Since growing up in Pittsboro during the 1990s, Tobais Palmer has seen quite a few changes around the town. Now, he is looking to make a change himself: becoming an elected official.

Palmer is one of eight candidates running for two open seats in this fall’s Pittsboro Board of Commissioners election, as residents vie to succeed departing commissioners Pamela Baldwin and James Vose. Palmer — who is known in part for his prowess on the football field as a star at Northwood High School before going on to play at North Carolina State — filed to run in July.

After a nine-year career in professional football, where he bounced around NFL teams’ practice squads and briefly played in the Alliance of American Football league, Palmer returned to Pittsboro full-time. He has since worked as a project coordinator and specialist for companies in the Triangle like 3M, HP and LabCorp, while recently putting his football knowledge to use as the offensive coordinator for Seaforth High School’s team.

“I want to lead a town and live in a community with small town values and big city amenities,” Palmer said in an email with Chapelboro about his motivation to run for elected office. “I grew up in Pittsboro, went to school in Pittsboro and currently live in Pittsboro. I was fortunate to see the world as a professional football player and I want to give back to my community as a public official much like I do as a coach at Seaforth High School.”

Palmer’s policy priorities are led by maintaining Pittsboro’s affordability for all residents, he said, describing the issue as “beyond just affordable housing.” He cited the need to keep taxes and fees “reasonable” to ensure people of all income levels can afford to live and work in town if they choose. Palmer also listed ensuring Pittsboro’s clean drinking water status in the Tri-River water partnership with the city of Sanford and attention to stormwater mitigation as top-of-mind issues. Adding more entertainment and restaurant options to the local economy is also important to Palmer, citing the importance of providing options for youth, young adults and adults to both work and spend their free time.

“I also want to invest in more recreational options for all ages including youth sports,” the candidate added. “This is an important way to connect the community, have options for young people after school and build town/community spirit. I played college football and played for six years in the NFL, so I am an example of what good coaching and mentoring can do with these types of programs.”

Palmer, who identifies as both African-American and Native American, pointed out his status as the lone Black man running for town board and one of only a few people with indigenous heritage running for elected office North Carolina. He said that perspective, as well as his age and career path, would bring different views to the town board while still focusing on community input to help “Team Pittsboro” succeed.

“I am excited to learn more about my Town, the people living here and the process of governing,” Palmer wrote to Chapelboro. “The entire process is an opportunity to learn. For example, I recently learned about Isaiah Taylor, who was the first African-American elected to the Pittsboro Town Board and the well-respected Principal of Horton High School. If I am honored to be elected I will be the first African-American male to serve on the Pittsboro Town Board since Taylor left the board in 1979.”

Palmer is on the ballot along with Freda Alston, Alex M. Brinker, Corey Forrest, Ashley Gross, Candace Hunziker, Nikkolas Shramek and Tiana Thurber. The top two candidates who receive votes will serve four-year terms on the five-seat Board of Commissioners alongside Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp, who is running unopposed for re-election.

Election Day for the 2025 fall cycle will be Tuesday, Nov. 4, with early voting in Chatham County’s municipal elections beginning on Thursday, Oct. 16.

 

Featured image via Tobais Palmer.

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