Name: Beth Bronson
Age: 39
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: www.bronson4orangecounty.com
Occupation & employer: Clinical Researcher at Duke University Health System
Years lived in the area: 39
1. In your view, what are the three most pressing issues facing Orange County and—if you are running for a district seat—your district in particular? If elected, what will you do to address these issues?
I feel that the three most pressing issues facing Orange County are: managing economic and infrastructure growth responsibly, protecting our natural resources, and ensuring that policy decisions benefit all residents.
Growth pressures are arriving fast in District 2, often in areas lacking infrastructure or services to keep pace. If elected, I will focus on bringing forward long-range plans that are transparent, data-driven, and rooted in the community so growth supports, not overwhelms, existing residents.
Alongside economic growth, environmental protection is essential. Orange County contains some of the piedmont’s most important waterways and arable land. I will advocate for land-use policies that prioritize clean water, public health, and biodiversity while recognizing that conservation and economic vitality are not mutually exclusive.
Most importantly, local governments should not only provide supplemental services that can assist residents, but also improve how we are connecting residents to those available services. We need leadership that will be receptive to the concerns of our residents and who are willing to bring that information to our regional and state leaders. That means going into communities, listening early, and understanding how broad decision making impacts residents depending on where and how they live.
2. How would your experience―in politics or otherwise in your career―make you an asset to the county’s decision-making process?
I bring a combination of preparation, curiosity, and accountability to decision making, and I will continue to ask hard questions while respecting the complexity of the role, County Commissioner. I have served in advisory and quasi-judicial roles as a Commissioner-appointed volunteer. While participating on the Board of Adjustment and Planning Advisory Board, I have seen firsthand how state law, established ordinances, and long-range plans intersect with public input.
While engaging with elected officials and County staff, I learned how to read governing documents, meeting minutes, and transportation budgets in order to understand, and communicate, the growth happening in our area. It was through this process, I learned how decisions that may look good on paper can have very different consequences depending on where you live, what resources are available to you, and whether a representative public has had a chance to participate in the process.
3. What’s the best or most important thing the Orange County Board of County Commissioners has done in the past year? Additionally, name a decision you believe the board should have handled differently. Please explain your answers.
One of the most important things to occur this year is the funding approval of the Bedford Crisis Diversion center. A facility meant to alleviate growing pressure on hospitals and law enforcement resources. Investments made today are intended to address long standing needs, with the goal of being able to allocate funds for other services in the future.
During the past budget season, hard decisions had to be made to bridge the gap between reduced federal and state funding and the rising costs of living. The phasing out of County funding for the Chapel Hill Library is something that caught the public off guard. While we now have two other libraries to fund, access to our “original” public library is something the public wants to see funded. Residents often feel frustration when they learn about decisions too late in the process. I will continue to advocate for outreach earlier, before options narrow, so public feedback can meaningfully shape outcomes rather than react to them.
4. Property valuations have risen significantly in recent years and many Orange County residents are worried about their ability to continue to afford to pay taxes on their homes. What do you believe the county commission should do to make living here more affordable? If you support cutting taxes, where would you reduce government spending?
While I am glad that the value of our area is being recognized, rising property valuations cause real anxiety for long-time residents. We must make sure community members are not displaced or priced out for the sake of pursuing growth for growth’s sake. I believe the County should focus on relief mechanisms that are accessible to those most vulnerable to rising costs, and simultaneously look for cost-avoidance strategies, not just revenue generation. This include defining the term “affordable housing” to include the whole spectrum of accessibility to remaining housed in this area.
We should be evaluating tax relief options already allowed under state law, continue to invest in housing affordability, and prioritize spending that reduces long-term costs in order to prevent expensive retrofits later. Orange County is largely residential. In order to make life affordable we cannot continue to pass along these cost increases onto regular folks who live here and want to remain. The economic growth we are experiencing should have a net positive impact on offsetting those costs for residents.
5. Where do you stand on the proposed amendment to the state constitution that would allow the legislature to limit counties’ taxing authority?
Property tax increases are a significant concern for residents, and I find it disingenuous that the State Legislature would put forth additional restrictions on local leaders’ ability to fund essential services to their residents. Which is what this proposed amendment would do. North Carolina has already received recognition for being the “Best State for Business,” and both amendment proposals do the opposite of providing that same respect to residents. It is worth noting that NC did not receive the same designation of “Best State” for it’s employees.
Vaguely worded taxation caps will most likely benefit larger businesses that own commercial land, not everyday property owners. County staff understand how to best balance their budgets because they are the ones with boots on the ground, doing the work.
No elected official wants to raise tax rates on residents. The recent increase on property tax rates are a product of increasing costs in every sector, along with reduced State and Federal spending, in order to provide much needed services such as public facilities, food assistance, and other essential social services.
6. This year, Orange County commissioners voted to increase the property tax rate, primarily to allot more funding to Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Did you agree with this decision? Why or why not? With costs rising and declining enrollment bringing in less per pupil funding, how should the county balance the need to fund local schools with the tax burden on residents?
The most recent property tax increase came as a result of multiple factors. Plainly, I agree with ensuring that our schools are funded. Commissioners and county staff were handed an impossible task because of a responsibility for funding school facilities and supplemental pay programs for staff. When fewer students enroll in public school, it does not change the cost of running school buildings. It is the collective duty of both school districts and county officials to find innovative ways to expand shared resources and ensure that we maintain focus on providing a well rounded education to our kids, above all else. Available incentives for economic development opportunities should come with a requisite investment in the infrastructure needed to grow and educate the workforce of tomorrow. The cost of operating two school districts is a conversation that is, and will be, ongoing. It will be imperative that everyone comes to the table with their ideas for how we address the ongoing issues of declining enrollment and increasing tax burden.
7. What is your vision for how Orange County should grow economically? What policies would you like to see implemented to enhance economic development in Orange County?
My vision is for intentional, locally-grounded economic growth that reflects the diversity of Orange County’s communities. That includes supporting small businesses, agriculture, and place-appropriate commercial development rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Recent changes to zoning legislation at the NC General Assembly had a dramatic impact on how local and municipal governments operate legislatively. We owe it to our residents to look for ways to leverage our autonomy as a county. A county with potential for economic opportunity to occur, without losing our core values.
I will support policies that align economic development alongside land conservation, prioritizing our local workforce and balancing growth with infrastructure capacity; ensuring that incoming growth strengthens us collectively, rather than displacing people who make it work.
8. With Orange County’s growth comes challenges related to suburban sprawl, transportation, and affordable housing. What have been the county’s successes in managing this growth in recent years? What about its failures? What would you do differently?
The County has done well to recognize that growth should be guided by strategic planning, rather than reaction. There are comprehensive studies and strategic planning efforts put forth to emulate who we are as a community, and to emphasize what makes us such a desirable place to live and work. We must use the data we have already collected to help direct how we move forward effectively. Commissioners deserve credit for acknowledging the complexities of comprehensive land development, and I believe we can do a better job of serving the will of the people while also achieving economic prosperity.
I would push for purposeful and thoughtful alignment between municipality and county planning decisions, necessitating a stronger line of communication with residents about how growth proposals fit into our collective development goals. The County will be proposing an updated comprehensive plan that will guide long term planning decisions and it will be important for everyone to learn about how we can anticipate growth accordingly.
9. Is the county doing enough to protect, preserve, and maintain its natural resources, including parks, waterways, and green spaces? What would you continue to do or do differently?
“Orange County has a strong foundation in conservation, and increasing development pressure means we cannot be complacent. We want continued protections while strengthening enforcement and ensuring environmental considerations are integrated early, not after proposals have advanced to the point where major investments are made by developers who do not share the same considerations.
Protecting biodiversity is not just an environmental issue, it is a public health issue. Start the process off correctly to avoid unnecessary environmental consequences down the road. I don’t see conservation and economic development as mutually exclusive. Responsible stewardship can be part of a strong local economy and an investment in the county that will last for generations. Since we are acknowledging that development pressures will continue to increase; in the same breath, we have to protect clean water, agricultural land, and the natural landscapes we depend on.”
10. North Carolina is a “Dillon Rule” state, meaning that the only powers municipal and county governments have are the ones granted to them by the legislature. Would you like to see this changed? How would you work with state legislators from Orange County, as well as mayors and council members to ensure that Orange County, its municipalities, and the state are on the same page regarding policies that affect residents of Orange?
This issue is more relevant than ever with the proposed constitutional amendments on our ballot this year. Amendments that would further hamper local efforts to govern ourselves. We are not without agency to help our community, even with current restraints of the “Dillon Rule.” North Carolina has a large rural population in the country, second only to Texas. This means that we have a diverse set of communities that have unique requirements in order to prosper. More distant control presided over by the state, the less likely policies truly reflect the needs of the constituents. As it stands, we must focus on strengthening relationships with state legislators, municipal leaders, and regional partners. Consistent communication and unified advocacy is the way to win over all stakeholders, so Orange County must continue bringing legislative priorities to Raleigh leadership and ensure that decisions affecting our residents are reflective of the local reality.
11. Give an example of an opinion, policy, vote or action you changed based on constituent feedback. If you have not yet held elected office, describe a time when you changed your position on an issue after listening to those affected by it.
While not having held an elected office yet, I have attended a lot of public hearings, as well as advocated on my own behalf during public comment. Not wanting something to happen is different than understanding why something is happening and what equitable alternatives could be. Personally, I found that rather than trying to prevent speculative development for the sake of not wanting it, the goal became finding ways to be more productive in communicating concerns of outdated planning practices and the overlooked consequences to the remaining community. I began to advocate for better zoning ordinances and preservation of existing character. This was my position during the primary and continues to be a main priority moving forward.
12. Are there any issues not included in this questionnaire that you would like to address?
Two issues that aren’t directly addressed in the campaign platform, but will continue to be a personal focus, if elected:
1. Caregiver support systems that allow families and communities to take care of each other as they have been, with continued support from their local officials. To care for one another is the essence of why I’m running for County Commissioner. From where I stand, this is the key to unlocking economic prosperity for the average family. We are a predominantly residential constituency and need to plan accordingly to best support those who are supporting others.
2. Stronger educational opportunities that allow anyone to seek personal development is not just novel, but absolutely essential. Learning systems don’t just happen in our schools, they happen in our community. As one of the highest concentrations of educated people in North Carolina, Orange County should be the gold standard for accessibility to obtaining an education of all varieties.
