether he had any party affiliation or not — his thought processes and decisions are about fairness and what is right for the community.

Christy Perrin Former Planning and Zoning Board member (2000-2006) Cary

Working with teens to grow in their faith

For years the Portmans brought Cary teens to Raleigh’s Homeless shelter, bringing evening meals and a faith that lifted spirits for those who served, and were served. I have worked with Erv and his wife Sue in youth ministry at St. Michaels.  I know they care about our youth and bring passion to this ministry.

Jeff and Joyce Anderson Lifeteen - St Michaels the Archangel Catholic Church

Protecting our water with saying no to paving over ourstream buffers in Alston Community Center…

Kelly Cominisky

Erv Portman has a long history of volunteering and participating on Town of Cary committees.  Since his appointment to the Council, he has demonstrated leadership and the ability to focus on key issues important to Cary Citizens.  Erv has the time and commitment to manage growth properly and can provide this important leadership at this crucial time.

Mike Curran - Cary resident, business executive and former candidate for Cary Town Council At Large

My definition of Leadership is competence and integrity with the stamina to get the job done. Erv Portman has all three and is clearly focused on a mission for us all: a better Cary in 2030.

William K Gautier, Captain, USN (Ret.) Commanding Officer, USS Texas (CGN-39) A Desert Storm

It was a pleasure to serve on the Planning and Zoning Board with Erv Portman. Erv invested a lot of time and energy to thoroughly understand all of the issues related to items that came before the Board, and he wasn’t afraid to take unpopular positions when he felt that ethics and/or the best interests of the town’s residents compelled him to do so. He was also an effective communicator on the Board, building understanding and consensus on many controversial issues.

Steven Goodridge

Erv Portman, our recently appointed at-large councilman, understands the many flaws in the LDO, particularly with regard to mixed-use overlays, and is working to change things. He is an experienced businessman, a fiscal conservative and a committed community servant educated in urban planning not beholden to special interests.

Vote to keep in our honest dedicated at-large councilman, Erv Portman.

Janet Young

As a long term Cary resident, we have always had a storm water problem. But this spring after a call to our new AT Large Councilman Erv Portman we finally got action. Erv listened to us, understood the problem and was successful in getting the right people in town hall to resolve the issue.

Mike Mazanek

Erv Portman is concerned about what is important to the citizens of Cary.  He took time out of his schedule to sit down with members of the HIghcroft Traffic Calming group and listen to an ongoing traffic problem in our neighboorhood.  He then followed through and not only gave his support, but helped educate and convince other members of council help solve the problem.

Jeff Smith - Highcroft resident

A successful business requires a sound strategy, good planning and excellent execution on both. We should expect the same from our local elected representatives. From prior experience in running our businesses in Cary and dealing with Erv Portman both in his former position on the Planning Board and current Council position, he has earned our full endorsement for his solid grasp of the economic realities of the Town of Cary, his thoroughness in reviewing all facts and details prior to voting, and his moral courage to do what is best for the residents of Cary.  He definitely has our full support.

John E. Stock - Managing Partner Ice Ventures Inc.

Erv Portman's support for law enforcement, and additional officers on the street has made our community safer and more secure. He has my complete support.

James Hopper, Special Agent FBI (retired)

We urge all voters to take a look at the positions and voting records of Erv Portman. Erv is a friend and neighbor and we truly believe has Cary’s best interest at heart. We're sure you remember his contentious appointment 6 months ago to the “non-partisan” Council. We are all fortunate to live in a city as wonderful as Cary and would like it to retain the qualities that drew us here in the first place. Over-development is a major problem, but like it or not, growth is inevitable. The question will be how we manage that growth, and how we build our infrastructure. We personally take great comfort in knowing that Erv makes decisions based on the community’s best interests and not based on political "pay-back." No matter how you feel about the Council’s decisions over the past few years, we think each individual needs to be considered separately this October when you cast your vote. Fortunately for the town of Cary, we now have a chance to elect Erv for a full term. Please visit Erv’s web site at www.ervportman.com to see what he has done for us and his position on the issues—we think you'll be pleased.

Jim and Pat Easterbrook

I absolutely support Erv Portman for the Cary City Council! In the 14 years I have known Erv, I have come to know him as a man of integrity, who has vision that goes beyond the ordinary and a desire to work for what’s best for the community—all necessary ingredients for a great councilman.

I believe that Cary needs the common sense, the honesty and the drive that Erv Portman brings to the Town council.

Erv Portman is a man who will get out of the office to the site of an issue instead of just reading about it. Once he finds out the facts, you can rest assured that he will look for solutions that are good for Cary and for all parties involved.

Tom Harville, Colonel, USAF, Retired

As a former member of Cary’s Planning and Zoning Board I have worked with Erv Portman. I know that he pays attention to the details of the issues, does his homework, and works hard to be fair. I am confident that we need to keep Erv working for ALL of Cary on the Council.

Lori Bush

Erv, knows the value of good corporate citizens within Cary - how they add to the quality of life for all of us. I trust him, to make sure Cary continues to be an attractive place for good businesses to do business.

Nellie Shipley, Attorney and Cary resident

I had the pleasure of serving with Erv Portman as one of three citizens appointed by the Mayor of Cary to a task force on school assignment. Together, with the Mayors and selected citizens of Apex and Garner we collaborated on numerous recommendations for change-many of which were implemented by the Wake County School System.

One of the challenges in serving on the task force involved bringing together people with opposing views. Erv was a natural mediator and was instrumental in negotiating compromises effectively. (I am no longer a citizen of Cary but am greatly disturbed by the unbridled growth that is wreaking havoc on my former home. It is reminiscent of the problems the Wake County School System experienced in the absence of a controlled long term plan for growth.) I have every confidence that with Erv Portman on the Town Council a balanced approach to growth will be restored.

Cynthia Matson, Member of the Mayors Task Force on Student Assignment

Davis and Highhouse was very concerned about development on our corner, and was impressed that Erv Portman cared enough to meet with us, get the facts, and to weigh all sides of the issue. In the end he supported the concerns of the citizens of Cary.

Richard Byrne - Davis and High House neighborhood