The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners recognized Orange County Vice Chair Renee Price as the state’s County Commissioner of the Year during their virtual annual conference.
Price recently spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck about the honor, as she became just the third Orange County Commissioner to win the award — joining Moses Carey and Richard Whitted.
The award has been given out each year since 1963 to a commissioner who has demonstrated special achievements and efforts throughout the entire state over the last 12 months on behalf of county government.
Price was selected this year mainly for her work on the association’s Board of Directors and the steering committees for both Justice and Public Safety as well as Health and Human Services.
She said was extremely emotional when she found out she won the award because of her love for the job and the fact that she was selected to win by her peers.
“I really enjoy it because I get to work with people,” Price said. “And I get to serve people. If I can go home at night and feel like I’ve done something to help someone—even if it’s very small—I feel good about that. I just want to do my part to help make this world a better world.”
Of all the accomplishments in her career, Price said there are two she’s the proudest of. The first was spearheading the effort on the Raise the Age initiative, which keeps 16 and 17-year old kids from being automatically tried as adults if they commit a crime. That law went into effect across North Carolina on Dec. 1, 2019.
Price’s other favorite accomplishment was her role in the Stepping Up initiative, which is a national effort trying to reduce the number of mentally ill people in jails across the country.
She was first elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in November 2012, and is running unopposed for her seat this fall—ensuring at least another four years in the job.
While her work has been impressive to say the least, Price was quick to credit others for their efforts connected to her winning this prestigious award.
“I didn’t get this award by myself,” Price said. “It was the people of Orange County that elected me. And I work with the people of Orange County to do whatever I’m accomplishing. It’s not a solo act. So, in a way, this award is for all of us.”
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