Pittsboro Board of Commissioners Candidate Candace Hunziker Shares Details From Her Campaign

Candace Hunziker, a Chatham County chiropractic practice manager, shared details on her candidacy for the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners. She is one of eight candidates running for two open seats in what is shaping up to be a hotly contested election.

“I live here. I work here. I talk to a lot of people—on sidewalks, in offices, at events, and over coffee, I’ve never met a stranger,” she said to Chapelboro when describing her motivation to run. “And no matter where people fall politically, everyone says the same thing: Protect what we love.”

Hunziker says her time on her neighborhood homeowners’ association sparked her interest in local leadership.

“During my five years on the Chatham Forest HOA board, I started by focusing on what impacted my neighborhood,” she said. “But I couldn’t help digging deeper—attending board meetings, planning meetings, even sitting down with developers. By the time I stepped down as president in 2024, I had learned a lot about how this town functions—and how it doesn’t.”

She said that her goal as a commissioner would be to earnestly listen the concerns of locals as the area grows and welcomes new residents.

“I’ve been learning about the complexity and multiple phases of Pittsboro’s growth and development, and it’s both challenging and fascinating,” she said. “But what excites me most is hearing directly from the people who live here—their ideas, concerns, and solutions.”

She said that another primary motivator for running was encouragement from friends and neighbors.

“What I heard from longtime neighbors, new arrivals, teachers, parents, small business owners, and just about everyone in between—lit a fire under me,” she said. “The overwhelming response to me even considering a run told me this wasn’t just the right time but that yes, I was the right person.”

In 2020, Hunziker was profiled by Spectrum News after she was the first voter to line up for that year’s election, which she said was her way of celebrating her birthday during COVID.

Hunziker’s opponents on the ballot this fall are Freda Alston, Alex M. Brinker, Corey Forrest, Ashley Gross, Tobais Palmer, Nikkolas Shramek, and Tiana Thurber. Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp is running unopposed for a four-year term.

Voter registration for the 2025 cycle will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14 — but one-stop early voting that includes registration will last from Thursday, October 16 through Saturday, November 1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.

Featured image via Candace Hunziker For Pittsboro Town Commissioner.

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 newsletter.

Pittsboro Board of Commissioners Candidate Candace Hunziker Shares Details From Her Campaign

On Air Now: 97.9 FM