Phyllis Portie-Ascott is a Democrat running to be reelected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners District 2 seat. She is running against H. Nathan Robinson, a Republican.
Portie-Ascott has served on the Orange County Board of Commissioners since February 2023, when she was unanimously appointed to fill a vacancy created by Renee Price’s election to the N.C. House of Representatives. She previously served as chair of the Northern Orange Black Voters Alliance and secretary of the Northern Orange NAACP and has held leadership roles in the Psi Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Orange County Democratic Party. She is a real estate broker and chaplain.
Portie-Ascott has been endorsed by Indyweek, the Northern Orange Black Voters Alliance, and the NC State AFL-CIO, and a slew of elected officials across Orange County. We conducted the following interview over email, and her answers appear in full.
The only population increasing in Orange County is 65+, both due to Baby Boomers aging in place and housing prices remaining high. What does this mean for the future of our school systems?
It is interesting that this question about public schools ties together folks aging in place and the cost of housing in Orange County. These issues are complicated and interdependent. I believe that addressing the housing crisis is central to addressing many other issues, including the health and vibrancy of our public schools. The good news is that most people who are of retirement age grew up in a time when traditional public schools were the cornerstone of our communities. My hope is that they will continue to support the central role strong public schools play in our democracy, and to a large extent, it is up to elected officials to effectively message that fact and continue to garner widespread support for our schools.
How will you balance the needs of the schools with all of the non-school needs across the county? Can you share your top three spending priorities?
Balancing the needs of our schools with all the other responsibilities across the county is always a challenge, but it’s one we can handle by being thoughtful and strategic. Schools are at the heart of our community, I’m committed to thoughtful planning that supports our schools while ensuring the broader needs of our residents are met.
My top three spending priorities are:
- Building a Thriving Community for All: Everyone in Orange County deserves a safe, supportive home. I’m committed to expanding affordable housing, supporting homeownership, and addressing homelessness. My focus is on innovative solutions to ensure everyone has the resources for a healthy, fulfilling life.
- Empowering Our Future Workforce: Our future depends on preparing youth for success. Beyond safe schools, I’m focused on workforce development—expanding occupational programs, community college partnerships, and apprenticeships to equip students with the skills for high-paying jobs and contributing to local economic growth.
- Tackling the Mental Health Crisis: Mental health is as vital as physical health, yet our community is facing a crisis, especially among young people. I’ll continue to support agencies addressing this issue and advocate for new initiatives to meet the growing mental health needs of our residents.
Do you think Orange County is growing too fast, too slowly, or about right? Why?
I believe the pace of growth in Orange County is just about right, especially when compared to neighboring counties that are expanding more rapidly. Our steady, measured growth allows us to plan more thoughtfully and address the unique challenges our community faces. At the 2024 NCACC conference, keynote speaker, Dr. James Johnson, highlighted several key trends that we’re already seeing here—migration to the South is driving an affordability crisis, and our aging population is outpacing birth rates, which will shift our community’s needs.
This is why the County Commissioners have taken a deliberate approach, especially in revising the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. By engaging the community to gather their input and listening to experts, we’re working to ensure that we grow in a way that meets the needs of both current and future residents.
By managing growth this way, we can ensure that Orange County remains a sustainable and vibrant place to live for all residents, regardless of age or income.
The towns have often been asked to fund many county initiatives through joint agreements (while residents also pay county taxes and are the main source of property taxes to the county), yet there are few examples of county investments in the towns. How would you advocate for working with and supporting the towns as part of the county? Do you believe the Commissioners should focus on issues outside of the towns or begin to support housing, environment, and other joint priorities within the towns more?
Personally, I have close relationships with many elected officials who serve on the town boards and councils communicating with them both formally and informally on a regular basis. Additionally, the BOCC utilizes a variety of advisory and planning boards that are required to be made up of representatives from across the county. The county and the municipal governments have a history of healthy cooperation and mutual support of initiatives on a range of issues from housing to transportation to services for the aging and people with behavioral health needs. Services that the county provides and initiatives it takes happen both within and outside of the various municipalities. I believe both county and municipal boards are committed to continuing the tradition of cooperation and working to strengthen our collaborative efforts even more. We are partners.
Why did you push for the schools to draw down their fund balance?
I was appointed in February 2023, so I wasn’t on the Board of Commissioners when the schools were directed to draw down their fund balance. However, I do support the approach because it aligns with Orange County’s Fund Balance Policy. The policy requires schools to maintain an undesignated fund balance of at least 5.5% of their budgeted expenses for cash flow. If the balance exceeds this threshold, schools are encouraged to develop a plan to use the surplus for one-time needs. Drawing down the fund balance allows schools to address immediate priorities without adding extra pressure on county resources. It’s a practical and responsible way to make the most of our existing funds to support our students and staff.
Last year, the Mebane City Council approved a proposal by Bucc-ee’s to build a large gas station in Alamance County after the Orange County BOCC turned down a similar proposal to build the gas station in Efland, costing Orange County an estimated $1 million in annual tax revenue. Do you think this was a good decision? What kinds of development do you think is unsuitable for Orange County?
The Buccee’s proposal was opposed because of environmental concerns and crowding concerns.
Since the 1980s, Orange County has asked its municipalities to take on almost all of the burden of providing new housing. While this was done with rural preservation in mind, what we’ve seen is leapfrog development, with significant growth in our neighboring counties (Alamance, Chatham, Durham) occurring as a direct consequence of our inability to add sufficient housing. Do you think this is a problem? If so, how do we change this dynamic?
I support the current vision for the Greene Tract, and I’m glad to see the collaborative process underway between Orange County, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill. We are actively engaging with both towns to create a master plan that reflects our shared goals for sustainable development, environmental preservation, and community needs.
Part of this process includes ongoing community engagement sessions to gather input and feedback. These sessions have been instrumental in shaping guiding principles for the development, such as prioritizing affordable housing, preserving cultural and environmental resources, and creating accessible transit options. In September, a workshop was held to present updates on the master plan and incorporate community feedback into an updated conceptual plan. This ongoing collaboration ensures that the development aligns with the vision and values of the broader community.
How should we respond to the increase in housing prices and the increase in demand for housing here?
To tackle the rising home prices and rental rates and growing demand in Orange County, I support a comprehensive and strategic approach. This includes engaging community members, developers, and local organizations to develop housing solutions that will work, incentivizing development through tax credits and streamlined permitting processes, and preserving existing housing to prevent displacement. I also support strengthening tenant protections and expanding down payment assistance programs to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers and low-income families. These efforts will bring us closer to my vision of ensuring that all residents have access to safe, affordable housing while fostering a vibrant and inclusive Orange County where everyone can thrive.
Do you think preventing sprawl depends on substantially increasing the housing in the municipalities? Why or why not?
Preventing sprawl can be achieved not only by increasing housing within municipalities but also by embracing a county-wide smart growth strategy. This approach emphasizes a balanced development model that promotes a mix of housing types across all of Orange County, from urban centers to more rural areas, while still protecting open spaces and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But it is also important to remember, that NC law does not allow for strict requirements on new developments – all the county can do is offer tax incentives, carefully manage zoning, and invest in infrastructure that supports our goals of protecting green spaces and being environmentally responsible.
If you could design a pair of Crocs for yourself, what would they look like?
They would have a cross, a house, and a key.
Questions for county commissioners were compiled by Melody Kramer, Stephen Whitlow, Martin Johnson, Lou Rivers III, and Geoff Green.