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    Volume XXIX Issue 13</font></td>
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    November 20, 2003 </font></td>
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      <font size="6">Councilman, Elon alumnus elected mayor of Burlington</font><font face="Verdana" size="6"><br>
      </font><font face="Verdana" size="2">Steve Earley - </font><i>
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          <i><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">Stephen Ross, a 1973 Elon graduate, was elected mayor of Burlington Nov. 5 and takes office Dec. 2. Ross said reestablishing Burlington's place in the Triad is a main objective.</font></i></p>
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Reestablishing Burlington's place in the Triad, allowing citizens to voice their concerns through community meetings and improving the morale of those in city government are among the goals of newly elected mayor of Burlington Stephen Ross. The six-year city council member and 1973 Elon graduate defeated incumbent Joe Barbour Nov. 5 with 2,393 votes to Barbour's 1,299.
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Instrumental in Ross' decision to run and eventual victory was Barbour's role in pulling Burlington out of the Triad combined core-based area.
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Barbour wrote a letter to the federal government saying he wanted Burlington to join Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point as part of the Triad's official name, or drop out of the area all together. The federal government removed Burlington from the Triad.
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The results can be devastating for organizations that rely on statistically based federal funding - such as Alamance Regional Medical Center and the Twin Lakes Center retirement community. Ross, who takes office Dec. 2, said exiting the Triad lowers the limit on federal funds these organizations can receive.
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Ross said other city officials and the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments � a voluntary organization representing the region's interests � should have had a greater role in determining Burlington's fate. 
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In his six years as councilman and member of the council, Ross has worked to make Burlington an increasingly vital part of the Triad. 
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"It was like everything I've done for six years was undone," said Ross, who in addition to mayor also becomes vice chairman of the Council of Governments in December. "That's when I decided to get involved and run [for mayor]."
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Burlington is expected to officially re-join the Triad this month, Ross said.
"Burlington, in the next decade, will be one of the fastest growing cities in North Carolina," he said. "I'm excited about being able to reestablish our position in the Triad."
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Ross' response to the actions of another mayoral candidate has also become a principal part of his agenda.
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Businessman Michael Graves finished a strong third in October's primary with a campaign that called for more resources for poorer east Burlington.
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After the primary, Ross held a community meeting in the east Burlington community of Beverly Hills.
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"It occurred to me that one person couldn't answer all of their questions," Ross said. 
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His proposed solution is to invite representatives from each of the city's main departments � such as police, fire and public works � to attend regular community meetings.
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Ross said the meetings would provide citizens with instant feedback.
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"If it's something we can do something about, we'll do it," he said. "If we can't do anything about it, we'll let you know. At least someone can't say we're not listening."
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Ross said he plans to hold the first of these meetings in the Beverly Hills and North Park communities.
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But before Ross can effectively address citizens' concerns, he said he must first make sure the rest of the city government is on board.
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"The council runs the government," he said. "The mayor is sort of like a head cheerleader who represents the council in carrying forward what we're trying to do."
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Ross said as mayor he will seek to improve the attitude of city officials. 
"I think they feel leadership is not behind them," he said. "I think they're going to realize leadership is behind them."
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Attitude is also important in the government's response to the city's growing Latino community, Ross said. He criticized a county commissioner's suggestion to send immigrants back to their native countries.
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"That's not the answer," said Ross, who is on the executive board of Centro: La Comunidad � a Latino community resource center serving Alamance County. "It's unfortunate that people have to view it that way."
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Ross said the city needs to embrace the Latino community.
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"I understand why these people are here and I can promise you if I was in Mexico or another Latin American country and I knew there was a better life in another country for my family, I'd go," he said.
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During Ross' tenure on the city council, Burlington hired a police officer to serve as a liaison with the Latino community and increased Spanish-language signage in public areas such as the city park.
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With regard to at least one issue, however, the community-minded Ross appears a bit selfish.
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"My answer to the transportation problem is to fly over it," he joked. Ross is about halfway through training for his pilot's license and said he plans on buying a plane.</font></font></td>
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