Ed Priola
Ed Priola
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Ed Priola has dedicated his life to advancing freedom. He worked as a Field Representative on Ronald Reagan’s 1980 Presidential Campaign and then as the National Field Director for the National Taxpayers Union and U.S. Term Limits. He spent six years teaching people in Romania, Albania, and Afghanistan about self-governance and free enterprise. For the past 15 years, he has been a university professor.
Ed Priola is pro First Amendment, pro Second Amendment, pro life, pro school choice, pro term limits, and pro family agriculture.
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I decided to run for the Alamance County Board of Commissioners to be a strong conservative voice for taxpayers. As a future Commissioner, my top priorities for Alamance County will be to:
1. Cut property taxes
My experience as the Field Director for the National Taxpayers Union, where I fought against excessive taxes, government waste, and bloated bureaucracies, has prepared me for the role of Commissioner. I am committed to continuing this fight in Alamance County, where many families are burdened by runaway inflation and soaring property taxes.
2. Support law enforcement
My commitment to safe communities is unwavering. I have made supporting law enforcement and first responders a top priority. This dedication has been recognized by Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson, who has enthusiastically endorsed me for County Commissioner.
3. Make education world-class
Every child, regardless of zip code or family background, deserves a world-class education. I have been a university professor for 15 years. I have also served as a substitute teacher in the Alamance Burlington School System (ABSS), so I understand where the needs are most pressing. I will work to address the lack of leadership and transparency in ABSS so that we can give every Alamance County child a world-class education.
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My vision for Alamance County is one of prudent and limited governance. I envision a local government that respects taxpayers by spending public resources wisely and efficiently. In the words of President Ronald Reagan, “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”
On the Board of Commissioners, I will take action to cut property taxes, reduce the burden on families, and ensure law enforcement and first responders have the resources they need to keep us all safe. I will also hold the ABSS leadership and Board of Education accountable for providing high-quality quality education, not indoctrination.
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The three most significant needs for Alamance County are:
1. Skyrocketing property taxes, which burden families already stretched thin by inflation. We must let families, not government bureaucrats, decide how to allocate their limited resources.
2. Failing schools. This year, 16 out of 37 ABSS schools received grades of D or F from the State Department of Public Instruction. Children, parents, and taxpayers deserve better.
3. Rising crime rates and spiraling drug epidemic. We must increase funding to the Sheriff’s office and first responders.
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This year, Alamance County’s budget was about 75% higher than it was a decade ago. Over the same period, inflation was 35%, and population growth was 15%. So why did the county budget outstrip inflation and population growth by about 25 percentage points? Because of bureaucratic scope creep. Our local government has been swallowing an ever-increasing share of taxpayers’ hard-earned money. One-time expenditures have become recurring costs. Temporary positions have become permanent. What hasn’t increased is the quality of services provided to taxpayers. As a County Commissioner, I will fund essential government services (law enforcement, first responders, education) while cutting wasteful spending.
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We need policies that promote smart, balanced economic growth in Alamance County by attracting a variety of investments in industry, services, and family agriculture. Our policies should not be designed to pick winners and losers, serve special interests, or subsidize favored businesses. Nor do we need more bureaucracy. The county already has some 62 ordinances that serve to manage growth, so I oppose countywide zoning.
We must create an opportunity economy by removing barriers to entrepreneurship and encouraging family farms and small businesses to create well-paid local jobs that offer meaningful work. Any incentives offered must be reasonably uniform. Big corporations should not benefit disproportionately. As a matter of principle, I believe that the Board of Commissioners must balance new development with quality of life.
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Transparency and open communication are not just important, they are essential for rebuilding trust in the ABSS leadership and Board of Education. As a County Commissioner, I will hold town hall meetings where parents and educators alike can bring concerns directly to the Board of Commissioners. I will request detailed monthly updates from the ABSS administration on all capital projects (including funding/completion status and issues). I will work to institute zero-based budgeting, requiring all ABSS expenses funded from county funds to be justified in each budget period. Our public education system must become far more transparent and directed toward building a competitive workforce.
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Once again, transparency and open communication are essential for building trust and coordinating with other local governments, state agencies, and community organizations.
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In my campaign for County Commissioner, I have reached out to thousands of voters—by mail, on the phone, or in person. I will continue to do so as an elected official. I will work for the people, and listening to their voices will not just be a concern, it will be a priority.
As a body, the Board of Commissioners must hold its deliberations in public… with appropriate public notice… and with ample opportunities for constituent engagement.
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Among the leadership experiences that have prepared me to be an effective County Commissioner are:
• Reagan for President Campaign, Field and Advance Representative (1979-1980)
• U.S. Term Limits, National Field Director (1991-1992)
• National Taxpayers Union, National Field Director (1991-1994)
• International Republican Institute, Executive Director (2003-2005)
• Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Public Affairs Director (2007-2010)
In addition, I hold a Doctor of Management degree, a master’s degree in Organizational Communication, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.