The first at-large candidate in the 2024 Orange County Board of Commissioners election launched their campaign on Thursday, and it is someone familiar to voters: incumbent Dr. Amy Fowler.
Fowler shared a release saying she is seeking a second term in the seat in order to continue her work and to focus on public education, climate action, and the community’s mental health.
“There is still work to be done to build upon our accomplishments of the last three years”, said Fowler. “I am committed to the goal of maintaining a healthy, welcoming, vibrant community that serves the needs of all the citizens of Orange County.”
Fowler, who is a long-time pediatrician at the Chapel Hill Children’s Clinic, was elected in 2020 with 77 percent of the vote in her first campaign for the Orange County board. Prior to that, she served three years on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. Fowler earned her medical degree and served her residency at UNC after earning her undergraduate degree in engineering from Duke. In addition to her practice, she also serves on the board of directors for the Durham-based health care company Alliance Health.
At-large commissioners are on the ballot for all Orange County voters, compared to the District 1 seats in Chapel Hill and Carrboro and District 2 seats for northern Orange County. The Board of Commissioners has two at-large seats, with just one on the ballot in the 2024 cycle and Commissioner Sally Greene re-elected to her seat in 2022.
In the release, Fowler said some of her policy goals for a second term include advocating for more funding of school system and capital needs in Orange County. She also listed improving affordable housing, parks and recreation, and mental health resources as strategies to better the community and pointed to Orange County’s new strategic plan as a project she’s looking forward to.
Chair of the Board of Commissioners and District 1 representative Jamezetta Bedford endorsed Fowler in Thursday’s announcement, saying she has her “full support.”
“Amy Fowler has a combination of professional and personal experience that makes her a great asset to the Board of County Commissioners,” wrote Bedford. “She possesses a high level of integrity and is tireless in working for the best interests of the citizens of Orange County.”
District 2 commissioner Phyllis Portie-Ascott launched her 2024 election campaign earlier in November, while District 1 commissioners Anna Richards and Jean Hamilton have not yet announced any plans for re-election. No challenger candidates have made public announcements as of Thursday. Unlike town government elections, county commissioner races are partisan and will be on the primary election ballots.
The filing period for 2024 state government elections begins at 12 p.m. on Monday, December 4 and will end at noon on Friday, December 15. The primary election is set for March 5, while the general election is November 5.
Photo via the Orange County government.
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