Katie Kenlan was sworn in on December 5, 2022. Katie has called Hadley Township , Chatham County home for her entire life. She attended Pittsboro Elementary, Horton M.S., and Northwood High, taking part in sports and working at local organic farms. She has volunteered with the Haw River Assembly, CARE animal rescue and served as Democratic Party vice-chair for Hadley Township.

Board of Commissioners Contacts & Bios | Chatham County, NC

Katie studied Spanish and Media Production at Antioch College and graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Latin American Studies, minoring in African American Diaspora Studies. She studied in Buenos Aires, Argentina and completed an internship with Hecho en Buenos Aires, an organization that works with the housing insecure and homeless population. Katie is fluent in Spanish.

Katie Kenlan is originally from Hadley Township in Chatham County. She studied Spanish and media production at Antioch College and earned a bachelor's degree in Latin American studies, with a minor in African American diaspora studies, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has volunteered with the Haw River Assembly and CARE animal rescue.

She has worked as a nature based pre-school teacher for many years, and founded an outdoor environmental education program to help children learn to love nature and gain skills for outdoor living. She is currently interim director of Mi Escuelita, a Spanish language immersion pre-school in Chapel Hill. Her career has focused on early childhood and environmental education, local food security, and cultural exchange to foster a deeper understanding.

Katie is fluent in Spanish.

She has worked as a nature based pre-school teacher for many years, and founded an outdoor environmental education program to help children learn to love nature and gain skills for outdoor living. She is currently interim director of Mi Escuelita, a Spanish language immersion pre-school in Chapel Hill. Her career has focused on early childhood and environmental education, local food security, and cultural exchange to foster a deeper understanding.

Katie Kenlan currently works as interim director of Mi Escuelita, a Spanish-language immersion preschool in Chapel Hill. She has worked as a nature-based preschool teacher and founded an outdoor environmental education program.

## Katie Kenlan (District 4)

Mailing Address: PO Box 1809, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: 919-545-8543
Email: katie.kenlan@chathamcountync.gov
Katie Kenlan was sworn in on December 5, 2022. Katie has called Hadley Township , Chatham County home for her entire life.

Katie serves as a Chatham County commissioner for District 4. She was sworn in on December 5, 2022.

2026 North Carolina General Election

In four short years, I played a key role in efforts that:

Reduced the county’s effective tax rate and created the new low income tax relief program.
Secured the highest Moody’s AAA borrowing rate for the county.
Initiated saving acreage for crucial farmland preservation and ensured the continued partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to increase conservation lands.
Created new park and trail projects including Parkers Ridge Park, and the George Pauly Nature Trail.
Established greater financial incentives for our county schools’ teachers and support staff and restored Master’s teacher pay. Supported full-funded school budgets and expansion every year I have been county commissioner.

Issues (Platform Issues)

Said she helped reduce the county's effective tax rate and create a low-income tax-relief program.

- Said she helped reduce the county's effective tax rate and create a low-income tax-relief program.

Economy

In four short years, I played a key role in efforts that:

Reduced the county’s effective tax rate and created the new low income tax relief program.
Secured the highest Moody’s AAA borrowing rate for the county.
Initiated saving acreage for crucial farmland preservation and ensured the continued partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to increase conservation lands.
Created new park and trail projects including Parkers Ridge Park, and the George Pauly Nature Trail.

In four short years, I played a key role in efforts that:

Reduced the county’s effective tax rate and created the new low income tax relief program.
Secured the highest Moody’s AAA borrowing rate for the county.
Initiated saving acreage for crucial farmland preservation and ensured the continued partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to increase conservation lands.
Created new park and trail projects including Parkers Ridge Park, and the George Pauly Nature Trail.
Established greater financial incentives for our county schools’ teachers and support staff and restored Master’s teacher pay. Supported full-funded school budgets and expansion every year I have been county commissioner.
Urged stronger environmental standards in our land-use planning, such as the tree protection ordinance and stronger flood mitigation efforts.
Secured funding for Hispanic Liaison’s youth outreach program.

In four short years, I played a key role in efforts that:

Reduced the county’s effective tax rate and created the new low income tax relief program.
Secured the highest Moody’s AAA borrowing rate for the county.
Initiated saving acreage for crucial farmland preservation and ensured the continued partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to increase conservation lands.
Created new park and trail projects including Parkers Ridge Park, and the George Pauly Nature Trail.
Established greater financial incentives for our county schools’ teachers and support staff and restored Master’s teacher pay. Supported full-funded school budgets and expansion every year I have been county commissioner.
Urged stronger environmental standards in our land-use planning, such as the tree protection ordinance and stronger flood mitigation efforts.
Secured funding for Hispanic Liaison’s youth outreach program.
Increased staffing hours for outreach and prevention to support the needs of Chatham’s housing insecure and homeless populations.
Increased access to adults and high school students for Chatham Promise - free community college access.
Created a new Ecological Landscaping program at CCCC.

Said she helped create park and trail projects, including Parkers Ridge Park and the George Pauly Nature Trail.

Said she helped secure funding for Hispanic Liaison's youth outreach program.

Said she helped expand access to Chatham Promise, which provides free community-college access, for adults and high school students.

- Said she helped create park and trail projects, including Parkers Ridge Park and the George Pauly Nature Trail.
- Said she helped secure funding for Hispanic Liaison's youth outreach program.
- Said she helped expand access to Chatham Promise, which provides free community-college access, for adults and high school students.

Public Services

My priorities remain firm -




Balance the county’s rapid growth with preservation of our environment and farmland.
Ensure safe drinking water and the protection of our natural resources.
Increase affordable housing.
Address the impact of climate change on our county.
And - as a former teacher - support our schools.

Said she helped increase staffing for outreach and prevention services for residents experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.

- Supports increasing affordable housing.
- Said she helped increase staffing for outreach and prevention services for residents experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.

Housing & Urban Development

As of September 2, 2026, Katie Kenlan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

In four short years, I played a key role in efforts that:

* Reduced the county’s effective tax rate and created the new low income tax relief program.
* Secured the highest Moody’s AAA borrowing rate for the county.
* Saved over 80 acres in crucial farmland preservation and ensured the continued partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to increase conservation lands.

In four short years, I played a key role in efforts that:

* Reduced the county’s effective tax rate and created the new low income tax relief program.
* Secured the highest Moody’s AAA borrowing rate for the county.
* Saved over 80 acres in crucial farmland preservation and ensured the continued partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to increase conservation lands.
* Created new park and trail projects including Parkers Ridge Park, and the George Pauly Nature Trail.
* Established greater financial incentives for our county schools’ teachers and support staff and restored Master’s teacher pay. Supported full-funded school budgets and expansion every year I have been county commissioner.
* Urged stronger environmental standards in our land-use planning, such as the tree protection ordinance and stronger flood mitigation efforts.

In four short years, I played a key role in efforts that:

* Reduced the county’s effective tax rate and created the new low income tax relief program.
* Secured the highest Moody’s AAA borrowing rate for the county.
* Saved over 80 acres in crucial farmland preservation and ensured the continued partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to increase conservation lands.
* Created new park and trail projects including Parkers Ridge Park, and the George Pauly Nature Trail.
* Established greater financial incentives for our county schools’ teachers and support staff and restored Master’s teacher pay. Supported full-funded school budgets and expansion every year I have been county commissioner.
* Urged stronger environmental standards in our land-use planning, such as the tree protection ordinance and stronger flood mitigation efforts.
* Secured funding for Hispanic Liaison’s youth outreach program.
* Increased staffing hours for outreach and prevention to support the needs of Chatham’s housing insecure and homeless populations.
* Increased access to adults and high school students for Chatham Promise - free community college access.
* Created a new Ecological Landscaping program at CCCC.

Prioritizes balancing rapid county growth with preservation of the environment and farmland.

Prioritizes safe drinking water and protection of natural resources.

Prioritizes addressing the impacts of climate change on the county.

Said she helped preserve more than 80 acres of farmland and continue the county's partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to expand conservation lands.

Advocates for stronger environmental land-use standards, including tree protections and measures to reduce flooding.

Said she helped create an Ecological Landscaping program at Central Carolina Community College.

- Prioritizes balancing rapid county growth with preservation of the environment and farmland.
- Prioritizes safe drinking water and protection of natural resources.
- Prioritizes addressing the impacts of climate change on the county.
- Said she helped preserve more than 80 acres of farmland and continue the county's partnership with Triangle Land Conservancy to expand conservation lands.
- Advocates for stronger environmental land-use standards, including tree protections and measures to reduce flooding.
- Said she helped create an Ecological Landscaping program at Central Carolina Community College.

Energy & the Environment

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Katie Kenlan

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

John M. Crowell

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.