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I'm Jon, and I'm running for Chapel Hill Town Council.
Residents rely on Chapel Hill to be a haven of progressive values and trustworthy government. At the same time, we face a series of pressing challenges, which include a housing shortage, stormwater threats, escalating property taxes, and the need for environmental progress.
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As a former chair and current vice-chair of the town Planning Commission, I have practical ideas for how we can meet this moment. And as a banking lawyer who has spent most of his career navigating complex organizations, I have the skills to help the Council establish priorities, weigh financial risks and rewards, and deliver results.
With strong leadership, we will keep Chapel Hill a thriving and welcoming place to call home.
Endorsed by Chapel Hill leaders across roles and approaches
why vote Jon Mitchell for Town Council
Experienced.
Having served for over 4 years on the Planning Commission, I know our local development policies inside and out. From property taxes to pickleball, I understand the issues our residents care about, and I have the working relationships in town government to address them.
Thoughtful.
I pride myself on asking tough questions and scrutinizing the "how." I've already analyzed the root causes of Chapel Hill's budget problem and investigated the financial implications of Chapel Hill's huge street maintenance backlog. I will keep thinking proactively about our Town's future.
Meticulous.
I’m a bank regulatory lawyer by trade with a deep respect for evidence, data, and local context. I invented an analysis tool that the Planning Commission has used since 2023 to help deliver smarter development. A similar tool was later adopted by Town planning staff.
about Jon Mitchell
candidate for Town Council
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I'm a lawyer specializing in financial regulation. I worked as a federal banking regulator in Washington D.C. before transitioning to private practice
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I have served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission. I'm also a board member of Shift Chapel Hill-Carrboro, which advocates for safe and convenient active transit options
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My wife and I have been Chapel Hill residents for 10 years. We have two kids in the public school system
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My primary (and favorite) mode of transportation is my e-bike
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In my spare time you can find me backcountry backpacking, gardening, hand-tool woodworking, playing piano, or reading city planning books
"The chair of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission since 2022, Jon Mitchell understands the role growth and development will play in this election and the town’s future. We’d urge readers to give the avid e-biker, regulatory lawyer, and part-time stay-at-home dad a hard look; he’d likely bring a thoughtful, actionable approach to governing to the town council."
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ready to tackle Chapel Hill’s biggest challenges
Fix the budget.
This year, residential property taxes went up almost 30 percent just to cover regular operating costs. This is unsustainable. We need to broaden our commercial tax base, put our money where it matters most, and reduce spending elsewhere. I will champion evidence-based financial decision making.
Prioritize smarter growth.
I envision Chapel Hill as an affordable, walkable, and bikeable town with accessible amenities and employment opportunities for all. Through my work on the Planning Commission, I've helped generate actionable ideas for improving on past development outcomes and delivering greenways faster. Let's implement them!
Tackle environmental risks.
Both Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Chantal revealed weaknesses in the Town's stormwater policies and infrastructure. While the Town recently adopted a stronger, "100-year flood" standard for new development, it might be obsolete already. Meanwhile, the Town has been weighing recommendations for specific stormwater remediation projects since before Covid. Let's prioritize getting to a solution. Similarly, we should expedite plans to clean up the coal ash on the police station site -- not only to prevent further contamination but to convert the site to a safe and better use, such as paved recreation courts.
Focus on execution.
We have good plans, but we can deliver more consistently. Through my Planning Commission service, I've established credibility and trust with stakeholders at the Council and staff levels, and I've proven myself to be a problem solver who builds consensus. I'm prepared to execute on day one.
Keeping our best interests in mind
My campaign is designed to serve the broadest swath of Chapel Hill residents, most of whom fall into the following categories:
All residents
who want our local government to work together effectively and deliver smarter growth without sacrificing fiscal prudence
Homeowners
who are worried that their property isn't protected from stormwater and other environmental risks
Town staff and workers
who deserve clear direction from Town Council and struggle to afford living here
Students and local professionals
who want to bike or walk to school, work, shopping, etc. but lack enough safe routes to do so
Seniors
who want to age in place
Long-time residents
who want more cohesive development, better transportation systems, and to maintain a sense of place
Nature lovers
who understand the need for natural areas in Town (not just in the rural buffer) and want to protect our tree canopy
Young professionals
who are desperate to become first-time homeowners
Local businesses
seeking assurance that their livelihoods are protected, their employees can live nearby, and that the Town is promoting more foot traffic
Environmentalists
who are serious about carbon reduction
signature issue from 2023:
Implementing the Complete Community framework
Please note: This was written for the 2023 election, and most of it is still true today. Feel free to read it to better understand my perspective on smart development, and why I feel such a sense of urgency for Town Council to finally move forward with a coherent development plan.
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In elections, candidates often spend their time focusing on what makes us different.
But you probably didn’t realize that just this past year, our local officials unanimously approved a plan to address the most contentious issue in Chapel Hill: development.
The Complete Community framework’s underlying values — livability, sustainability, affordability, and economic competitiveness — align 100% with my values, and likely also the values of most every other candidate in this race. Equity, diversity, jobs, climate, green space… they’re all baked into the framework. Chances are, you share these values too. Broadly speaking, most of us agree on what we want.
But implementing it is easier said than done. Just building out the plans and standards will require years of focus.
The number one pledge of my campaign is to implement the new framework swiftly, thoughtfully, and collaboratively, just as my colleagues and I on the Chapel Hill Planning Commission have already begun to do.
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Want to geek out some more with me? Continue reading all about the Complete Community framework.
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Need a nap? Consider donating to my campaign before catching a policy-induced snooze.
latest blog posts
Want my detailed thoughts on policy and local news? Look no further.
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The way we develop our housing and neighborhoods, and the way we connect our community via paths and transit, has the potential to reflect our shared values.
If you care about these issues, please consider donating to my campaign using the credit card form below.
...or, mail a check the old fashioned way
If you’d prefer to donate by check, please make it out to “Jon for Chapel Hill” and mail it to
216 Huntington Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
Don't forget to include your occupation and employer information on the check's "memo" line, as explained above.