Interview: Chapel Hill Town Council candidate, Jon Mitchell ...

Jon Mitchell has lived in Chapel Hill for over a decade. He has served as chair and vice-chair of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission. He is also a board member of Shift Chapel Hill-Carrboro, which advocates for safe and convenient active transit options. He and his wife have been Chapel Hill residents for 10 years. They have two childen.

Jon is a lawyer specializing in financial regulation. He works as a freelance regulatory lawyer, advising banks on compliance. He previously worked as a federal banking regulator at the U.S. Treasury Department.

Chapel Hill Planning Commissioner Jon Mitchell Discusses 2025 ...

Jon previously ran for Chapel Hill Town Council in 2023 but did not win.

Believes in broadening the commercial tax base, prioritizing spending, and reducing expenses.

- Believes in broadening the commercial tax base, prioritizing spending, and reducing expenses.

Economy

Supports identifying and preserving the Town's highest value natural areas.

Supports identifying and preserving the town's highest value natural areas.

- Supports identifying and preserving the town's highest value natural areas.

Public Services

As of September 3, 2025, Jon Mitchell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports expediting plans to clean up coal ash on the police station site to prevent further contamination and convert the site for safer use, such as paved recreation courts.

- Supports expediting plans to clean up coal ash on the police station site to prevent further contamination and convert the site for safer use, such as paved recreation courts.

Public Safety

Supports improving quality bus service and addressing the "last mile" problem through enhanced bike infrastructure.

Believes the town's stormwater policies and infrastructure need improvement, saying the new "100-year flood" standard for development may already be outdated and urging prioritization of stormwater remediation projects.

Supports expanding the town's greenway network.

Supports reducing the cost of greenways by allowing a single firm to design and build the project.

Supports the development of natural surface trails.

- Supports improving quality bus service and addressing the "last mile" problem through enhanced bike infrastructure.
- Believes the town's stormwater policies and infrastructure need improvement, saying the new "100-year flood" standard for development may already be outdated and urging prioritization of stormwater remediation projects.
- Supports expanding the town's greenway network.
- Supports reducing the cost of greenways by allowing a single firm to design and build the project.
- Supports the development of natural surface trails.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell has lived in Chapel Hill for over a decade. He is a local business owner and has been actively involved in community service. His experiences have shaped his understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the town. He is a lawyer specializing in financial regulation. He worked as a federal banking regulator in Washington D.C. before transitioning to private practice. He has served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission. He is also a board member of Shift Chapel Hill-Carrboro, which advocates for safe and convenient active transit options. He and his wife have been Chapel Hill residents for 10 years. They have two kids in the public school system. He rides his e-bike everywhere, sometimes with kids in tow.

Jon is a current member of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission. He previously ran for Chapel Hill Town Council in 2023 but did not win.

Plans to "broaden our commercial tax base, put our money where it matters most, and reduce spending elsewhere."

As a member of the Planning Commission, helped generate ideas for improving development outcomes and delivering greenways faster.

As of September 3, 2025, Jon Mitchell did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Camille Berry, Chapel Hill Town Council

LinkedIn

Camille Berry is from North Carolina. She moved to Orange County in 2005. She studied at Wellesley College. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her three children.

Camille is a development and communications professional. She worked at Community Home Trust for nearly seven years, where she advanced affordable housing opportunities for extremely low to moderate-income households in Chapel Hill. Earlier in her career, she served as the executive director of a nonprofit that oversaw the development of a public-private project.

Chapel Hill Town Councilor Camille Berry Announces 2025 ...

Camille is currently a member of the Chapel Hill Town Council. She was first elected in 2021 and is currently serving her first term. 

Supports a diverse range of businesses, including BIPOC and women-owned businesses, to strengthen the local economy.

Supports growing different kinds of businesses to create jobs and bring in tax revenue.

Supports expanding businesses owned by women and people of color to strengthen the local economy.

- Supports growing different kinds of businesses to create jobs and bring in tax revenue.
- Supports expanding businesses owned by women and people of color to strengthen the local economy.

Supports incorporating green spaces in new residential and commercial developments to preserve the environment and ensure long-term success.

Supports including green spaces in new developments to protect the environment and ensure long-term success.

- Supports including green spaces in new developments to protect the environment and ensure long-term success.

Supports creating a variety of affordable housing options for lower-income residents.

Supports creating more affordable housing options for lower-income residents.

Supports increasing housing density by integrating middle housing and investing in subsidized development.

Supports building more housing by developing middle housing and investing in subsidized development.

Supports completing the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) to streamline planning and permitting.

Supports completing the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) to streamline planning and permitting to make development easier.

- Supports creating more affordable housing options for lower-income residents.
- Supports building more housing by developing middle housing and investing in subsidized development.
- Supports completing the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) to streamline planning and permitting to make development easier.

Believes the town must address the issues leading to panhandling.

Believes the town should address the causes of panhandling by helping people meet their basic needs.

- Believes the town should address the causes of panhandling by helping people meet their basic needs.

Supports promoting electric vehicle use by adding more charging stations, and improving public transportation, biking, and pedestrian pathways.

Supports promoting electric vehicle use by adding more charging stations and improving public transportation, biking, and pedestrian walkways.

- Supports promoting electric vehicle use by adding more charging stations and improving public transportation, biking, and pedestrian walkways.

As of September 3, 2025, Camille Berry’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Camille Berry

Camille is from North Carolina. She moved to Orange County in 2005 with her former husband and three children. She has a bachelor of arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master of arts in nonprofit management from the University of Georgia. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Camille is a development and communications professional. She worked at Community Home Trust for nearly seven years, where she advanced affordable housing opportunities for extremely low to moderate income households in Chapel Hill. Earlier in her career, she served as the executive director of a nonprofit that oversaw the development of a public-private project.

As of September 3, 2025, Camille Berry did not have a website or any information online.

Supports the recommendations made by the Re-Imagining Public Safety Task Force.

Nonprofit Consultant, Artist Erik Valera to Join Race for 2025 Chapel ...

Erik Valera is a nonprofit consultant and artist. He works at his own consulting firm, where he provides strategic guidance to nonprofit organizations. He previously held leadership roles at El Centro Hispano, CommunityWorx, Youth Forward, and the Diamante Arts & Cultural Center. Earlier in his career, he worked in public health as a research project manager at UNC's School of Medicine and as a program director for the Latino Commission on AIDS.

Erik Valera (Chapel Hill Town Council, North Carolina, candidate ...

Erik's campaign for Chapel Hill Town Council Member is his second run for office. In 2023, he finished sixth in a race between 10 candidates for four town council seats. He previously served on the Chapel Hill Planning Commission.

Supports expanding the commercial base to enhance revenue.

- Supports expanding the commercial base to enhance revenue.

Supports elevating arts and culture, especially from under-represented communities.

Wants to improve public engagement by creating more accessible meetings and opportunities for residents to collaborate on neighborhood decisions.

Supports scheduling meetings at more convenient hours and providing additional incentives like monetary compensation, childcare, and refreshments to encourage community participation.

- Supports elevating arts and culture, especially from under-represented communities.
- Wants to improve public engagement by creating more accessible meetings and opportunities for residents to collaborate on neighborhood decisions.
- Supports scheduling meetings at more convenient hours and providing additional incentives like monetary compensation, childcare, and refreshments to encourage community participation.

Believes in removing barriers to new construction, expanding affordable homeownership and rentals, and collaborating with private, public, and nonprofit sectors to address the affordable housing crisis.

- Believes in removing barriers to new construction, expanding affordable homeownership and rentals, and collaborating with private, public, and nonprofit sectors to address the affordable housing crisis.

Supports strengthening ties with the University of North Carolina to retain students after graduation by addressing housing, affordability, and infrastructure needs.

Supports policies that promote environmental sustainability and reduce the town's carbon footprint.

- Supports strengthening ties with the University of North Carolina to retain students after graduation by addressing housing, affordability, and infrastructure needs.
- Supports policies that promote environmental sustainability and reduce the town's carbon footprint.

Supports upgrading public transit and plans to make it more convenient than driving.

- Supports upgrading public transit and plans to make it more convenient than driving.

As of September 3, 2025, Erik Valera’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Erik Valera

Erik is a nonprofit consultant and artist. He works at his own consulting firm, where he provides strategic guidance to nonprofit organizations. He previously held leadership roles at El Centro Hispano, CommunityWorx, Youth Forward, and the Diamante Arts & Cultural Center. Earlier in his career, he worked in public health as a research project manager at UNC's School of Medicine and as a program director for the Latino Commission on AIDS.

Erik is a nonprofit consultant and principal at his own firm. He previously held leadership roles at El Centro Hispano, CommunityWorx, Youth Forward, and the Diamante Arts & Cultural Center. Earlier in his career, he worked in public health as a research project manager at UNC's School of Medicine and as a program director for the Latino Commission on AIDS.

Erik previously ran for the Chapel Hill Town Council in 2023 but did not win. He is currently a member of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission.

Louie Rivers III earned a bachelor of science in natural resources management and policy from the University of Michigan, a master of science in natural resources management and policy from Ohio State University, and a doctorate in natural resources management and policy from Ohio State University. He lives with his wife, Whitney, and their two sons in Chapel Hill.

EPA Advisor, Former Professor Louie Rivers III Announces Bid for ...

Louie is a social science advisor at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He previously worked as a professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State University for nine years and in the Environmental Science program at Michigan State University for five years.

Louie Rivers III (Chapel Hill Town Council, North Carolina ...

Louie's campaign for Chapel Hill Town Council Member is his first entry into politics.

As of September 3, 2025, Louie Rivers III’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports making town decision-making more accessible and inclusive.

- Supports making town decision-making more accessible and inclusive.

Believes Chapel Hill must expand access to diverse housing options for all residents, saying, "We are facing a nationwide housing crisis, one made more urgent by economic uncertainty."

Believes Chapel Hill must expand access to diverse housing options for all residents.

- Believes Chapel Hill must expand access to diverse housing options for all residents.

Said, "Chapel Hill must be proactive, not reactive, in preparing for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future."

- Said, "Chapel Hill must be proactive, not reactive, in preparing for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future."

Louie Rivers III

Louie Rivers III's campaign for Chapel Hill Town Council Member is his first entry into politics.

As of September 3, 2025, Louie Rivers III did not have a website or any information online.

Believes the nation is facing a housing crisis exacerbated by economic uncertainty and supports expanding diverse housing options in Chapel Hill for all residents, including young professionals, working families, and seniors.

Paris Miller-Foushee grew up in Durham. She has a bachelor's degree in English from UNC Greensboro and master’s degrees in English and school administration from North Carolina Central University. She lives in Chapel Hill with her family.

Paris is the assistant director for the Center for Muslim Life at Duke University. She previously worked as an English professor at St. Augustine's University in Raleigh.

Paris currently serves on the Chapel Hill Town Council. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term.

Supports expedited review for affordable developments, transit projects, and an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports minority and women-owned businesses while diversifying the tax base.

- Supports expedited review for affordable developments, transit projects, and an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports minority and women-owned businesses while diversifying the tax base.

Wants to see more diverse businesses, increased connectivity, and gathering spaces downtown with an emphasis on pedestrian and bike lane infrastructure.

- Wants to see more diverse businesses, increased connectivity, and gathering spaces downtown with an emphasis on pedestrian and bike lane infrastructure.

Supports using town-owned land, including the Greene Tract, American Legion, and Jay Street, to build affordable housing.

Believes the county should improve record-keeping practices to ensure property assessors have the most up-to-date information.

Supports allocating subsidies to cover rising rents for public housing residents and ensuring public housing has energy-efficient appliances and infrastructure to reduce utility bills.

Believes the town should engage with mobile home residents to understand their needs and work with Resident Owned Communities to provide financial assistance for land ownership.

Supports collaborating with the county and nonprofit service providers to share data on emergency housing needs and inventory.

- Supports using town-owned land, including the Greene Tract, American Legion, and Jay Street, to build affordable housing.
- Believes the county should improve record-keeping practices to ensure property assessors have the most up-to-date information.
- Supports allocating subsidies to cover rising rents for public housing residents and ensuring public housing has energy-efficient appliances and infrastructure to reduce utility bills.
- Believes the town should engage with mobile home residents to understand their needs and work with Resident Owned Communities to provide financial assistance for land ownership.
- Supports collaborating with the county and nonprofit service providers to share data on emergency housing needs and inventory.

Advocated for increased mental health counseling and greater integration of social services to ensure community safety.

- Advocated for increased mental health counseling and greater integration of social services to ensure community safety.

Supports comprehensive planning for walkable communities with amenities and affordable housing connected by public transit.

- Supports comprehensive planning for walkable communities with amenities and affordable housing connected by public transit.

Supports providing resources, counseling, and activities for youth of all backgrounds in a community space.

- Supports providing resources, counseling, and activities for youth of all backgrounds in a community space.

Paris Miller-Foushee

Paris grew up in Durham with a single mom, and was raised by a village of aunties and uncles. She moved to Chapel Hill to start a family with her husband who is a Chapel Hill native of 8 generations . She’s fully steeped in community and no issue--not housing affordability, public safety, economic development, or environmentalism-- is theoretical to her. She’s lived it. She’s first-hand experienced what representation and community does to uplift those in our society who are often left in the margins. Paris is an educator by profession. She was an English professor at St. Augustine’s University. She has a degree in English from UNC Greensboro and a Master’s Degree in English and Master’s Degree in School Administration from North Carolina Central University. She currently works at Duke University as the Assistant Director for the Center for Muslim Life.

Paris is the Assistant Director for the Center for Muslim Life at Duke University. She previously worked as an English professor at St. Augustine's University in Raleigh.

Paris currently serves on the Chapel Hill Town Council, and is running for re-election. Paris has served one term on the Chapel Hill Town Council, and is running for re-election. She was elected in 2021. 

As of September 3, 2025, Paris Miller-Foushee’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Advocates for completing a comprehensive plan and the Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO) to identify community needs and streamline the entitlement process to attract high-quality developers for community-centric, green spaces along transit corridors.

Proposes leveraging town-owned land to build mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-oriented communities, advocating for a more transparent and shorter entitlement process, and pushing for comprehensive planning to create walkable spaces with affordable housing and public transit.

Wes McMahon has a bachelor's degree in linguistics from the University of Iowa. He is a board member and co-founder of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence Action Fund. He lives in Chapel Hill with his spouse and two children.

Wes McMahon Announces Candidacy for Chapel Hill Town Council ...

Wes is an ESL teacher at Durham Technical Community College. He previously worked in refugee resettlement at the state and national level, most recently with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in the U.S. State Department. He has also served as a health navigator for the Refugee Community Partnership.

Wes's campaign for Chapel Hill Town Council Member is his first entry into politics. 

Believes the increasing residential property taxes to compensate for the budget beyond inflation rates is "unsustainable" and said, "We must avoid making our town less affordable."

- Believes the increasing residential property taxes to compensate for the budget beyond inflation rates is "unsustainable" and said, "We must avoid making our town less affordable."

Supports investing in accessible public parks and recreation programs to promote health and happiness.

- Supports investing in accessible public parks and recreation programs to promote health and happiness.

Supports dense housing projects along transit routes.

- Supports dense housing projects along transit routes.

Supports keeping the state's pistol purchase permit.

- Supports keeping the state's pistol purchase permit.

Supports building greenways to encourage reduced driving for short trips and enhance resident satisfaction.

- Supports building greenways to encourage reduced driving for short trips and enhance resident satisfaction.

Supports sharing facilities between the town and school system.

- Supports sharing facilities between the town and school system.

Wes McMahon

Wes lives in Chapel Hill with his spouse and two young kids who go to Frank Porter Graham Bilingue Elementary School. He has taught English as a Second Language for Durham Tech for ten years in many locations including El Centro and now the Drakeford Library. Wes speaks Swahili and some Spanish, and works as a Health Navigator with the Refugee Community Parntership.

Wes is an ESL teacher at Durham Technical Community College. He previously worked in refugee resettlement at the state and national level, most recently with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in the U.S. State Department. He also served as a Health Navigator for the Refugee Community Partnership, helping refugees with English interpretation during medical care.

Wes McMahon's campaign for Chapel Hill Town Council Member is his first entry into politics. 

Wes lives in Chapel Hill with his spouse and two young kids who go to Frank Porter Graham Bilingue Elementary School. He has a bachelor's degree in international studies and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He speaks Swahili and some Spanish.

As of September 3, 2025, Wes McMahon’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As of September 3, 2025, Wes McMahon did not have a website or any information online.

Believes the town is "behind" on its commitment to building greenways and says it is "imperative" to construct them in Chapel Hill.

- Town council members serve as the governing body of the town, along with the mayor. 
- The town council members make policy decisions for the town, including creating ordinances, policies, and making agreements with other governments. 
- The town council can amend and revise town policies, as well as approve or reject the town budget. 
- The town council is also in charge of the appointment of advisory boards, commissions, task forces, committees, the town manager, and the town attorney. 
- Members of the town council are elected to staggered 4 year terms. 