Election law changes? Our legislation tracker’s got you. Check it out!

Carissa Johnson (Cary Town Council At-Large, North Carolina, candidate 2025)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge-smaller use.png

School boards • Municipal • All local elections by county • How to run for office
Flag of North Carolina.png


BP-Initials-UPDATED.png
Ballotpedia does not currently maintain this page. Please contact us with any updates.
Carissa Johnson
Candidate, Cary Town Council At-Large
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 4, 2025
Personal
Birthplace
Clifton Springs, NY
Profession
Marketing manager
Contact

Carissa Johnson ran for election for an at-large seat of the Cary Town Council in North Carolina. She was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]

Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

[1]

Biography

Carissa Johnson provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on August 21, 2025:

Elections

General election

General election for Cary Town Council At-Large

Marjorie K. Eastman and Carissa Johnson ran in the general election for Cary Town Council At-Large on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Marjorie K. Eastman (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
Image of Carissa Johnson
Carissa Johnson (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Election results

Endorsements

To view Johnson's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Johnson in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Carissa Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Johnson's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

With my varied experience in different professional and volunteer capacities, I believe I have the knowledge, the drive, and the willingness to continuously learn that are required to be an asset to my community. I have a record of advocacy and practical approaches to ensure as many citizens as possible get the same advantages I have had.

I am laser-focused on practicality, working for doable and affordable local solutions to address our climate crisis, housing affordability challenges, and equal access in our community.

I want to continue to work with private, public, and non-profit partners to build up the affordable housing stock in our town while ensuring new builds and rehabs include the best environmentally friendly and sustainable energy building practices available. I know Cary can be a leader in sustainability by reducing our carbon output through the prioritization of common-sense tree canopy preservation, clean energy and solar power, and green stormwater infrastructure.

As a council member, I show up. I roll up my sleeves and get involved to get a 360-degree perspective on issues with a keen eye on economic forces to make the most of every tax dollar and avoid future tax hikes.

My experiences working with people from all walks of life have helped shape my approach to the municipal policy of Cary. I love this town and am proud to have called it home for almost 3 decades. Cary is genuinely remarkable, and if we are practical, we can do better for more people.
  • Safe, Affordable Housing is Critical. Municipal leaders have a responsibility to provide solid, focused support for Workforce and Affordable Housing initiatives. A diverse Cary requires municipal support for citizens at all income levels who are housing-cost burdened. Cary needs to stick to and measure progress on our housing plan to increase affordable housing options. As leaders, we must ensure that businesses have the workforce they need, and our service sector workers, kids’ teachers, public safety, and others who serve our citizens can call Cary home and enjoy the amenities of the communities they serve.
  • Cary Should Be a Green Leader. We can do better. The time for real, actionable green and environmental protections and policies is now, and I will continue to tirelessly advocate to preserve our canopy, reduce negative environmental impacts, and make Cary a leader in solar power initiatives. I aim to incentivize effective and proper planting and care for shade trees and mitigate heat island effects in our built environment. And anyone who has ever had a conversation with me about the weather knows that I have a passion for green stormwater infrastructure that borders on obsession.
  • Inclusivity Requires Action. Cary is well on its way to being a model in inclusive municipal policy, and I am proud to be a part of that. I am a champion and an ally for changes that will support my friends and neighbors. I want to ensure that others benefit from the resources in Cary the way my family has and that we make decisions that are more equitable and genuinely represent “all y’all”.
I am passionate about implementing practical, affordable local solutions that address our community's most pressing challenges through collaborative partnerships and common-sense policy.

I'll champion practical policies that expand our affordable housing by working with private, public, and nonprofit organizations. My goal is to significantly increase the availability of quality, affordable homes within our town limits with the best available environmentally friendly building practices.

I believe our town can lead in sustainability. This means prioritizing the preservation of our vital tree canopy, prioritizing efficient energy and solar power, and investing in green stormwater infrastructure to a more resilient community.
At large representatives must see the community as a whole and champion policy that benefits the whole of the community. There is an excellent balance in our council makeup, comprised of individuals elected by a quarter of our residents to represent their district's needs, and three members elected by the entire community. An at large representative cannot favor one area or the other, and always keep a keen eye on the balance of the needs of unique areas of the municipality and those of the whole area - including understanding the larger regional county and state dynamics.
You will also hear me talk about my parents very frequently. My parents have been the driving force behind my lifelong pursuit of learning and preparation to run for office, as well as my volunteer work as a Guardian ad Litem. Because they taught me you have to show up for people, you do for others, and that this is the best country on the face of the earth. While my parents may have passed when I was just barely an adult, I am certain I have made them very proud.

I am also an enormous admirer of Dolly Parton. Her commitment to bettering her community and helping neighbors in her "corner of the world" she is a great example of trying to lift up those around you and not leaving people behind.
The first core responsibility of the at large representative is fiduciary responsibility. My commitment to fiduciary responsibility means I have a legal and ethical obligation to act in the best interests of the citizens.

This is a relationship built on trust, where I must prioritize the community's needs above my own. This involves the diligent and transparent management of public funds, ensuring that tax dollars are spent wisely and efficiently on projects that deliver the greatest value and benefit to all residents. I will advocate for sound financial planning, fiscal accountability, and careful oversight of the town's budget.

Telling the Truth is also a core responsibility. II believe in telling the truth instead of pandering. My promise is to be a transparent and honest voice for the community, providing factual information about the challenges and opportunities we face. I will make decisions based on what is best for the long-term health and prosperity of our town, even when those decisions are difficult. I will not make empty promises or cater to short-term political trends. My focus is on earning and maintaining the public's trust through integrity and a steadfast commitment to serving our shared interests.

Environmental Stewardship is also critical. As a representative, I am committed to environmental stewardship, ensuring that all decisions promote a sustainable and healthy future for our community. This means prioritizing the preservation of our natural resources, including our vital tree canopy and local waterways. I will champion policies that support clean energy, responsible land use, and green infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change and build a more resilient town for generations to come.

Finally, a commitment to represent everyone in the community, not just those who voted for you. An elected representative, if doing their job well, will not leave constituents needs unmet if they don’t see eye to eye politically.
I want to leave the legacy of "showing up, no matter what." I believe the best and highest use of a life is in service to other people. And working on behalf of others really is the key to contentment!
The blizzard of 1977 - I was almost 5 years old and will always remember watching my oldest brother crawl out of the bathroom window to walk across the roof to dig out our front door from above with one of my Mom's Tupperware bowls!
My first jobs were working in my parents' ice cream shop in Western NY when I was 13 for $2 an hour. I also picked rocks from a horse exercise pasture. It was a summer of hard work and endless hot fudge sundaes!
Beach Music by Pat Conroy is my favorite book. I own nearly all of Pat Conroy's books in first edition with his autograph. He wrote with such descriptive flair that I found his stories to be an immersive examination of the highs and lows in life. Plus, he leaned into hyperbole, which I tend to do myself so I find that very entertaining.
I have lived at nearly every income level, and it shapes my approach and attitude about money. While I was incredibly fortunate to start my adult life with a solid college education, I also began adulthood in a lot of debt. For many years, I saw things like health insurance as luxuries. I don't have those worries anymore, but I know a lot of people are living paycheck to paycheck today, and they are always on my mind when I make decisions for our municipality.
Often, citizens of municipalities often don’t understand our lack of power that leads to some inaction. In North Carolina, our authority as a town council is limited by Dillon's Rule. This means we can only act on powers specifically granted to us by the state legislature. Unlike "home rule" states that many of our constituents have moved to NC from, we don't have broad authority to address every issue. As a result, we often lack the power to implement solutions that citizens want, as our ability to act is always dependent on the explicit approval and authority of the North Carolina General Assembly. We must respect the limits to our authority.
Experience and knowledge of local government is incredibly beneficial, and it would be a steep learning curve to start from scratch. It would be very difficult to be successful if you don't have a solid foundation of knowledge of how our town services are delivered and funded.
Your local government and its policies affect people significantly in their day-to-day lives. Too often, people participate in their state and federal elections, and don't engage in their local elections. Your local elected leaders impact your built and natural environment, determine your property taxes, and plan and permit the development in your community. These are essential things that affect our daily experiences, and should be approached with a diligent focus on how they will all interplay.
Wake County Democratic Party

Congresswoman Deborah Ross, NC Second Congressional District
Commissioner Vickie Adamson, Wake County District 7
Senator Jay Chaudhuri, District 15
Senator Gale Adcock, District 16
Senator Sydney Batch, District 17
Senator Lisa Grafstein, District 13
Representative Maria Cervania, District 41
Representative Ya Liu, District 21
Honorable Tyler Swanson, WCPSS School Board District 9
Honorable Lori Bush, At-Large, Cary Town Council
Honorable Michelle Craig, Cary Town Council
Equality NC
Sierra Club
NC Asian Americans Together in Action

The Independent
One resident of Cary detailed his experience during the Bangladesh War of Liberation, and it was an incredible tale of resilience. I purchased Dr. Chattergee's book and book that he wrote about it (Six Months & Six Days: My Struggles During the Bangladesh War of Liberation - a Memoir). It is incredible how divergent the paths are that people take to end up in the same physical location! It is also an excellent reminder that you shouldnt underestimate the challenges others have overcome or face.
I was sworn in as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem in 2020, and advocating for children petitioned into foster care has been the most rewarding, yet difficult, thing I have ever done.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also


External links

Footnotes