Rani Dasi, a current member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board, announced her intention to fill the vacant Orange County Board of Commissioners seat left by the late Jamezetta Bedford.
In a Facebook post published on Tuesday, June 7, Dasi outlined her reasons for seeking the appointment to the District 1 seat. She started by acknowledging Bedford herself, who died on Sunday, June 21, following complications from a procedure conducted earlier that weekend.
“I want to begin by honoring the memory of Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford, whose leadership, fiscal discipline, and deep commitment to public service strengthened Orange County in lasting ways,” Dasi’s post read. “Her work set a high standard for thoughtful governance, and I would be honored to follow in her footsteps and carry forward the values she championed.”
She said that her experience would be useful to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, given her background in finance. On top of her position on the CHCCS board, she is the Vice President Operations Finance at RTI International, an independent scientific research institute.
“As Orange County navigates a period of significant financial pressure—driven by reductions in state and federal funding and increasing demands on local services—I’m seeking this appointment because my experience in finance and strategic planning positions me to contribute effectively from day one,” her post continued. “I have spent my career managing complex budgets, evaluating investment tradeoffs, and bringing disciplined, people centered judgment to decisions that require both strategic clarity and practical action.”
Dasi’s post also touted her time on the CHCCS board as an example of her aptitude as a public servant. Since joining the school board in 2015, she went on to serve as the vice chair from 2016-2017 and the board chair from 2017-2018. Her current term is set to expire in 2027.
“If selected, my focus would be on sustainable financial planning—aligning resources with near term core needs and long term resilience,” she wrote. “I understand the critical tradeoffs required in public budgeting and how investments in areas like health and housing strengthen outcomes in education, food security, and overall community well being.”
Orange County Commissioners speak at the Board of County Commissioners Meeting discussing budget plans in Chapel Hill, NC on June 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
Dasi is the second person to publicly declare their intention to take on the role, as Bedford’s 2026 primary opponent Maria Palmer also said she will seek the appointment.
North Carolina law requires any vacant seat with an unexpired term to be filled within 60 days. What makes Bedford’s vacancy different, however, is that it comes months after the primary cycle. The Democrat was primed to win a third term on the board after defeating Palmer in March with 57% of the vote and seeing no challengers on the general ballot for November. Now, it’s up to the Orange County Democratic Party to choose who will very likely get a four-year term.
According to the Orange County Democratic Party’s website, the County Executive Committee will meet on July 20 to hold a candidate forum and two elections. The first will be for the interim role, and the second will be to select a candidate for the November 3 election. These elections will be voted on by the chairs and vice-chairs of the 23 precincts that make up the district. Once this process is complete, the selected individual will be sent over to the current Orange County Board of Commissioners, which will finalize the appointment to the interim position, and to the Orange County Board of Elections for placement on November’s ballot.
Dasi is seeking appointment in both elections. She also said a process to fill her current seat on the CHCCS board would begin at a later date if she is chosen.
If selected, she would be the latest local elected official to follow the path from school board member to county commissioner. Jean Hamilton, Amy Fowler, and Jamezetta Bedford herself also started on the CHCCS board before taking on the county-wide role.
“I would be honored to bring my experience to the Board of County Commissioners and to learn from and serve alongside the current board members, whose dedication and experience continue to shape Orange County’s future,” Dasi’s post concluded. “I welcome any questions or thoughts and look forward to continued conversation.”
For a more in-depth breakdown on how local officials will conduct the selection process to fill the vacancy, as well as Maria Palmer’s thoughts on seeking the role, read our article here.
Featured image via Dasi for School Board
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