James is from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He attended Strayer University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in U.S. history and computer programming. He is pursuing a degree in cyber security at Wake Technical Community College. He lives in South East Raleigh.

James Bledsoe - Ballotpedia

James G. Bledsoe is from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Strayer University. He lives in southeast Raleigh.

James is an IT technician at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. He works on computer networks and supports law enforcement technology. He previously worked as a correctional officer for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and served in the United States Army, where he was an armor crewman with the 1st Infantry Division, an airborne cavalry scout with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and later joined the Army Reserve as a combat engineer, deploying to Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria.

James currently works as an information technology technician for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. He previously worked as a correctional officer. James served in the U.S. Army.

James G. Bledsoe previously ran for Raleigh City Council District C in 2017, for an at-large seat on the Raleigh City Council in 2019, for an at-large seat on the Raleigh City Council in 2022, and for an at-large seat on the Raleigh City Council in 2024, but did not win.

James previously ran for a Raleigh City Council at-large seat in 2024, 2022, and 2019, and for Raleigh City Council, District C in 2017, but did not win.

Criticizes Raleigh's $1.4 billion debt and the City Manager's salary of $358,000 a year.

Criticizes Raleigh's $1.4 billion debt and the City Manager's salary of $358,000 annually.

For Candidate James G. Bledsoe on Issue economy: Criticizes the city council for consistently seeking to raise costs despite having substantial revenue.

Criticizes the city council for seeking to raise costs despite having substantial revenue.

Aims to pay off Raleigh's debts without adding new ones by cutting spending, including reducing the City Manager's pay by 50%, and will only support projects that the market can sustain or have overwhelming public support.

Plans to reduce debt by reducing spending, and supporting projects that the market can sustain or have overwhelming public support.

Supports additional property tax relief for veterans, police officers, firefighters, teachers, and long-term residents.

- Criticizes Raleigh's $1.4 billion debt and the City Manager's salary of $358,000 annually.
- Criticizes the city council for seeking to raise costs despite having substantial revenue.
- Plans to reduce debt by reducing spending, and supporting projects that the market can sustain or have overwhelming public support.
- Supports additional property tax relief for veterans, police officers, firefighters, teachers, and long-term residents.

Economy

Supports veteran preference on applications for city government employment.

Supports providing job search assistance, workshops, seminars, and employment training opportunities for veterans.

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

- Supports veteran preference on applications for city government employment.
- Supports providing job search assistance, workshops, seminars, and employment training opportunities for veterans.
- Supports transportation to medical appointments and veterans' facilities through a community volunteer program.

Public Services

Supports restructuring the UDO to remove height restrictions, promoting a smarter and more pragmatic approach to housing and mixed-use development.

Supports restructuring the Unified Development Ordinance to remove height restrictions to increase housing construction.

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

Supports reducing minimum lot sizes for homes and encouraging developers to create internal or underground parking for apartment complexes and large buildings.

For Candidate James G. Bledsoe on Issue housing: Supports selling derelict city-owned buildings to enable builders to construct homes or condos.

Supports selling derelict city-owned buildings to build housing.

Supports encouraging multiuse buildings to incorporate housing above businesses to utilize vertical space effectively.

Supports encouraging multiuse buildings that incorporate housing and businesses.

- Supports restructuring the Unified Development Ordinance to remove height restrictions to increase housing construction.
- Supports reducing minimum lot sizes for homes and encouraging developers to create internal or underground parking for apartment complexes and large buildings.
- Supports selling derelict city-owned buildings to build housing.
- Supports encouraging multiuse buildings that incorporate housing and businesses.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports changing the pay scale for first responders to be based on time in service and rank.

Supports changing the pay scale for first responders to be based on time in service and rank, and increasing pay and benefits.

Supports providing 120 hours of annual military leave for Reserve and Guard members and mandating mental health days for first responders to ensure their well-being.

Supports providing 120 hours of annual military leave to military reserve and National Guard members, and mandating mental health days for first responders.

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

Supports implementing a cost-of-living adjustment for first responders.

Supports exploring the construction of dormitories near fire and police stations to address housing challenges for new first responders.

- Supports changing the pay scale for first responders to be based on time in service and rank, and increasing pay and benefits.
- Supports providing 120 hours of annual military leave to military reserve and National Guard members, and mandating mental health days for first responders.
- Supports implementing a cost-of-living adjustment for first responders.
- Supports exploring the construction of dormitories near fire and police stations to address housing challenges for new first responders.

Public Safety

As of January 2, 2026, James G. Bledsoe’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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James G. Bledsoe

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

Supports extending a $45,000 property tax reduction to active firefighters, police officers, teachers, and long-term residents in Raleigh who have lived in their primary residence for 20 or more years.

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

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- 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. 