Jamezetta Bedford is the first candidate to officially announce their intention to run for the District 1 seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners next year.

Bedford’s announcement on Wednesday came on the heels of County Commissioner Mia Burroughs announcing at a board meeting on Tuesday night that she would not be seeking re-election to her District 1 seat.

Bedford, a former member of the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, ran unsuccessfully for a seat in District 1 during the 2016 campaign. Bedford was running against incumbents Mark Dorosin and Penny Rich and finished third in that race for two seats. Dorosin and Rich now serve as chair and vice chair of the board, respectively.

Bedford said in a release announcing her candidacy that her priorities “include education, economic development, fiscal planning, sustainability, social services and equity.”

Bedford was elected to the CHCCS Board of Education in 2003 and served until deciding not to run for re-election in 2015, and she currently serves as the president of the Democratic Women of Orange County.

Bedford is also a CPA and said that her “extensive knowledge in education and tax policy” would serve the board well.

Bedford is running for the one seat up for election in 2018 from District 1, which represents southern Orange County. Two other seats are up for election as well – one at-large seat currently held by Barry Jacobs and one District 2, representing northern Orange County, held by Earl McKee. McKee said in a phone call with WCHL that it was his intention to seek re-election in 2018 and that a formal announcement would likely come after the holidays.

Jacobs has not announced intentions heading into next year’s election cycle.

Filing for commissioner seats up for election in 2018 is set for February. The board is currently made up entirely of Democrats and the 2016 primary was more competitive than the November general election.

Photo via jamezettaforcommissioner.org

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