Jelesa Hardin for County Commissioner - At-Large
Jelesa Hardin responds to questions about her campaign to serve as At-Large Commissioner for Caswell County.
Jelesa Hardin provided the following responses to questions about her campaign to serve as At-Large Commissioner for Caswell County.
Please describe your educational background, including any relevant credentials or specialized training.
I am a 2006 graduate of Rockingham County High School. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Phoenix, completed in March 2026, and an Associate of Science in Cybersecurity, earned in June 2024. I am also a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMPH), a Qualified Paraprofessional in Adult Mental Health.
Additionally, I completed North Carolina Juvenile Justice Basic Training and became a certified Juvenile Justice Officer. My specialized training has strengthened my knowledge of youth development, behavioral management, crisis intervention, public safety, workplace dynamics, and effective communication. I am also commissioned as a Notary Public in North Carolina and Virginia and trained as a Loan Signing Agent.
Please describe your professional background, highlighting specific roles or responsibilities that have prepared you to be successful in the position you are seeking.
My professional background combines public service, public safety, leadership, workforce experience, and community advocacy—all of which have prepared me to serve effectively as a County Commissioner.
I currently work for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety in Juvenile Justice as a Youth Counselor Technician and certified Juvenile Justice Officer. In this role, I help maintain a safe and structured environment, mentor young people, manage challenging situations, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and follow state policies and procedures. This experience has strengthened my skills in crisis response, accountability, communication, and sound decision-making.
Before entering public service, I worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for ten years as a Quality Control Inspector and Safety Representative. I was responsible for maintaining quality standards, promoting workplace safety, identifying concerns, and working with employees and management to resolve problems. This experience gave me firsthand knowledge of the needs of working families, the importance of job creation and retention, and the value of responsible economic development.
As the founder of Youth Lead Mentoring, I advocate for at-risk youth and families through mentorship, leadership development, school advocacy, and community engagement. I also serve as Vice Chair of the Caswell County Senior Advisory Board, where I help address the needs and concerns of older residents.
These experiences have prepared me to evaluate issues carefully, work collaboratively, manage responsibilities with integrity, and represent residents from all areas of Caswell County. I understand that a County Commissioner must balance limited resources, support essential services, listen to citizens, and make decisions that benefit the entire county.
Please describe any current or previous military experience.
I do not have any current or previous military experience. However, I have great respect and appreciation for those who have served and continue to serve our country.
Please describe your connection to, and vision for, Caswell County.
I have deep personal and family roots in Caswell County. I left Caswell County in 1993 and returned in 2006, and it has been my home ever since. My mother is a lifelong Caswell County native, I have raised my children here, purchased my home here, and built my life around serving this community. Through Youth Lead Mentoring, the Caswell County Senior Advisory Board, community outreach, and public service, I have worked with residents across generations and gained a firsthand understanding of both our county’s strengths and challenges.
My vision is for Caswell County to be a place where families can build successful lives without having to leave the community to find opportunities. I want to help grow our local economy, support farmers and small businesses, attract responsible development, expand affordable housing, improve roads and infrastructure, strengthen public safety, and increase access to healthcare, broadband, transportation, and educational opportunities.
I believe progress should preserve the rural character, natural resources, and close-knit values that make Caswell County special. My goal is to lead with transparency, fiscal responsibility, collaboration, and genuine community engagement. I envision one Caswell County moving forward together where every community is heard, every resident is valued, and decisions are made with the long-term well-being of the entire county in mind.
Please describe your involvement, whether volunteer service or membership, with community, non-profit, or service-based organizations, noting the difference between current and past involvement.
My current community involvement centers on youth development, senior advocacy, education, and community outreach. I am the founder and director of Youth Lead Mentoring, a nonprofit organization serving at-risk youth ages 8–18. Through this organization, I provide mentorship, leadership development, school advocacy, family engagement, and programs that promote academic, behavioral, and personal success.
I currently serve as Vice Chair of the Caswell County Senior Advisory Board, where I help advocate for the needs, concerns, and well-being of older adults. I also volunteer with and support several community initiatives, including the Annual Easter Egg Hunt and the Countywide Outreach Annual Back-to-School Bash. These events provide children and families with school supplies, resources, positive activities, and opportunities to connect with community organizations.
My previous volunteer involvement has included assisting with school book fairs, supporting programs at the Caswell County Senior Center and local library, participating in community service projects, and helping coordinate events benefiting children and families.
Both my current and previous involvement reflect my commitment to service, collaboration, and ensuring that residents of every age and community have access to meaningful support, resources, and opportunities.
Please describe any board service or committee assignments, noting the difference between current and past service.
I also currently serve as Vice Chair of the Caswell County Senior Advisory Board, where I help identify and address issues affecting older adults and support efforts to improve their access to services, programs, and community resources. In addition, as the founder and director of Youth Lead Mentoring, I provide organizational leadership and help guide programs, partnerships, and outreach initiatives for at-risk youth and families.
My previous service includes participating in community outreach planning and supporting committees and collaborative efforts connected to school events, youth programs, senior services, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, and the Countywide Outreach Annual Back-to-School Bash. These experiences have strengthened my ability to collaborate, listen to different perspectives, evaluate community needs, and follow through on shared goals.
If you would like, please use this space to describe how your values, faith, and/or religious beliefs shape your decision-making. If you have a home church or are actively involved in an area congregation, please share that here.
My Christian faith is the foundation of my life and shapes how I approach leadership, service, and decision-making. It teaches me to lead with integrity, seek wisdom, demonstrate compassion, remain accountable, and treat every person with dignity and respect. I believe leadership is an opportunity to serve rather than simply hold a position.
I am an Elder at Perpetual Praise Apostolic Church, where I am actively involved in ministry and service. My faith encourages me to listen carefully, consider how decisions will affect families and vulnerable residents, and choose what is fair and beneficial for the broader community.
Although my faith guides my personal character, I understand that a County Commissioner represents people of every faith, background, and belief. I am committed to governing fairly and ensuring that every Caswell County resident feels heard, valued, respected, and represented.
What do you believe is currently the greatest strength of Caswell County and how would you build upon that strength if elected?
I believe Caswell County’s greatest strength is its people. Our residents are hardworking, resilient, compassionate, and willing to come together when their neighbors or communities are in need.
If elected, I would build upon that strength by increasing meaningful opportunities for residents to participate in county government. I would hold community listening sessions throughout the county, improve communication about county decisions, and encourage partnerships between residents, local businesses, schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations. By listening to our citizens and connecting their ideas and talents with county resources, we can develop community-driven solutions that reflect the needs of the people we serve. Caswell County will be strongest when its people are informed, included, and empowered.
What do you believe is the greatest challenge currently facing Caswell County and how would you address that challenge if elected?
I believe the greatest challenge facing Caswell County is limited economic opportunity. Too many residents must leave the county for employment, shopping, healthcare, and other essential services, which limits local growth and places additional pressure on working families.
If elected, I would address this challenge by supporting responsible economic development that creates jobs while preserving Caswell County’s rural character. I would work to strengthen partnerships with local businesses, farmers, schools, community colleges, and regional workforce organizations. I would also support improving broadband, infrastructure, and workforce training because these are essential for attracting employers and helping existing businesses grow.
My goal would be to make Caswell County a place where businesses can succeed, young people can build careers, and families can access greater opportunities without having to leave the community.
Please describe the role you believe County Commissioners, at both an individual and board level, should play in the financial management of the County. Are there specific actions that you intend to take, or advocate for?
County Commissioners are responsible for ensuring that public funds are managed transparently, responsibly, and in accordance with the County’s priorities. Individually, each commissioner should thoroughly review financial reports and budget proposals, ask difficult questions, listen to residents, disclose potential conflicts, and make decisions based on facts rather than personal interests. No individual commissioner controls the County’s finances; responsible management requires collaboration and majority action by the Board.
As a governing body, the Board should adopt a balanced budget, establish the property-tax rate, protect adequate reserves, oversee spending, review audits, and plan for long-term capital needs. The Board must balance fiscal responsibility with the need to provide dependable public safety, education, emergency services, infrastructure, and other essential services.
I would advocate for plain-language budget information that residents can easily understand, public budget workshops, regular financial updates, long-term planning, and clear measures showing whether funded programs are producing results. I would also support competitive purchasing, responsible use of grants, careful evaluation of new debt, and identifying savings before considering additional burdens on taxpayers. My goal would be to protect taxpayers while ensuring Caswell County remains financially stable and prepared for future needs.
Please describe the role you believe County Commissioners, at both an individual and board level, should play in economic development. Are there specific actions that you intend to take, or advocate for?
County Commissioners play an important role in creating an environment where existing businesses can grow, new businesses can invest, and residents can access quality employment. Individually, commissioners should listen to business owners, farmers, workers, and residents; understand barriers to growth; promote the county responsibly; and advocate for opportunities that benefit the entire community. No individual commissioner can accomplish economic development alone, so collaboration is essential.
At the board level, commissioners should establish a clear economic-development vision, invest responsibly in infrastructure and broadband, support workforce development, and adopt policies that encourage growth while preserving Caswell County’s rural identity. The Board should also evaluate proposed incentives carefully to ensure they produce measurable benefits, such as quality jobs, increased tax revenue, and long-term investment.
I would advocate for supporting and retaining existing businesses, strengthening partnerships with schools, community colleges, and workforce-development organizations, and helping small businesses and farmers access available resources. I would also support expanding broadband, identifying suitable sites for responsible development, and actively recruiting businesses that align with Caswell County’s needs and values. My goal is to create opportunities that allow residents to live, work, shop, and build successful futures here in Caswell County.
Residents want to better understand the factors that influence your decision-making. What are the values, priorities, or beliefs informing your thought process? Who are the individuals or groups that you look to for guidance? How would those influences and your experience shape the performance of your duties as Commissioner?
My decision-making is guided by integrity, transparency, accountability, fairness, compassion, and service. I believe every decision should be evaluated by asking whether it is financially responsible, whether it addresses a genuine need, and how it will affect residents across the entire county especially working families, seniors, young people, farmers, small-business owners, and vulnerable residents.
My priorities include responsible financial management, economic opportunity, public safety, education, infrastructure, housing, and preserving Caswell County’s rural character. My Christian faith also shapes my character by encouraging me to seek wisdom, listen carefully, treat others with dignity, and make decisions that serve the broader community rather than personal interests.
For guidance, I look first to the residents of Caswell County. I value input from county staff, fellow commissioners, educators, public-safety professionals, farmers, business owners, nonprofit and faith leaders, seniors, young people, and subject-matter experts. I also rely on accurate data, county policies, legal guidance, financial reports, and public feedback before reaching conclusions.
My experience in juvenile justice, manufacturing, quality control, workplace safety, mentoring, nonprofit leadership, and senior advocacy has taught me to examine facts, ask questions, remain calm under pressure, work collaboratively, and consider how decisions affect people in real-life situations. As Commissioner, I would remain accessible, explain my decisions openly, and vote according to what I believe best serves Caswell County as a whole.
Strategies cannot be fully implemented without the necessary resources. A vision must be financed. Please describe how your vision might be constrained by the County budget, how those budgetary concerns shape your priorities, and the actions you believe are necessary to address those funding challenges.
My vision for Caswell County must be grounded in the reality that county resources are limited and that essential services must remain financially sustainable. Public safety, education, emergency services, infrastructure, employee compensation, and other mandated responsibilities compete for the same revenue. Rising costs, a limited tax base, and unexpected needs may require projects to be phased in rather than implemented immediately.
These realities shape my priorities by requiring me to distinguish between immediate needs, long-term investments, and desirable projects that may need to wait. I would prioritize public safety and essential services, legal obligations, maintenance of existing assets, and investments that produce measurable benefits for residents. I would not support creating programs without identifying both the initial funding and the cost of sustaining them.
To address funding challenges, I would advocate for long-term financial and capital planning, responsible reserves, careful review of departmental spending, competitive purchasing, and regular evaluation of county-funded programs. I would also pursue state, federal, and private grant opportunities, while ensuring that grant-funded initiatives do not create unsustainable future obligations.
Caswell County must also expand its tax base through responsible economic development rather than relying primarily on higher taxes for existing residents. By supporting local businesses, attracting appropriate investment, improving infrastructure, and strengthening regional partnerships, we can create additional revenue over time. My approach would be disciplined and transparent: clearly communicate limitations, establish priorities with public input, phase projects when necessary, and ensure every public dollar advances a documented county need.
Contact
🗣️ Jelesa Hardin will be available at the September 19 Bright Leaf Hoedown to speak with residents.
💻 The Committee to Elect Jelesa Hardin can be found online at ncdemocrats.wixsite.com/votejelesahardin