Rani Dasi is officially poised to join the Board of Orange County Commissioners this summer, earning a short-term selection by unanimous vote on Tuesday.
The sitting board’s vote — which was a separate, formal process from the Orange County Democratic Party’s selection of Dasi as its long-term replacement option for the seat — took place during a specially-called meeting Tuesday morning.
“Thank you so much, Rani, for stepping up in this really hard time,” Chair of the board Jean Hamilton said once the board’s votes were read aloud. “I know your background will fit us very well. I look forward to working with you.”
The selection crystallized the current CHCCS Board of Education member as a county official, following the Orange County Democratic Party’s vote on July 20. As governed by state law, the party opened applications to registered Democrats living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro for replacing Jamezetta Bedford on November’s ballot — where, after the late incumbent won March’s primary, she was poised for re-election to a four-year term thanks to being unopposed on the November ballot. Bedford died on June 21 following complications to a medical procedure.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners had previously decided it would only select the short-term replacement for the vacant District 1 seats from the applicant pool to the local Democratic Party.
After the vote, Dasi briefly addressed the board, sharing her gratitude for the opportunity, recognizing the county board and staff, and thanking her support system for their help during her time in public office.
Dasi also took time to thank and remember Bedford, who she described as the first person she met with when deciding to run for the CHCCS Board of Education in 2015 — when Bedford was on the school board. Dasi described wanting to buy Bedford coffee, but the future county commissioner refused so as not to break any rules around gifts or favors.
“That was my first lesson from her: the integrity and the commitment. That even when nobody is watching, the way you behave matters. Her shoes are too big to fill, I’m not going to try to do that. But I will to commit to serving in a way that honors her legacy and I hope that she can look down with pride at the service that the board continues to do in her absence.”
Commissioner Amy Fowler — who was not in attendance for the board’s prior meeting where it recognized Bedford’s passing — also shared some memories of her deceased colleague and friend. Fowler said she is feeling a “deep sadness” over Bedford’s death, saying she will feel her absence every time she drives to the Whitted Building because she, Bedford and Hamilton used to carpool together.
“[Bedford] served the county commission with integrity, compassion, and very little fanfare,” said the at-large commissioner said prior to Tuesday’s vote. “Jamezetta cared deeply about education, mental health, folks with disabilities, and folks whose lives presented challenges. She served as chair without arrogance, but with a mission to do the work of the county. When she left the chair, she did not take the easy way out – but signed up for more committees than ever. And she was deeply engaged in those assignments.
“I hope that Jamezetta’s successor,” Fowler concluded, “will also aspire to those same qualities and care for Orange County.”
Hamilton said after Dasi’s selection that the board will discuss with the incoming District 1 commissioner when to officially be sworn in and prepped for board work. As of Tuesday, the elected officials are not set to meet again until August 25 — which could be when Dasi’s oath of office takes place, if not sooner.
The short-term selection also formalizes the end of Dasi’s time on the CHCCS Board of Education. With her term set to expire in December 2027, the district’s elected body will now undergo its own vacancy process and fill it with an interim member. North Carolina law does not specify how a public school district must proceed, but the most recent vacancies saw the CHCCS school board conduct an open application process and select replacements with a majority vote.
To watch the full vote and proceedings from Tuesday’s Board of Orange County Commissioners meeting, click here.
Featured photo via Dasi for School Board.
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