2024 NC General Election

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North Carolina

Jean is a resident of Chapel Hill who received a master's degree in social work from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a doctorate degree in economics from UC Berkeley. She is married to Wayne.

Jean is a licensed clinical social worker with a private psychotherapy and counseling practice, and has also taught mindfulness meditation classes and worked part-time at the UNCG student counseling center. Additionally, she has served as a guardian for adults and a hospice social worker.

Jean Hamilton previously served on the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Board of Education from 2005 to 2009 for one term, was appointed to the same board in 2010-2011 and again in 2019. She has also been a county commissioner for three years.

Candidate website

Believes in listening to and understanding the needs and values of the entire community for effective public services.

Supports public services that aid vulnerable residents, including immigrants, people with disabilities, and older adults.

- Believes in listening to and understanding the needs and values of the entire community for effective public services.
- Supports public services that aid vulnerable residents, including immigrants, people with disabilities, and older adults.

Public Services

Supports growing the commercial base while protecting the environment and promoting equity, assessing job benefits for residents, and reducing barriers for new businesses.

Believes commissioners should make smarter budget decisions and prioritize community values to minimize tax increases. As a commissioner, supported hiring a consultant for the first-ever Orange County Strategic Plan to guide balanced budget decisions.

Believes commissioners should make smarter budget decisions and prioritize community values to minimize tax increases, and as a county commissioner, supported hiring a consultant for the first-ever Orange County Strategic Plan to guide balanced budget decisions.

Supports developing the economy by creating good jobs, providing affordable housing, and ensuring reliable, convenient transportation.

- Supports growing the commercial base while protecting the environment and promoting equity, assessing job benefits for residents, and reducing barriers for new businesses.
- Believes commissioners should make smarter budget decisions and prioritize community values to minimize tax increases, and as a county commissioner, supported hiring a consultant for the first-ever Orange County Strategic Plan to guide balanced budget decisions.
- Supports developing the economy by creating good jobs, providing affordable housing, and ensuring reliable, convenient transportation.

Economy

Believes deteriorating school facilities harm children's health, safety, and learning. Supports addressing aging schools as an equity, economic development, and environmental issue.

Believes deteriorating school facilities harm children's health, safety, and learning, and supports addressing aging schools as an equity, economic development, and environmental issue.

Believes in "investing in our young people through adequate funding of public schools." Supports policies that enhance K-12 education.

Believes in "investing in our young people through adequate funding of public schools," and supports policies that enhance K-12 education.

As chair of the Capital Needs Work Group, initiated a collaborative effort to address aging school facilities by recommending the hiring of a consultant to evaluate and provide solutions for both Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

As a County Commissioner, chaired the Capital Needs Work Group to update public school facilities and co-chaired the School Safety Taskforce to enhance school safety.

As a county commissioner, chaired the Capital Needs Work Group to update public school facilities and co-chaired the School Safety Taskforce to enhance school safety.

Believes in collaborative efforts to address educational challenges and improve services for children, families, and school staff. As a BOCC member, chaired a work group focused on these issues.

Believes in collaborative efforts to address educational challenges and improve services for children, families, and school staff, and as a school board member, chaired a work group focused on these issues.

Believes in thoughtful and fact-based education policies. As a School Board member, demonstrated deep concern for children of all backgrounds and strong analytical skills in addressing complex K-12 school issues.

Believes in thoughtful and fact-based education policies, and as a school board member, demonstrated deep concern for children of all backgrounds and strong analytical skills in addressing complex K-12 school issues.

- Believes deteriorating school facilities harm children's health, safety, and learning, and supports addressing aging schools as an equity, economic development, and environmental issue.
- Believes in "investing in our young people through adequate funding of public schools," and supports policies that enhance K-12 education.
- As chair of the Capital Needs Work Group, initiated a collaborative effort to address aging school facilities by recommending the hiring of a consultant to evaluate and provide solutions for both Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
- As a county commissioner, chaired the Capital Needs Work Group to update public school facilities and co-chaired the School Safety Taskforce to enhance school safety.
- Believes in collaborative efforts to address educational challenges and improve services for children, families, and school staff, and as a school board member, chaired a work group focused on these issues.
- Believes in thoughtful and fact-based education policies, and as a school board member, demonstrated deep concern for children of all backgrounds and strong analytical skills in addressing complex K-12 school issues.

Education

Supports an exemplary criminal justice resource department to divert people from the criminal justice system.

- Supports an exemplary criminal justice resource department to divert people from the criminal justice system.

Public Safety

Supports increasing affordable housing by collaborating with non-profits and developing the Greene Tract. Plans to seek community feedback on development design plans.

Supports increasing affordable housing by collaborating with non-profits and developing the Greene Tract, and plans to seek community feedback on development design plans.

Supports addressing critical needs in Orange County, including affordable housing, public transportation, and caring for vulnerable residents.

- Supports increasing affordable housing by collaborating with non-profits and developing the Greene Tract, and plans to seek community feedback on development design plans.
- Supports addressing critical needs in Orange County, including affordable housing, public transportation, and caring for vulnerable residents.

Housing & Urban Development

Believes transit planning should have a regional focus, promote alternative transportation modes, and consider environmental and equity factors. As a BOCC member, voted to adopt the 2022 Orange County Transit plan.

Believes transit planning should have a regional focus, promote alternative transportation modes, and consider environmental and equity factors, and as a school board member, voted to adopt the 2022 Orange County Transit plan.

- Believes transit planning should have a regional focus, promote alternative transportation modes, and consider environmental and equity factors, and as a school board member, voted to adopt the 2022 Orange County Transit plan.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Jean Hamilton

Marilyn attended SUNY Stony Brook, where she earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, and later a master's degree in engineering from Duke University. She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, Mehdi and their twin daughters. She served as Chair of the Orange County Democratic Party from 2019 to 2021.

Marilyn is an electrical engineer with nearly 30 years of experience, and has worked at IBM Corporation and later at Cisco Systems in operations and senior management. Throughout her career, she has been involved in developing strategic plans, balancing revenue and costs, and ensuring excellent customer service.

Chapelboro, Marilyn Carter Files to Run for Orange County District 1 Seat

Marilyn Carter's campaign for the Orange County Board of Commissioners is her first run for public office.

Believes the arts foster community engagement and social cohesion. Said, "The Orange County Arts Commission is one of very few local arts agencies housed within county government within the state of North Carolina."

Believes the arts foster community engagement and social cohesion, saying, "The Orange County Arts Commission is one of very few local arts agencies housed within county government within the state of North Carolina."

Believes county services must be accessible to all community members and supports outreach to those who lack time or trust to engage. Plans to "bring the Commission to the community."

Believes county services must be accessible to all community members and supports outreach to those who lack time or trust to engage, and plans to "bring the Commission to the community."

Believes in building inclusive communities to ensure equitable outcomes. Said, "That’s exactly what County Government is all about too."

Believes in building inclusive communities to ensure equitable outcomes, saying, "That’s exactly what County Government is all about too."

Believes in building a diverse talent pipeline of volunteers for community service roles. Said, "many of whom went on to serve our community on boards, councils, and in elected office."

Believes in building a diverse talent pipeline of volunteers for community service roles, saying, "Many of whom went on to serve our community on boards, councils, and in elected office."

Believes the County is responsible for essential services like trash pick-up, animal control, flu vaccines, and well water testing.

Believes the county is responsible for essential services like trash pick-up, animal control, flu vaccines, and well water testing.

Believes public services enhance community life through public art, county parks, libraries, and senior centers.

Supports arts programs that enhance cultural vibrancy and highlight local talent through initiatives like the Grassroots Arts Program and Artist Project Grants.

Believes county services impact everyone and emphasizes the importance of ensuring every community member is heard.

Believes in "bringing the Commission to the community" to enhance public services like libraries, parks, recreation, and community building.

- Believes the arts foster community engagement and social cohesion, saying, "The Orange County Arts Commission is one of very few local arts agencies housed within county government within the state of North Carolina."
- Believes county services must be accessible to all community members and supports outreach to those who lack time or trust to engage, and plans to "bring the Commission to the community."
- Believes in building inclusive communities to ensure equitable outcomes, saying, "That’s exactly what County Government is all about too."
- Believes in building a diverse talent pipeline of volunteers for community service roles, saying, "Many of whom went on to serve our community on boards, councils, and in elected office."
- Believes the county is responsible for essential services like trash pick-up, animal control, flu vaccines, and well water testing.
- Believes public services enhance community life through public art, county parks, libraries, and senior centers.
- Supports arts programs that enhance cultural vibrancy and highlight local talent through initiatives like the Grassroots Arts Program and Artist Project Grants.
- Believes county services impact everyone and emphasizes the importance of ensuring every community member is heard.
- Believes in "bringing the Commission to the community" to enhance public services like libraries, parks, recreation, and community building.

Believes economic growth can create living wage jobs and reduce reliance on residential property taxes while considering residents' needs and environmental impact.

Believes in a thoughtful, community-informed approach to balanced economic growth. Plans to address labor issues, trade, taxes, small business, and regulation with community input.

Believes in a thoughtful, community-informed approach to balanced economic growth, and plans to address labor issues, trade, taxes, small business, and regulation with community input.

- Believes economic growth can create living wage jobs and reduce reliance on residential property taxes while considering residents' needs and environmental impact.
- Believes in a thoughtful, community-informed approach to balanced economic growth, and plans to address labor issues, trade, taxes, small business, and regulation with community input.

Believes in reducing the opportunity gap, supporting diverse programming for all students, and maintaining future-proofed educational facilities.

Believes every student deserves public schools that provide a great education in a healthy and safe learning environment "from cradle to career."

Believes in ensuring access to mental health and behavioral health services for children and young adults to help them achieve their fullest potential.

- Believes in reducing the opportunity gap, supporting diverse programming for all students, and maintaining future-proofed educational facilities.
- Believes every student deserves public schools that provide a great education in a healthy and safe learning environment "from cradle to career."
- Believes in ensuring access to mental health and behavioral health services for children and young adults to help them achieve their fullest potential.

Supports evidence-based harm reduction, addiction treatment, and substance use prevention. Plans to back pre-arrest diversion and medication-assisted treatment for detainees.

Supports evidence-based harm reduction, addiction treatment, and substance use prevention, and plans to back pre-arrest diversion and medication-assisted treatment for detainees.

Supports connecting people to care for opioid use disorder with funds from the historic Opioid Settlement deal.

Believes the County should provide reliable public safety services, including emergency housing assistance, the 911 call center, and first responders.

Believes in "Caring for Community Members Affected by Opioid Use Disorder."

Believes in "caring for community members affected by opioid use disorder."

- Supports evidence-based harm reduction, addiction treatment, and substance use prevention, and plans to back pre-arrest diversion and medication-assisted treatment for detainees.
- Supports connecting people to care for opioid use disorder with funds from the historic Opioid Settlement deal.
- Believes the County should provide reliable public safety services, including emergency housing assistance, the 911 call center, and first responders.
- Believes in "caring for community members affected by opioid use disorder."

Believes everyone has the right to affordable, safe housing, which is crucial for health and educational outcomes.

Believes in elevating community voices in housing and urban development planning. As a Planning Board member, collaborates with county staff and leaders to develop the Orange County Land Use Plan 2050.

Believes in elevating community voices in housing and urban development planning, and as a Planning Board member, collaborates with county staff and leaders to develop the Orange County Land Use Plan 2050.

Believes in elevating the voices of marginalized communities early in urban planning processes. Engages with community leaders to ensure inclusive development.

Believes in elevating the voices of marginalized communities early in urban planning processes, and engages with community leaders to ensure inclusive development.

Believes in "Inclusive Land Use Planning" to address affordable housing, homelessness, property taxes, permitting, zoning, and development.

Believes "Housing as a Human Right" and supports policies addressing affordable housing, homelessness, property taxes, permitting, zoning, and development.

Believes in building pathways to participation to ensure every voice is heard in housing and urban development planning. Plans to involve the community in the development and adoption of the Land Use plan.

Believes in building pathways to participation to ensure every voice is heard in housing and urban development planning, and plans to involve the community in the development and adoption of the Land Use plan.

- Believes everyone has the right to affordable, safe housing, which is crucial for health and educational outcomes.
- Believes in elevating community voices in housing and urban development planning, and as a Planning Board member, collaborates with county staff and leaders to develop the Orange County Land Use Plan 2050.
- Believes in elevating the voices of marginalized communities early in urban planning processes, and engages with community leaders to ensure inclusive development.
- Believes in "Inclusive Land Use Planning" to address affordable housing, homelessness, property taxes, permitting, zoning, and development.
- Believes "Housing as a Human Right" and supports policies addressing affordable housing, homelessness, property taxes, permitting, zoning, and development.
- Believes in building pathways to participation to ensure every voice is heard in housing and urban development planning, and plans to involve the community in the development and adoption of the Land Use plan.

The candidate's website says, "Broadband internet access is critical to your ability to work and learn anywhere you live. The Lumos/ARPA Broadband Project is underway to bring high-speed internet to rural Orange County."

Said, "Broadband internet access is critical to your ability to work and learn anywhere you live."

- Said, "Broadband internet access is critical to your ability to work and learn anywhere you live."

LinkedIn

Marilyn Carter

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.

Orange County Commissioner, District 1

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Orange County Commissioner, District 1

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