• Campus
    • Campus
    • Student Life
    • Administration
    • Faculty
    • Higher Education
  • City & County
    • City & County
    • Chapel Hill
    • Carrboro
    • Education
    • Public Safety
  • Politics
    • Politics
    • North Carolina
    • National
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • Men's Basketball
    • Women's Basketball
    • Wrestling
    • Men's Tennis
    • Women's Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Fencing
    • Swimming and Diving
    • Gymnastics
  • Culture
    • Culture
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Food
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Cartoons
    • Columns
    • Letters
    • Kvetching Board
  • Multimedia
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Galleries
    • Audio
  • About
    • About
    • Hiring
    • Board of Directors
    • Alumni
    • Corrections
    • Contact
    • Meet the editors
    • Policies & Bylaws
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Events Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Obituaries
  • Donate
  • Story Collections

  • HeelsHousing
  • Offline Chapel Hill
  • Shop
  • Buy Photos
  • 1893 Brand Studio
  • Alumni
  • Events Calendar
  • Celebrations/Obits
    • Celebrations
    • Obituaries
  • Southern Neighbor
  • Newsletter
  • Classifieds
  • Campus
  • City & County
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Donate
  • HeelsHousing
  • Search
The Daily Tar Heel

125 Years of Editorial Freedom

The Daily Tar Heel

125 Years of Editorial Freedom

    • Campus
      • Campus
      • Student Life
      • Administration
      • Faculty
      • Higher Education
    • City & County
      • City & County
      • Chapel Hill
      • Carrboro
      • Education
      • Public Safety
    • Politics
      • Politics
      • North Carolina
      • National
    • Sports
      • Sports
      • Men's Basketball
      • Women's Basketball
      • Wrestling
      • Men's Tennis
      • Women's Tennis
      • Track and Field
      • Fencing
      • Swimming and Diving
      • Gymnastics
    • Culture
      • Culture
      • Arts & Entertainment
      • Food
    • Opinion
      • Opinion
      • Editorials
      • Cartoons
      • Columns
      • Letters
      • Kvetching Board
    • Multimedia
      • Multimedia
      • Video
      • Galleries
      • Audio
    • About
      • About
      • Hiring
      • Board of Directors
      • Alumni
      • Corrections
      • Contact
      • Meet the editors
      • Policies & Bylaws
    • Advertise
      • Advertise
      • Policies
      • Events Calendar
      • Celebrations
      • Obituaries
    • Donate
    • Story Collections

    • HeelsHousing
    • Offline Chapel Hill
    • Shop
    • Buy Photos
    • 1893 Brand Studio
    • Alumni
    • Events Calendar
    • Celebrations/Obits
      • Celebrations
      • Obituaries
    • Southern Neighbor
    • Newsletter
    • Classifieds
  • In the News
  • Men's basketball
  • The OC Report
  • Business
  • Men's lacrosse
  • Franklin Street

12/5/2018, 3:53pm

We talked to the two newest Orange County commissioners on their plans for the board

We talked to the two newest Orange County commissioners on their plans for the board Buy Photos
Sally Greene, the democratic candidate for Board of Commissioners, looks on to voting updates at Orange County's Democratic Party's election party at Might as Well in Chapel Hill.
Ryan Herron

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print
BY Aidan Bennett

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners swore in two new members on Monday after the midterm elections in November.

Sally Greene, a former Chapel Hill Town Council member, and Jamezetta Bedford, previously on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, replaced Commissioners Barry Jacobs and Mia Burroughs in uncontested races. 

Bedford returned after an unsuccessful run in 2016, losing to incumbents Penny Rich and Mark Dorosin. With campaign experience under her belt, Bedford said she was ready in November to win the election and join the board.

“To lose by 1.1 percent can cause a lot of ‘what ifs’ and ‘shoulda dones,’ so this time I prepared to spend hours and hours canvassing, only to run unopposed,” Bedford said. “I learned that it is critical to cover early voting sites.”

Both Democrats, the new commissioners ranked school funding and social services for the homeless as their top priorities. Greene pointed to economic development as another focus area, especially through arts programs. Bedford noted environmental health as a chief area of concern for her tenure.


Editors Picks

AKPsi's UNC chapter is under investigation following allegations of hazing


Chapel Hill Town Council approves bonds for up to $98 million to fund Rams Club projects


Insane sixth inning caps off series sweep for UNC baseball in opening weekend



Greene traces her political roots to her parents, both journalists. She watched her parents cover community issues while she grew up in rural Eastern Texas, which fueled her desire to make change in her own community.

Growing up as a self-described “army brat,” Bedford said exposure to many types of people shaped her perspectives. While she said her original motivation for political involvement was her 31-year-old daughter with autism, Bedford, now a grandmother, said her grandchildren inspire her to make the world a better place.

Bedford and Greene both said they think current commissioners will be receptive to their priorities because many of them share progressive political views. 

During her time on the Town Council, Greene said she became familiar with homelessness support, affordable housing, criminal justice reform and mental health issues in Chapel Hill. Having tackled these issues on a smaller scale, Greene said she can apply her Town Council work to the county level.

Affordable housing, in particular, is an area of expertise for Greene. As member of the Town Council, Greene helped create Chapel Hill’s largest federal low-income housing tax credit project, Greenfield Place and Greenfield Commons.

“I especially look forward to working on these and other human service issues in this larger role,” Greene said.

Like Greene, Bedford said her previous position provided her with valuable experience as she moves into the role of commissioner, notably in terms of education.

Bedford served as chair of the CHCCS Board of Education for three years, advising 15 local school improvement teams and leading a variety of committees.

“I learned how important it is to give everyone time and a safe place to be heard," Bedford said. "All children should have what they need. I am a fierce advocate for children. As a community, we must care for all of our children during their early years, too, before formal schooling begins.”

Former commissioner Burroughs served on the CHCCS BOE with Bedford. Burroughs said Bedford shares similar policy goals as her and will fight for some of the same values.

“Naturally, we share an interest in ensuring the students in our schools are getting what they need to learn to their potential,” Burroughs said. “We also have a particular interest in the success of the human services departments in the county.”

Bedford filled the time between the 2016 and 2018 midterms by campaigning for other Democrats and preparing her own campaign.

Greene said she is excited to begin working with her new constituents, emphasizing her accessibility and willingness to accept suggestions and feedback.

“I'm eager to understand what they value and what particular issues concern them at the county level," Greene said. "Listening comes first.” 

Bedford made similar claims, also promising her commitment to her constituents over political gains. 

“I will always cast a vote to do what I think the evidence shows is best for the residents of Orange County after reading and listening, and not to be re-elected,” Bedford said. “When I make a mistake, I apologize, try to make amends and try not to do it again.”

@ABennettDTH

city@dailytarheel.com


Next up in City & County

  • Hillsborough activist groups hold "No Racist Wall Rally"

  • Chapel Hill Town Council approves bonds for up to $98 million to fund Rams Club projects

  • Orange and Durham counties have highest housing discrimination complaints per capita

  • SPONSORED Why you should consider Carrboro for your next move


Next up in The OC Report

  • Hillsborough activist groups hold "No Racist Wall Rally"

  • Chapel Hill Town Council approves bonds for up to $98 million to fund Rams Club projects

  • Orange and Durham counties have highest housing discrimination complaints per capita


Next up in Chapel Hill

  • Orange and Durham counties have highest housing discrimination complaints per capita

  • An update on the $10 million affordable housing bond Chapel Hill passed in November

  • How should Orange County start addressing the issue of homelessness?


Next up in Chapel Hill Town Council


Next up in Orange County Commissioners


Next up in Midterm Elections 2014

  • New N.C. Board of Elections to decide 9th Congressional District race

  • Wake County judge refuses to seat Mark Harris in N.C. District 9

  • Pushback, legal action continues against voter photo ID amendment


The Daily Tar Heel welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic.

Latest Print Edition

Print Edition Print Archive

The Daily Tar Heel for Nov. 12, 2018

Special Print Edition
    • Front Page
    • Campus
    • City & County
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Culture
    • Opinion
    • Donate
    • HeelsHousing
Daily Tar Heel To Homepage
109 E. Franklin St. Suite 210, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Shop
  • Buy Photos
  • 1893 Brand Studio
  • Alumni
  • Events Calendar
  • Celebrations/Obituaries
  • Southern Neighbor
  • Offline Chapel Hill
  • Newsletter
  • RSS
  • Classifieds

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2019 The Daily Tar Heel

Powered by Solutions by The State News.

Support The Tar Heel

The rivals are joining forces to make a special Rivalry Edition (both on-campus and online Feb. 20) and to see which student media program can raise the most money between Feb. 1 and 20.

Help us beat The Chronicle and support a great cause - donate here if you’re a proud Tar Heel.

Donations help us cover the big games every year and maintain great college media programs.

Donate now!