Phyllis Portie-Ascott was chosen to fill the vacant seat on the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, which voted unanimously in favor of her appointment — one of four final applicants for the position.
Portie-Ascott was also the Orange County Democratic Party’s recommended applicant to fill the vacancy.
N.C. Rep. Renée Price (D-Caswell, Orange) formerly occupied the seat on the Orange County BOCC as chairperson until her election to the N.C. General Assembly created the vacancy.
Portie-Ascott has involved herself in numerous organizations. She served as the first vice chairperson for the Orange County Democratic Party and served on the Northern Orange NAACP leadership team.
Portie-Ascott said growing up as a tobacco farmer in rural Bertie County instilled in her the value of challenging work. She also said her leadership in her church community shaped her priorities from an early age.
Alongside her involvement in civic organizations, Portie-Ascott has worked in multiple human services positions. She managed a mental health agency and now works in property management as the owner and broker in charge of PPA Properties.
Additionally, she completed more than three years of volunteer work at Duke University Hospital to become a board-certified chaplain.
She emphasized her willingness to collaborate with community members and stakeholders to solve pressing issues in Orange County such as affordable housing.
Portie-Ascott said her experiences managing both real estate and mental health services have made her aware that community needs in Orange County are great. She also said her biggest goal is to prioritize affordable and reliable broadband access in the rural areas of Orange County, having previously lived in an area with poor coverage.
