The Committee to Elect Allan Polak
Elect Allan Polak to Durham City Council
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Meet the Candidate

Five years ago I moved from Washington, DC to North Carolina to pursue my dream of starting a business and my wife's dream of earning a Masters degree.  I spent time in North Carolina as a college student studying Appalachian culture and since that time I knew I would return to this state.

Soon after moving to North Carolina I began to build NOAH IT, LLC, an IT support firm focusing on the needs of small business.  It took a few years of hard work, but NOAH IT is now a successful company providing services to non-profit organizations, churches, and small businesses in the Triangle.

While building my company I began to donate my computer services to various non-profits and individuals with mental and physical disabilities.  Since that time I've made donating IT services to disabled individuals a mainstay of NOAH IT.

In addition I sought to become involved in city and county government by serving as an appointed member on both the Chapel Hill Technology Committee and the Orange County Information Technology Advisory Committee.
   
My wife and I moved from Chapel Hill to the Valley Run subdivision of Durham about two years ago.  We chose to live in Durham for many reasons including quality of life, cost of living, and economic opportunity.  Shortly thereafter I was elected to the volunteer position of Valley Run HOA President.  As HOA president I've dealt with a number of community related issues ranging from rebuilding the subdivision's playground to mediating disputes between residents.

In addition, over the past year and a half I have been an active member and K9 handler with the North Carolina Canine Emergency Response Team, an all volunteer organization which works with law enforcement to locate missing persons. 

If given the opportunity to serve on the Durham City Council my goal is to bring my experience of building and running a business along with my dedication to individual volunteerism to the Council in order to improve the city for all of its residents.
         A Word on the Incumbent

My opponent in the upcoming election is Councilman Mike Woodard.  Mr. Woodard has served on the Council for the past 4 years.

Mr. Woodard's close affiliation with Duke University as a current employee raises serious concerns of conflict of interest.  The Councilman has not recused himself from matters where other Council members have done so simply for having spouses who are employed by Duke.

As a member of the City Council I would bring concrete business experience, solid judgment and vision, as well as the concerns of a young family to the Council.

Early in the Council race local newspapers spoke of an automatic victory for Mr. Woodard.  There is no room for such a thing in a free and democratic society.  Please consider my candidacy seriously and don't grant the incumbent an automatic victory.
Durham's Highway Panhandlers

In the past, the Durham City Council has taken an overly generous approach towards the

orange vested panhandlers that provide the first glimpse of Durham to countless visitors to our city.


Rather than banning the practice of panhandling on our city's streets, the Council chose to "regulate" the practice.  These individuals present a clear public nuisance and are a danger to themselves and Durham tax payers. Allowing these panhandlers to line our city streets is not an act of compassion. A multitude of non-profit and government sponsored organizations exist to assist individuals such as these - their place is not on our busy highways.


If elected I would work with the Council and law enforcement to pass ordinances strictly prohibiting highway-side panhandling in Durham.

                        The Issues

  • Crime - While Durham's crime statistics are better than those of many similarly sized cities, Durham must address issues of public safety in an increasingly more aggressive manner. Crime is a reality in Durham and it must be reduced. As a member of the City Council, I would work with Durham law enforcement to identify successful crime prevention programs and work tirelessly to ensure they received the support they deserve.

  • Economic Development - For Durham to remain one of the best places to live in the U.S (Durham was selected one of the best 100 places to live in America by CNNMoney), it must continue to provide quality jobs to our citizens. With a strong education system preparing the workforce, Durham can continue to shine in this area. If elected to City Council, I would encourage sustainable economic development throughout our city while ensuring that our schools continue to equip our 21st century workforce.

  • Image - Even while praising Durham by naming it number 12 in a list of the 100 best places to live in the U.S., CNNMoney refers to our city as "as the underdog of the Triangle region." Durham is home to Duke University, countless acres of state forest, the Research Triangle Park, and the Durham Bulls, to name only a few of our city's marvels. Yet the name "Durham" is seemingly left to stand alone, divorced of its own qualities. As a member of the Council I would explore the city's current public relations efforts and identify fiscally responsible methods of allowing Durham's true qualities to show through. These efforts would have the effect of increasing our quality of life and enhancing city revenues.