Full name: Jashi Abhirajan
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/JashiForMorrisville/
1) In 300 words or less, please give our readers your elevator pitch: Why are you running? Why should voters entrust you with this position? What prior experience will make you an effective member of Morrisville’s town council?
I am running for Morrisville Town Council because I am dedicated to building a community where every resident feels seen, valued, and at home. My years of public service, as a long-time member of the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Advisory Committee, a nonprofit leader, and an advocate for inclusivity, reflect a deep commitment to bringing people together and strengthening the bonds that make Morrisville thrive. A proud immigrant from India who has called Morrisville home for nearly two decades, I know firsthand the power of community. Working alongside neighbors and local organizations, I’ve championed initiatives that uplift our town’s diversity, including helping launch Morrisville’s Holi and Diwali celebrations, traditions that now stand alongside others in reflecting our town’s vibrant cultural fabric. My efforts with the Veterans Memorial Committee and the Disaster Relief Committee have further shown me the importance of honoring service, supporting families in need, and ensuring that no one in our community is left behind. As a candidate for District 2, I bring both experience and vision. I will prioritize affordability, safety, and accessibility so that Morrisville remains a welcoming place for families, seniors, and new residents alike. More importantly, I will serve by listening, by ensuring every voice, from longtime residents to newcomers, is heard in shaping the future of our town. This campaign is not just about me; it is about us.
This campaign is about serving a rapidly growing town of nearly 32,000 residents and ensuring that every dollar in Morrisville’s $48 million budget is used to build a more inclusive, accessible, and vibrant community. It is about creating a Morrisville where every child can see themselves reflected in their community, every family can afford to stay and grow, and every neighbor can walk with pride knowing they belong.
2) What would your priorities be as a member of the town council? Please identify three of the most pressing issues Morrisville currently faces and how you believe the town should address them.
Morrisville is a growing, diverse community, and with growth comes both opportunity and challenge. As a member of the Town Council, my top three priorities will be:
1. Keeping Morrisville Affordable & Supporting Small Businesses
Rising costs make it harder for families, seniors, and new residents to build their lives here. I will work to keep Morrisville affordable for everyone by encouraging responsible development, protecting housing options across income levels, and ensuring our budgeting reflects community priorities. At the same time, I will support small businesses with streamlined processes and innovative incentives, recognizing that they are the backbone of our local economy and central to our town’s character.
2. Sustainable Growth & Infrastructure
As our population increases, we need thoughtful development that balances progress with livability. I will work to preserve green spaces, reduce traffic congestion through smarter infrastructure, and expand public transit options that better connect our neighborhoods. Growth should enhance our town, and we must protect the character of Morrisville as we plan for the future.
3. Cultural Diversity & Community Engagement
Our diversity is one of Morrisville’s greatest strengths. I will champion initiatives that celebrate our multicultural community, including expanding cultural festivals, supporting multilingual communication, and ensuring broader representation in leadership. By fostering open, community-driven conversations, we can make sure every resident has a voice in shaping the town’s direction.
Together, these priorities form a vision of a Morrisville that is affordable, sustainable, and inclusive, a town where residents of every background feel pride in our shared spaces, have confidence in our leadership, and know their voices matter in the decisions we make.
3) What’s the best or most important thing the Morrisville town council has done in the past year? Additionally, name a decision you believe the town should have handled differently. Please explain your answers.
One positive step the Town of Morrisville has recently taken is launching Phase 1 of the Town Center project. This effort has been years in the making, and its groundbreaking symbolizes a stronger investment in community gathering spaces, walkable areas, and small businesses. A Town Center helps give Morrisville the kind of “main street” feel that connects neighbors, creates civic pride, and boosts local economic activity.
I believe there are more sustainable ways to fund Morrisville’s growth without continually turning to taxpayers. For example, the state of North Carolina offers a range of grants designed to support community development, infrastructure, and cultural initiatives. By actively pursuing these opportunities, Morrisville can secure funding for projects like parks, transportation improvements, and inclusive cultural programming while easing the pressure on local homeowners. As a council member, I would advocate for a more proactive grant strategy, building partnerships at the state level to leverage resources that our residents have already contributed to through state taxes. This approach not only diversifies our revenue but also ensures we continue investing in projects that make Morrisville more livable and connected, without asking residents to shoulder more than their fair share.
4) President Trump is working to ramp up deportations and curtail visas. At the same time, the state legislature has passed laws requiring agencies to cooperate with ICE. What do you think the town council can or should do to ensure safe, welcoming communities for immigrants in light of these policies?
As an immigrant myself, I know the fear these policies create. When people worry that any interaction with local government could endanger them, they stop reporting crimes, seeking services, or engaging in civic life. I strongly believe this makes our community less safe for everyone.
The Town Council must ensure that staff and nonprofit partners are fully equipped to meet the needs of our immigrant community, with a constant flow of information despite shifting federal policies. By partnering with local organizations that are equipped to serve immigrant residents, expand multilingual communication, and provide training for both vulnerable residents and U.S. citizens who risk being caught in poorly executed ICE actions, we can ensure Morrisville stays a welcoming community for our valuable immigrant population.
5) As climate change leads to more intense rainfall, communities are at greater risk of inland flooding, such as the historic floods in parts of the Triangle this summer. How would you like the town council to address climate resilience, particularly flooding?
Climate resilience must be central to Morrisville’s future, especially as heavier rains raise the risk of inland flooding. Already, nearly 10 percent of properties in Morrisville are projected to face flood risk over the next 30 years. As more extreme storms become routine, our town must act proactively to protect residents, infrastructure, and natural systems.
Preserving green infrastructure and open spaces is essential to protecting Morrisville from increasingly severe flooding. Wetlands, riparian buffers, and green corridors naturally absorb stormwater before it overwhelms our drainage systems, while permeable surfaces in new developments help reduce runoff. To implement these projects without overburdening taxpayers, the Town Council must aggressively pursue state and federal grants, including the NC Flood Resiliency Blueprint, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and other infrastructure resilience programs. By combining nature-based solutions with strategic grant funding, we can strengthen flood protection, preserve our town’s character, and ensure that Morrisville remains safe and sustainable even as rainfall patterns intensify.
6) Federal funding cuts this year have hit the Triangle particularly hard, from cancelled grants to layoffs, and local government officials are having to make difficult decisions about what to fund and how. What are your ideas for how the town council can prioritize competing funding needs, close funding gaps, and support impacted residents?
Morrisville, like many communities, is facing increasing pressure as federal funding becomes more unpredictable. These gaps can strain local services, programs, and support for residents, especially families, seniors, and small business owners who rely on town resources.
To address this, I would prioritize actively seeking state and federal grants to fund community projects and programs, ensuring that essential services continue without placing undue burden on residents. At the same time, I would work to strengthen partnerships with nonprofits and private organizations, leveraging additional resources to support local initiatives such as cultural programs, public amenities, and small business assistance.
Equally important is maintaining transparency and open communication. I have been an active member of Morrisville’s community for 18 years. The people here trust me, and as a council member, I would host public discussions to ensure that residents feel their economic needs are heard and considered, especially in a time of federal uncertainty and local discourse.
7) Describe what sustainable growth and development mean to you in the context of Morrisville’s population growth and the plans for a new town center. Additionally, what is another municipality you believe has made smart decisions related to growth and development that could be similarly implemented in Morrisville?
As Morrisville develops and plans for a long-term downtown center, sustainable growth means pairing walkable, mixed-use development with parks, safe streets, and reliable transit so residents can live, work, shop, and gather without depending on a car for every trip. I would prioritize:
1. A people-first Town Center (walkable + green + local).
Design the Town Center around a signature public park and civic spine, with small-format retail and housing above, safe crossings, street trees, and year-round programming. Cary’s 7-acre Downtown Cary Park anchors nearby homes, offices, and shops and draws steady foot traffic that keeps small businesses humming. Their Academy Street streetscape shows how wider sidewalks, public art, and traffic-calming can turn a corridor into a destination that supports local art and culture, something Morrisville should emulate as it grows.
2. Mixed-use density in the core, not sprawl at the edges.
Concentrate height and activity in the Town Center so we can support cafés, services, and everyday errands within a short walk. Cary’s “The Walker” brings housing, office, and retail right next to the park and library; Fenton shows how larger mixed-use districts can broaden the tax base and add amenities without overloading existing neighborhoods. We should set similar design standards and public-private partnerships to deliver storefronts, upper-floor housing (including attainable units), and active ground floors.
3. Transit and “first-mile/last-mile” baked in from day one.
Plan bus stops, sheltered hubs, and a simple circulator route into the Town Center plan. Cary is expanding GoCary infrastructure, building a new multimodal center, and running a Downtown Loop that links the park, Town Hall, and main streets; Morrisville should do the same with coordinated bus stop upgrades, frequent service to neighboring cities/suburbs, and safe bike/pedestrian links from nearby neighborhoods.
8) As with most places in the Triangle, Morrisville is grappling with issues related to affordable housing. How would you like to see the town approach affordability issues over the next few years?
Morrisville should remain affordable for everyone, especially the seniors and long-term residents who helped build our community. Affordability is about making sure people can stay here and thrive. My approach will focus on:
1. Protecting Seniors and Long-Term Residents
I’ll advocate for targeted property tax relief programs that help seniors and long-time homeowners stay in their homes despite rising costs. We need to honor the people who built Morrisville by making sure they’re not priced out of it.
2. Encouraging Diverse, Sustainable Housing Options
By working with developers on mixed-income projects, accessory dwelling units, and more affordable townhomes or apartments, we can expand choices for young families, first-time buyers, and workers. New growth should reflect the needs of our whole community, not just high-end demand.
3. Smart Budgeting and Supportive Policies
Transparent budgeting and incentives that support small businesses and workforce housing can keep Morrisville a balanced, affordable place to live and work. Every tax dollar should go toward policies that strengthen affordability and preserve community character.
9) With its proximity to Durham, Cary, Raleigh, RTP, and RDU, connectivity and transportation are big issues in Morrisville. What should the town be doing to improve transportation and transit infrastructure, from getting road projects funded to investing in public transit projects?
Morrisville has a unique ability to support local transit while also being a hub for regional travel as the home of RDU. By investing in equitable public transit and safe streets, we can give residents better travel options, boost local businesses, and reduce congestion. My priorities are:
1. Working with GoCary, GoTriangle, and Wake County to expand bus service through Morrisville, ensuring reliable routes to RTP, RDU, and surrounding towns. I’ll also advocate for Morrisville’s inclusion in Bus Rapid Transit and future commuter rail planning, so our residents have affordable, dependable alternatives to driving.
2. Pushing for Morrisville’s projects to be prioritized in NCDOT and regional funding cycles, including upgrades to NC-54, McCrimmon Parkway, and Airport Boulevard. At the same time, we need more sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalk improvements so residents can safely move around neighborhoods and access parks, schools, and shopping without needing a car.
3. Ensuring new development integrates transportation planning up front, with requirements for pedestrian access, greenway connections, and road capacity improvements. By adopting smarter traffic management tools, such as synchronized signals and roundabouts, we can ease congestion while preserving the character and walkability of our town.
10) What kinds of amenities would you like to see in Morrisville’s upcoming 25-acre town center project?
Morrisville’s upcoming 25-acre Town Center project offers a unique opportunity to create a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community hub. Building upon the foundational elements already planned, such as a new Town Green for community events, live music, and a branch of the Wake County Library, I envision additional amenities that cater to diverse resident needs and enhance our town’s character.
One key amenity should be cultural and community spaces. Having introduced Morrisville’s Holi and Diwali celebrations, I know firsthand the vitality of providing platforms for local cultural groups to organize, perform, and connect with the broader community. Spaces for performances, workshops, and art installations would allow residents of all backgrounds to share their traditions, strengthening the sense of belonging in our town. A second priority is active recreation areas, including playgrounds, walking paths, and multi-use courts. These spaces encourage health, wellness, and everyday social interaction, ensuring the Town Center is not only a gathering place but also a space where families, seniors, and youth can actively engage with their neighbors.
11) If there are other issues you want to discuss, please do so here.
At the heart of my campaign is a simple promise: Morrisville’s government should be accessible, transparent, and balanced. I’ll make it easier for residents to voice their concerns, ensure every tax dollar is invested wisely, and protect the long-term residents who built our community while guiding smart, sustainable growth. Together, we can keep Morrisville affordable, connected, and a place we’re all proud to call home.
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