Election rivals are rare in Orange County, but 1 local race gives voters a choice.
Chapel Hill and Carrboro voters won’t see any local races on their March 5 primary ballot, but voters in the rest of Orange County will fill county school board seats and choose a Democratic commissioner candidate for District 2.
Orange County has a district primary system. All voters cast ballots in the at-large commissioner’s primary. Voters in District 1, which includes Chapel Hill and Carrboro, cast ballots in the District 1 race in the primary. Voters in the rest of the county cast ballots in the District 2 primary race.
The primary winners from the at-large and district races are elected by voters countywide in November. Since few Republicans seek office in the Democratic-leaning county, however, local races are usually decided in the primary.
This year, Democratic candidates in District 1 and for the at-large seat are running unopposed and will only appear on the Nov. 5 ballot.
A lone Republican running for commissioner, H. Nathan Robinson, will compete in November against the winner of the contested Democratic primary in District 2.
When and where to vote?
The primary election is Tuesday, March 5. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Early Voting runs through March 2. Voters can register and vote the same day at any Early Voting polling location.
Learn more about how to vote in this year’s local and state races with The News & Observer’s Voter Guide.
Vote early at these Orange County locations:
▪ Orange Works at Hillsborough Commons, 113 Mayo St., Hillsborough
▪ Carrboro Town Hall complex, 108 Bim St., Carrboro
▪ Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill
▪ Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill
▪ Seymour Senior Center, 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill
▪ Efland-Cheeks Community Center, 117 Richmond Road, Efland
When polls will be open for early voting:
▪ Feb. 17, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
▪ Feb. 19-23, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
▪ Feb. 25, Noon to 4 p.m.
▪ Feb. 26-March 1, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
▪ March 2, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Who is running for county commissioner?
The Orange County Board of Commissioners sets the county budget and property tax rates, allocates money to schools, social services and public safety, and makes policies that affect services, the local economy and more for years to come. Four of the board’s seven seats are on the ballot.
▪ At-large district (one seat): Incumbent Commissioner Amy Fowler (Democrat)
▪ District 1 (two seats): Newcomer Marilyn Carter (Democrat) and incumbent Commissioner Jean Hamilton (Democrat)
▪ District 2 (one seat): Democrats Adam Beeman, Horace Johnson Jr. and incumbent Commissioner Phyllis Portie-Ascott; Republican H. Nathan Robinson
The News & Observer asked the Democratic District 2 commissioner candidates several questions about where they stand.
What should be a bigger budget priority? Smaller priority?
Adam Beeman: The schools should be the biggest budget priority. We have a huge immediate need that has been ignored for far too long. Unfortunately, there are too many smaller priorities to list. We need to get them on paper and go through them one by one to determine how critical of a need they are. The school priorities are going to consume most of the county budget for the next few years.
Horace Johnson Jr.: Affordable housing and property tax assistance to prevent displacement and help low-income homeowners continue staying in their homes.
Phyllis Portie-Ascott: The conditions of our schools are being addressed. My next priority is mental health and housing for all. Housing and mental health are immediate needs, and improving these will help ensure a stable foundation for community well-being and economic development.
Do you support a property tax increase? Why?
Adam Beeman: I support a tax increase, because it is necessary. I also understand the ramifications of such a decision. Without the increase and actually solving the school issues, we will be creating larger problems. The bills won’t disappear — just continue to grow larger.
Horace Johnson Jr.: Yes, I would support a modest tax increase — but certainly not 8% — if the money is used to increase pay for teachers at all levels in the K-12 school system and, in addition, to support my top priority of housing affordability.
Phyllis Portie-Ascott: My focus is on creating a thriving community — supporting our residents, prioritizing education and workforce development, and maintaining Orange County as a welcoming and accessible place for all. A property tax increase is a complex issue, and I’m committed to investing in our collective future, ensuring we have the resources to provide crucial services, from education to public safety, and to keep our community strong and inclusive.
How should the county attract more business investment?
Adam Beeman: I believe the county needs to improve the wastewater infrastructure in the northern portion of the county. We need to treat our own waste for stable future growth. Relying on two other municipalities outside the county is not a good long-term strategy. Addressing this would allow for higher density in between the U.S. 70 and I-85 corridor to help both economic growth and affordable housing.
Horace Johnson Jr.: When advertising for business, be very specific as to the type of businesses that are environmentally friendly and offer above-minimum-wage positions for local residents or anyone that seeks employment.
Phyllis Portie-Ascott: Orange County can attract more business investment by aligning initiatives with our Comprehensive Land Use 2050 vision and strategic plan and clearly communicating what business industry we welcome. We recently rejoined the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and now have the opportunity to leverage regional collaboration to attract business investment to Orange County. Equally important is promoting entrepreneurship and small businesses. Extending high-speed internet out into the county is a great step in that direction, and as an entrepreneur, I am in favor of finding creative ways to support local entrepreneurship.
What local needs are not getting enough attention?
Adam Beeman: The local needs that are not getting enough attention are mental health and housing affordability. I believe we should be partnering with our two largest health systems in the area — Duke and UNC — to come up with a solution to a lack of affordable, accessible mental health care. Those two systems have more than enough office space and access to qualified therapists.
Housing affordability gets improved if we deal with the wastewater treatment issues I spoke about above.
Horace Johnson Jr.: The need for mental (health) facilities and services in the rural communities and, in addition, programs that offer home repair services for senior and low-income homeowners.
Phyllis Portie-Ascott: I am pleased that the (Board of County Commissioners) has invested in getting a handle on the capital needs of our schools. Now that expansion is not an immediate need, we are able to focus on repairing and refurbishing the facilities we have. Looking to the future, I want to focus on building a thriving community. Post-pandemic mental health struggles like anxiety and depression threaten our shared future. We need amplified efforts to tackle these challenges. Public health campaigns to reduce stigma and promote solutions are crucial, but sustained investment in mental health services and substance-use interventions is what truly contributes to community well-being.
What recent board decision do you strongly support or oppose?
Adam Beeman: The board has been too lax when it comes to the money given to the schools. They should have been demanding more accountability and oversight when it came to capital projects. How else did we get into such a large deficit on school maintenance? They don’t understand why kids are leaving our old, decrepit buildings for brand-new charter school facilities with all the bells and whistles.
Horace Johnson Jr.: I strongly support the board’s decision to continue the LHA ( Longtime Homeowners Assistance) property tax program for another year. Unbelievably, this is only the third year of this initiative.
Phyllis Portie-Ascott: I strongly support the board’s recent decision to act on addressing the condition of our school facilities. A consultant was hired and presented options to address the next five to 15 years of school facility needs, prioritizing the most immediate and looking toward creating excellent facilities for all our students across the county. Four options were presented. Option C (a $300 million voter-approved bond, plus other county resources) provides students with modern classrooms and appealing spaces and ensures a safe and comfortable environment for everyone. This decision prioritizes student well-being and sets the stage for academic success, and will be put in front of the voters in November.
Orange County School Board primary
Three of seven nonpartisan seats are open on the Orange County Schools Board of Education.
The board reviews and sets district priorities, policies and budgets, advocating with county commissioners for school funding needs. The board also hires and/or fires the superintendent and approves contracts.
Voters who live in the county school district can vote for candidates in that race.
The candidates are: incumbent school board members Carrie Doyle, Bonnie Hauser and Jennifer Moore, and challengers Kevin Alston Jr., Michael N. Johnson, Wendy Padilla and Cindy Shriner.
For more information about the candidates, check out this previous News & Observer story and the Orange County Association of Educators links on Facebook.
