Anna Richards is not seeking re-election to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, opening up a seat for the upcoming election cycle and meaning her term will end in late 2024.
Richards shared her decision at board’s meeting on Monday night, saying she would not file again for her District 1 seat on the board. The former Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP President said she plans to take a step back “after 42 years of my professional career and ten years of volunteering” in the community.
Despite county commissioners serving four-year terms, Richards’ seat was also on the ballot in 2022 — which she won after running unopposed. She was appointed to the county board in 2021 to replace the departing Mark Dorosin, who had been re-elected in 2020, and then went through a special election cycle for the District 1 position.
During Monday’s meeting, Richards said she’d taken the Thanksgiving break to reflect on the achievements she and her fellow commissioners had over her two years of service so far. She said because much of her priorities have been youth-driven, she feels particularly proud of the “safety net” the local government provided during its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the longer-term projects being worked on.
“We did a great job as a board,” Richards said, “on housing, [developing] a climate action plan, we’ve almost got a strategic plan, we’ve made progress on the Greene Tract, [we requested] the school infrastructure [report], we started the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and we did some things to close the housing gap.
“I thought it was a good time to pause and say ‘We’ve been working hard these last couple of years,'” the District 1 commissioner added. “I feel very proud of the things we’ve accomplished.”
And, Richards noted, she is not going anywhere. The Chapel Hill resident said she’s looking forward to her upcoming year on the board — specifically citing her excitement of implementing Orange County’s in-development strategic plan and distributing funding received from opioid settlements.
“I can be a completely free person,” Richards said, “a crazy lady pounding the table for our youth as we develop our strategies in juvenile justice, childhood education, and comprehensive land use. Those are things I’m excited about working on in 2024.”
Beyond Richards’ seat, another of the three District 1 positions on the Orange County Board of Commissioners is also on the 2024 ballot. Jean Hamilton, who currently holds the position, announced her intentions to run for re-election to the role on Monday. One District 2 seat and an at-large seat are also up for election this cycle.
The meeting on Monday represented the Orange County Commissioners’ annual organizational meeting. The board unanimously voted for Jamezetta Bedford to continue her role as chair for the next year, while Sally Greene was unanimously voted in as vice chair to spell Earl McKee from the duty. Both Bedford and Greene were re-elected to the board in 2022 and will not be on the ballot in 2024.
The filing period for 2024 state government elections began on Monday and will last through noon on Friday, December 15. The primary election is set for March 5, while the general election will be November 5.
Photo via the Orange County government.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines