Jon Mitchell, the former chair and current member of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission, is once again running for the Chapel Hill Town Council after filing in July.
Mitchell said that the primary motivator behind his candidacy for a second consecutive local election cycle is a desire to see the town follow through with its previously-stated planning goals.
“I’m disappointed with the rate at which the Town is delivering projects related to the Complete Community framework that the Council unanimously adopted in late 2022,” he said to Chapelboro. “The last update to the Town’s Complete Community website was June 2023, which says it all.”
Developed through a partnership with a renowned urban planner, the planning framework outlines how to cohesively plan for growth while improving housing inventory, housing diversity, and connectivity. Mitchell listed examples of ways the town has failed to meet these goals.
“For example, zero drafts of a revised Land Use Management Ordinance despite over two years of effort and resource expenditures, no quick-build bike or pedestrian projects undertaken, anemic housing growth since the last election, etc.” he listed. “In most respects, the implementation phase never really launched. It’s important to me that we start delivering.”
Mitchell first ran for council in 2023, finishing ninth in a crowded field of 10 candidates for four seats. He said between the encouragement he got from voters in that cycle and motivation to see Chapel Hill’s planning approach through was enough to spur him to run again.
“My commitment to implementing the Complete Community framework has not changed,” said Mitchell. “If the current Council were delivering projects at a reasonable pace, I would not run again. It is not. If I fail to deliver on these projects after the election, the voters should fire me.”
He explained where he thinks the council has gone wrong, and how he plans to course-correct.
“We’re overextended financially, which has contributed to this year’s unreasonable property tax increase and our inability to find resources to fund things we promised,” he said. “I want to bring more focus on this. Progressive values require well-run local government.
“The incoming Town Manager seems highly capable,” Mitchell added. “He deserves clear direction. And residents deserve effective government. That requires consensus building among current and future Council members.”
Mitchell will face off against five other Chapel Hill Town Council candidates vying for four seats in the 2025 cycle. Incumbents Camille Berry and Paris Miller-Foushee will be running to earn their second four-year terms, while Mitchell is joined by challengers and fellow Planning Commission members or alumni Wes McMahon, Erik Valera and Louie Rivers III.
North Carolina municipal elections will be held on Tuesday, November 4. Early voting begins on October 16. You can read more on upcoming municipal elections here.
Featured photo via Jon for Chapel Hill.
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