John Porter Paisley, Jr.

John Porter Paisley, Jr.

• Candidate Biography

  I am John Porter Paisley, Jr and I am running for re-election to the Alamance Couty Board of Commissioners. I am currently the Chairman of the Alamance County Commissioners and I have served in that capacity since December 2019.

  I grew up on a tobacco farm where hard work was encouraged and valued. I earned my Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow rank as a Boy Scout learning to always leave things better than I found them.

  I graduated from Elon College (University) earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. I graduated from Wake Forest School of Law with a Juris Doctorate.

  I have been married to Joyce A. Paisley for over 51 years and have four children, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

  I have practiced law with the office of John P Paisley, Jr. for over 50 years with an emphasis on civil and criminal trials, corporate matters, estate practice, and governmental advocacy.

  I am a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, and I have been sworn in and licensed to appear before all state level courts, the East, Central, and West Federal Districts of North Carolina and the United States Supreme Court. I have served as president, secretary, treasurer and board member of the Alamance Bar Association. I have served as chairman of the Alamance County Board of Elections, the North Carolina State Board of Elections Chairman’s Association, the Alamance Caswell Mental Health Association and the District Chair for the Mental Health Association. I have previously served and have been the president of the Alamance Civitan Club. I have coached girls’ soccer for over 18 seasons, girls’ softball for 10 seasons and numerous years of boys’ youth soccer, baseball and basketball.

  I have served on many boards and associations such as the Elon University Alumni Association, Recreation and Parks board, Planning Board, ACTA, Alcovets and various transportation Boards.

  During my term as a County Commissioner in 2014 and as Chairman beginning in 2020, I am proud to have led the improvement of our county administration and the establishment of our new Behavioral Health Center. Our board has worked to expand our parks and our recreation facilities and programs. We have also been able to improve communication between our board and the Alamance Burlington School System, resulting in increased support and financial aid to our school system’s needs including the completion of many of the 2018 Bond Projects. We have also worked with public safety personnel to expand needed services including the new Public Safety Training Center which is currently under construction.

• What motivated you to run for Alamance County Board of Commissioners?

  I believe that time and talent should be used to improve the community rather than complain and leave problems unsolved.

  In 2014 I was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Board of County Commissioners. During that year, I enjoyed the challenge of meeting the county’s needs while being fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money. In 2020 , I was encouraged to run again and was elected to the current 4-year term.

  I have been honored to serve the citizens of Alamance County for 5 years. My business and accounting training earned at Elon University and Juris Doctorate earned at Wake Forest University provide a strong background for budgeting and leadership  The leadership experiences gained serving on committees and boards such as the Alamance County Board of Elections, NC Board of Elections Chairmans Association, Alamance Board of Mental Health, NC Substance Abuse Association and Alamance County Board of County Commissioners, Current Chairman, helped prepare me to work with people with diverse skills and views to achieve common goals.

  Our current board has been successful meeting many county needs and I would like an opportunity to continue to address the issues that face our county.

• What is your vision for the future of Alamance County, and how will your actions on the Board of Commissioners support that vision?

  My vision for the future of Alamance County is a place where taxes and services are balanced so that the local government provides for the safety of all citizens, provides an atmosphere that values our heritage, supports the needs of our educational system and is inviting to business and industries thereby providing a strong tax base and high paying jobs. Future Alamance County will adequately fund the needs of our citizens, especially those related to safety, advancement and education.  Local government will serve without over taxing citizens or restricting our freedoms through over regulation. Alamance County will celebrate our past and create a future where our children will be able to live, learn, work, and raise a family.

  As County Commissioner, I will keep this vision in mind. This vision will affect decisions about farm preservation, recreation and parks and recruitment of businesses. This vision should also be used and shared through our marketing program so that our growth includes citizens, businesses, farming  and industry.

• What are the three most significant needs for Alamance County that require the immediate attention of the Board of Commissioners?

  The most significant needs of Alamance County are the safety of our citizens and their property, the maintenance of our school and government facilities, and planning for the predicted county growth.

  As a County Commissioner, I will continue to support our law enforcement, 1st Responders. and Court System. Thinking outside the box, we have strengthened county leadership and are enhancing and filling previously vacant positions. The response has been very positive. The opening of the new Alamance Behavioral Health Center provides immediate treatment for mental health crises and drug related emergencies. The sixteen beds provide access to immediate treatment and time to plan for continued care without crowding our emergency rooms or jail. We have developed a plan for the additional court space for our growing county without asking citizens to fund the originally estimated $100 million in new debt.

  We worked with ABSS to overcome the mold crisis and to increase transparency in the spending of appropriated funds, scheduled maintenance and we have improved communication between the two boards.

• How would you approach issues of taxation, budget prioritization, and resource allocation?

  I would fund needed services that are the responsibility of the Board of County Commissioners without unduly taxing citizens or business entities. The new County Manager and legal team are working to identify areas of concern and to plan  corrective steps. The Change from the previous 8 year cycle between revaluations of property was painful because of the large changes that occurred during that extended time, but the new 4 year cycle should reduce the shock of the impact of growth and financial change.

  Current revenue should be allocated as appropriate for expanded county growth. Priority should be given to safety issues and the education of our future citizens, our children.

• How should the Board of Commissioners be approaching land development planning and preparing for future growth and development in Alamance County?

  Alamance County has an agricultural history which is important to preserve. I strongly support our Farm Preservation program.  It is also important for Commissioners to encourage and develop industry and commercial growth for higher paying jobs and an increased tax base. These goals should work together without sacrificing one for the other.

  As your County Commissioner, I will continue to refine current ordinances and development plans while studying the potential need for a more comprehensive plan without unnecessary governmental restrictions of residents’ freedom.

• What is required for an effective relationship between the ABSS Board of Education and Alamance County Commissioners, and how will you work toward that as an elected official? 

  The accurate and informed information exchange of information between the Board of Education and the Alamance County Board of County Commissioners is necessary for an effective relationship between the two boards. To help assure that the boards will work cooperatively, the monthly Over-site  Committee meetings have been resumed. These meetings allow the leadership of Alamance County, Alamance Community College and Alamance Burlington Schools to make each other aware of their needs, plans and successes in a timely manner. I also initiated the return of monthly meetings of the Chairs of the two boards , the ABSS Superintendent and the Alamance County Manager. This meeting was terminated during Covid, but will now resume in October. These meetings help with the exchange of information and with cooperation between both boards. As Chairman of the Alamance County Board of Commissioners, I am scheduling ABSS to present information to the Board of County Commissioners on a monthly basis. Since our meetings are streamed and recorded this information will be available to all county citizens. This will hopefully result in more input from informed citizens.

• How do you plan to work with other local governments, state agencies, and community organizations to achieve the county’s goals?

  I continually communicate with national, state, county, and community leaders about the needs and concerns of Alamance County. We are continually receiving grants and assistance through all of these resources and are in constant communication with same.  These contacts also inform the county leadership of the additional and changing needs of our population.

  My service on many state-wide boards, local boards, and interests such as Alamance Civitans, religious entities, previously the Elon Alumni Association, Alcovets and many other interests assist me in being informed about the needs and concerns of Alamance County. This is evidenced by state appropriations through the work of Senator Galey, Representative Ridell, and Representative Ross. Additionally, there are numerous other monies obtained through federal sources and private industry resources.

• How do you plan to engage constituent voices in the decisions of the Board of Commissioners? 

  I am available to constituents by email, phone, text and constant contact with the public.  My email and phone numbers are publicly available. I am one of the few citizens in Alamance County who maintains a landline phone for accessibility.

  I constantly encourage, monitor and contribute to the Alamance County website which provides a wealth of communication to all of Alamance County.

  I attempt to return all contacts if the individual leaves adequate contact information. I welcome requests for information, and expressions of concern. I value all suggestions. I consider all citizen concerns while deciding how to vote to provide the best result for our county. I represent YOU.

• Please share a specific leadership experience that illustrates how you will be effective as a leader for Alamance County.

  I was able to work closely with our local Medicaid provider, VAYA, to build the new, expanded Alamance Behavioral Health Center. This facility will provide sixteen beds to house individuals for short term care for mental health crises, drug or alcohol concerns. This short-term placement will provide rapid initiation of treatment and time to plan longer term treatment. Additionally, while providing assessment and care, the center will help prevent hospitalization and/or incarceration.

  In working on this project, I served on the state-wide VAYA board and on the regional VAYA board. I also worked closely with Senator Galey, Representative Riddle, and Representative Ross to obtain funding of a substantial grant which helped fund this facility.