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Ballotpedia, James Bledsoe

James attended Kirkwood Community College. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and corrections from Strayer University and is currently pursuing a degree in information technology cybersecurity from Wake Technical Community College. 

James currently works as an Information Technology (IT) manager at the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR). He previously worked for the NC Department of Public Safety. He served as a Sergeant in the US Army for 19 years. He is currently serving in the Army Reserve. 

James Bledsoe ran for member of the Raleigh City Council in 2022 and 2019, but he did not win either race. He also ran for member of the Raleigh City Council in District C in 2017, but he also did not win. 

Candidate website

Supports mandating mental health days for police and fire department members.

Supports requiring mental health days for police and fire department members.

Wants to add a separation allowance for the Raleigh Fire Department, which would provide them retirement benefits until they are 62 years old for those who served for at least 30 years.

Supports transportation to medical appointments and veteran's facilities through a community volunteer program.

Wants the City to offer transportation to medical appointments and veteran's facilities through a community volunteer program.

Supports job search assistance, workshops, seminars, and employment training opportunities to boost the economy.

Wants the City to provide job search assistance, workshops, seminars, and employment training opportunities. 

Supports providing in-home assistance for disabled veterans to help them complete necessary paperwork for applications.

Supports providing in-home assistance for disabled veterans to help them complete paperwork for applications.

Supports a home check-up program for at-risk veterans, believing that phone calls or home visits are as crucial for veterans as the senior well-check program.

Supports a home check-up program for at-risk veterans, saying it "can be as crucial as the senior well-check program."

- Supports requiring mental health days for police and fire department members.
- Wants to add a separation allowance for the Raleigh Fire Department, which would provide them retirement benefits until they are 62 years old for those who served for at least 30 years.
- Wants the City to offer transportation to medical appointments and veteran's facilities through a community volunteer program.
- Wants the City to provide job search assistance, workshops, seminars, and employment training opportunities. 
- Supports providing in-home assistance for disabled veterans to help them complete paperwork for applications.
- Supports a home check-up program for at-risk veterans, saying it "can be as crucial as the senior well-check program."

Public Services

Plans to change the pay scale for first responders to one based on time in grade and time in service.

Promises to work towards improving first responders pay without increasing taxes.

Wants to improve first responders' pay without increasing taxes.

Promises to advocate for police and fire department.

Promises to advocate for the local police and fire department.

- Plans to change the pay scale for first responders to one based on time in grade and time in service.
- Wants to improve first responders' pay without increasing taxes.
- Promises to advocate for the local police and fire department.

Public Safety

Plans to reduce taxpayer financial burden by paying off debts, cutting spending, and halving the City Manager's salary.

Wants less government spending and to reduce the City Manager's salary by 50% to help lower City debt. 

Supports implementing a cost-of-living adjustment that aligns with the national average.

Wants to adjust the cost of living in Raleigh so it matches the national average.

Wants to extend the age for benefits to 65 years old in order to help the RPD and RFD retire.

Wants to extend the age for benefits to 65 years old for the City Police and Fire Departments. 

Supports veteran preference on city government job applications.

Supports a preference for veterans for city government job applications.

- Wants to reduce taxes.
- Wants less government spending and to reduce the City Manager's salary by 50% to help lower City debt. 
- Wants to adjust the cost of living in Raleigh so it matches the national average.
- Wants to extend the age for benefits to 65 years old for the City Police and Fire Departments. 
- Supports a preference for veterans for city government job applications.

Economy

Plans to donate 50-100% of council pay to create grants for students pursuing STEM or trade careers.

Plans to donate 50-100% of council pay if elected to create grants for students pursuing STEM or trade careers.

- Plans to donate 50-100% of council pay if elected to create grants for students pursuing STEM or trade careers.

Education

Plans to provide diverse housing options and ensure affordability for future generations.

Wants to expand access to affordable housing. 

Wants to improve housing options and support businesses of all sizes.

Wants to make it easier to own a home in Raleigh. 

Believes in selling derelict city-owned buildings to builders to create homes or condos.

Wants run-down city-owned buildings to be sold to builders to develop homes or condos.

Believes restrictions for buildings contribute to a lack of housing supply.

Believes in reducing minimum lot sizes for homes and encouraging developers to create internal or subterranean parking for apartment complexes and large buildings.

Wants to reduce minimum lot sizes for homes and encourage developers to develop internal or subterranean parking for apartment complexes and large buildings.

Believes in restructuring the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to remove height restrictions to encourage vertical development and a more pragmatic approach to housing and mixed-use development.

Wants to restructure the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to remove height restrictions to encourage vertical development and a "more pragmatic approach to housing and mixed-use development."

Aims to reduce city regulations to make it easier to build new housing.

Wants fewer city regulations to make it easier to develop new housing.

Proposes building dormitories near fire and police stations to address housing challenges for new responders.

Proposes building dormitories near fire and police stations to help reduce housing challenges for new responders.

Believes in encouraging multiuse buildings with housing on top of businesses to optimize vertical space.

Believes in encouraging multi-use buildings with housing on top of businesses to optimize vertical space.

Believes that increasing demand for housing, coupled with supply issues due to building restrictions, leads to higher housing and rent costs, rising taxes, and a housing crisis.

Believes when there is more housing demand than supply, housing, rent costs, and taxes increase. 

- Wants to expand access to affordable housing. 
- Wants to make it easier to own a home in Raleigh. 
- Wants run-down city-owned buildings to be sold to builders to develop homes or condos.
- Believes restrictions for buildings contribute to a lack of housing supply.
- Wants to reduce minimum lot sizes for homes and encourage developers to develop internal or subterranean parking for apartment complexes and large buildings.
- Wants to restructure the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to remove height restrictions to encourage vertical development and a "more pragmatic approach to housing and mixed-use development."
- Wants fewer city regulations to make it easier to develop new housing.
- Proposes building dormitories near fire and police stations to help reduce housing challenges for new responders.
- Believes in encouraging multi-use buildings with housing on top of businesses to optimize vertical space.
- Believes when there is more housing demand than supply, housing, rent costs, and taxes increase. 

Housing & Urban Development

As of July 31, 2024, James Bledsoe’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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James Bledsoe

James Bledsoe came to Raleigh in early 2013. He earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice while minoring in U.S. History and Computer Programming. As of 2023, he joined Wake Tech to undertake a Cyber Security degree.

James Bledsoe worked for the NC Department of Public Safety and served in the United States Army on active duty and in the Army Reserve. He is currently pursuing a Cyber Security degree at Wake Tech.

As of August 21, 2024, James Bledsoe’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports policies that address the higher cancer rates and health risks faced by public service workers.

Supports the expansion of resources for veterans, including outreach programs and advocacy to reduce the 22 veteran suicides a day statistic.

Supports increasing pay for first responders.

Supports electing officials who stand with first responders and teachers to improve public safety.

Supports regulations on campaign donations, including individual-only donations and prohibiting donations from corporations, labor unions, and foreign entities.

Believes investing in training recruits is important for public safety.

Believes the city is losing 35% of firefighters within five years due to insufficient benefits.

Believes that the cost of training a Rochester Police Department recruit is too high, saying "This not only impacts our community's safety but also wastes taxpayer money."

Believes in enhancing public safety through community involvement, having served as President of the local HOA.

Aims to "reform their compensation without burdening taxpayers."

Supports measures that acknowledge the sacrifices made by firefighters.

Supports providing fair compensation and support for local police.

Supports adding a separation allowance for retired firefighters.

Supports issuing 120 hours of annual military leave for Reserve and Guard members.

Supports providing new services for veterans to aid in reintegration.

Supports providing a "friendly ear" to veterans who need someone to talk to.

Believes in supporting the economy through military service and education.

The candidate's website does not provide information on their economic policies.

Believes in continuing education and workforce development, and is pursuing a Cyber Security degree at Wake Tech.

Supports addressing the affordability crisis in Wake County, as over 97% of RPD and RFD personnel cannot afford to live within the city limits due to escalating housing costs and low pay.

Supports increasing housing supply to improve affordability.

Believes that increasing housing supply and affordability is crucial for economic growth and community development.

Supports increasing housing supply and affordability.

Plans to address housing affordability and supply.

Believes the "simplest solution is the best solution" to address housing affordability and supply issues.

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 