A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, the Burlington native went on to obtain a master’s degree from Old Dominion before he received a PhD in biochemistry from Loyola University in 1982.

New commissioner sworn in - alamancenews.com

Samuel C. Powell is a Burlington native. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute, earned a master's degree from Old Dominion, and received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Loyola University in 1982.

BREAKING SAT.: GOP taps Sam Powell to fill commissioner ...

In his professional life, Powell presently serves as the CEO of Burington-based Powell Enterprises, and he had once been CEO of MEDTOX Diagnostics, which was bought out by another company in 1986.

Samuel C. Powell currently serves as chief executive officer of Powell Enterprises. He previously served as chief executive officer of MEDTOX Diagnostics.

Sam's extraordinary service on the local, State, and national levels is reflective of his sterling professional credentials
and career. He served three, four-year terms on the Burlington City Council (1985-1997) and was elected to a single
term on the Alamance County Commissioner Board (1998-2002). In early March 2026, he was appointed to serve out
the unexpired term of Alamance County Commissioner and Compatriot John Paisley who recently passed away.

Microsoft Word - Apr26.issue.page17 (Apr 2026 issue PDF)

Samuel currently serves as an Alamance County commissioner after being appointed in early March 2026 to fill an unexpired term. He previously served three four-year terms on the Burlington City Council from 1985 to 1997 and one term on the Alamance County Commissioner Board from 1998 to 2002.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Prior to Monday night’s meeting, Powell told The Alamance News that he’d favor a new voter referendum on a 1/4-cent hike in the local sales tax – an idea has been rejected in four previous votes despite its promotion as an alternative to raising property taxes to generate more funds for public schools. Powell added that he’s less inclined to support a property tax increase in the county’s next budget.

Prior to Monday night’s meeting, Powell told The Alamance News that he’d favor a new voter referendum on a 1/4-cent hike in the local sales tax – an idea has been rejected in four previous votes despite its promotion as an alternative to raising property taxes to generate more funds for public schools. Powell added that he’s less inclined to support a property tax increase in the county’s next budget. He also counts himself skeptical of a recent request from the Alamance-Burlington school system for a 23 percent bump in the county’s contribution to its operations.

Aside from public education, Powell told The Alamance News that his personal list of priorities also features public safety and economic development as his second and third areas of emphasis.

Favors a voter referendum on a quarter-cent local sales-tax increase.

Said he is less inclined to support a property-tax increase in the next county budget.

Expresses skepticism about a 23 percent increase in the county's contribution to Alamance-Burlington school operations.

- Favors a voter referendum on a quarter-cent local sales-tax increase.
- Said he is less inclined to support a property-tax increase in the next county budget.
- Expresses skepticism about a 23 percent increase in the county's contribution to Alamance-Burlington school operations.
- Prioritizes economic development.

Economy

“One of the goals that I have for serving on the commissioner board is supporting public education,” the newly-installed commissioner told the rest of the board. “But the budget this year is going to be challenging…It is going to be difficult for us to throw money at a situation without some boundaries.”

Supports public education while calling for budget boundaries.

- Supports public education while calling for budget boundaries.

Public Services

“Alamance County has escaped without adopting zoning.  It’s not the only option. . . but there are issues that we can’t do anything about without zoning.

“Rather than just jumping in there and doing something that might not be appropriate, we need to be out there talking to the community and sharing with the community what it would mean if we had zoning.”
>
> – County commissioner Sam Powell

Data center concerns resurrect issue of countywide zoning - alamancenews.com

Calls for community discussion of what countywide zoning would mean before adopting it.

- Calls for community discussion of what countywide zoning would mean before adopting it.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

As of September 2, 2026, Samuel C. Powell did not have a website or any information online.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Samuel C. Powell

As of September 2, 2026, Samuel C. Powell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

Kourtney J. Royster

- 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.