Carla Franklin

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Carla Franklin

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

October 7, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Duke University, 1999

Graduate

Columbia University, 2008

Personal

Birthplace

Greensboro, N.C.

Religion

Christian: Catholic

Profession

Management consultant

Contact

Campaign website

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Carla Franklin ran for election for an at-large seat of the Greensboro City Council in North Carolina. She lost in the primary on October 7, 2025.

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

Biography

Carla Franklin was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. She earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1999 and a graduate degree from Columbia University in 2008. Her career experience includes working as a management consultant. Franklin has been affiliated with the Junior League of Greensboro, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc, and Jack and Jill of America.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Greensboro, North Carolina (2025)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Greensboro City Council At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates are running in the general election for Greensboro City Council At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Hugh Holston (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Jamilla Pinder (Nonpartisan)
		Irving Allen (Nonpartisan)
		Richard Beard (Nonpartisan)
		T. Dianne Bellamy-Small (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Denise Roth (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Greensboro City Council At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the primary for Greensboro City Council At-large on October 7, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Hugh Holston (Nonpartisan)	15.8	8,714
✔	Submit photo	Denise Roth (Nonpartisan)	14.2	7,841
✔		Richard Beard (Nonpartisan)	13.8	7,598
✔	Submit photo	Jamilla Pinder (Nonpartisan)	11.9	6,569
✔		Irving Allen (Nonpartisan)	11.0	6,064
✔		T. Dianne Bellamy-Small (Nonpartisan)	9.4	5,159
		Carla Franklin (Nonpartisan)	9.3	5,108
	Submit photo	Michael McKinney (Nonpartisan)	7.6	4,194
		LaToya B. Gathers (Nonpartisan)	4.5	2,466
	Submit photo	Samuel Hawkins (Nonpartisan)	2.6	1,462

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 55,175
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Carla Franklin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Franklin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am running for Greensboro City Council At-Large to bring bold, results-driven leadership to our city. Born and raised in Southeast Greensboro, I understand both the challenges and opportunities facing our neighborhoods. Professionally, I have led billion-dollar transformation projects for Fortune 100 companies, public agencies, and nonprofits — experience that has given me the skills to solve complex problems, manage budgets responsibly, and deliver measurable results. My candidacy is built on three priorities: strengthening public safety by supporting our police, fire, and EMS; improving city services and infrastructure so every neighborhood receives reliable and timely support; and creating high-skill, middle-class jobs that keep our young people in Greensboro after graduation. I am not a career politician, but a business strategist and community advocate who knows how to get things done. With your support, I will work to ensure Greensboro is a safer, stronger, and more prosperous city for every resident.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Stronger Public Safety: Greensboro has more than 600 professional firefighters and over 600 sworn police officers serving a city of nearly 300,000 residents. Yet both departments continue to face staffing shortages and rising demand. I will work to ensure our police, fire, and EMS have the staffing, training, and resources they need, while also investing in mental health and addiction response programs that address the root causes of crime and homelessness.
• Better Services & Infrastructure: Greensboro’s population has grown by more than 10% since 2010, but many neighborhoods still struggle with delayed leaf collection, pothole repairs, and inconsistent basic services. I will push for stronger accountability in city operations while making long-term investments in affordable housing, utilities, and transportation — infrastructure that modern families and businesses require to thrive.
• Jobs & Opportunity for All: Greensboro is home to the third-largest public school system in North Carolina and seven colleges and universities, producing thousands of graduates each year. Yet research shows that more than 60% of local graduates leave within a few years of completing their studies. My priority is to attract and grow industries that create high-skill, middle-class jobs so young professionals and families can build their futures here. With my experience in corporate site selection and economic development, I know how to make Greensboro competitive for these opportunities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about public safety, workforce development, and affordable housing. Growing up in Southeast Greensboro in the 1980s and 1990s, our communities were safer and first responders were well-funded. Today, GPD alone has over 100 vacancies, impacting response times for nearly 300,000 residents. I will restore strong support for police, fire, and EMS. I am equally committed to reversing “talent flight”—more than 60% of local college graduates leave within a few years due to the lack of high-skill jobs and internships. At the same time, Greensboro faces a shortage of over 17,000 affordable housing units. By expanding workforce opportunities and increasing access to quality housing, I will help build a more prosperous Greensboro.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The At-Large seat on City Council is unique because it requires a citywide perspective. District representatives advocate primarily for their neighborhoods, but At-Large members must consider Greensboro as a whole. That means balancing the needs of East Greensboro, West Greensboro, downtown, and suburban communities in order to build unity and shared prosperity.

This office is important because it helps ensure fairness. While district representatives focus on local concerns, At-Large members step back and make sure citywide policies — whether about public safety, infrastructure, or housing — are implemented equitably. For example, every neighborhood deserves reliable leaf collection, functioning streetlights, and safe parks. The At-Large role ensures those basic services aren’t unevenly distributed.

As someone with experience across corporate, nonprofit, and government strategy, I know how to take a “big picture” view without losing sight of community-level detail. In the private sector, I worked on site selection projects where entire regions competed for investment. In nonprofits, I saw how equitable resource distribution can transform underserved communities. The At-Large office allows me to combine those perspectives to advocate for policies that lift up the entire city.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The most important principles for an elected official are integrity, accountability, and a commitment to service. Integrity ensures residents can trust that decisions are being made in their best interest, not for personal or political gain. Accountability means measuring progress and ensuring that every tax dollar delivers visible results — from reducing crime rates to fixing potholes. In Greensboro, where the city budget exceeds $700 million and funds critical services like police, fire, housing, and infrastructure, accountability isn’t optional; it’s essential.

I also believe in accessibility and transparency. Too often, residents feel disconnected from City Hall or uncertain about where decisions are being made. Growing up in Southeast Greensboro, I saw firsthand how neighborhoods can feel left behind. An effective elected official must create space for dialogue, seek input from all communities, and follow through on commitments.

My background in corporate, government, and nonprofit strategy has taught me the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility. At Amazon and IBM, I worked on billion-dollar transformations that required strong ethical standards, transparency, and measurable outcomes. In government and nonprofits, I’ve learned how to align stakeholders with very different priorities to deliver meaningful change. These principles — honesty, accountability, and collaboration — guide my political philosophy.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

At-Large City Councilmembers represent the entire city, not just one district. Their core responsibility is to ensure resources are allocated fairly and policies reflect the needs of all Greensboro residents. This means strengthening public safety, ensuring reliable city services, and expanding economic opportunities across every neighborhood.

One of the most important responsibilities is budget oversight. Greensboro’s annual budget is more than $700 million, and how we allocate those funds determines whether we fully staff our police and fire departments, invest in road repair, expand affordable housing, or grow our parks and recreation system. Budget decisions impact daily life for nearly 300,000 residents.

Another responsibility is long-term planning. Greensboro has experienced over 10% population growth since 2010, yet we’ve struggled to keep up with demand for housing, jobs, and infrastructure. City Councilmembers must balance short-term service delivery with long-term strategies that strengthen our economy and keep our city competitive.

My experience leading large-scale transformations for Fortune 100 companies, nonprofits, and government agencies uniquely prepares me to fulfill these responsibilities. I know how to manage complex budgets, hold organizations accountable, and design long-term strategies that produce measurable results.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was at age 16, working at The Limited in Four Seasons Mall in Greensboro. I stayed there for about a year and a half, starting at $4.25 an hour. That experience taught me the value of money and the importance of working hard. I learned to budget carefully for gas, school supplies, and clothing, while also gaining skills that stayed with me throughout my career — customer service, sales, product placement, and marketing. Those early lessons helped shape my consulting work years later. Of course, as a high school student, the clothing discount was a perk, and it was fun seeing friends while working, but more importantly, it gave me discipline and a foundation for future success.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Many residents don’t realize how much influence City Council has over the city’s budget — which exceeds $700 million annually. That budget shapes everything from how many police officers and firefighters we employ, to how quickly potholes are fixed, to how much funding is available for affordable housing. Decisions made by City Council have a direct impact on residents’ everyday lives.

Another underappreciated responsibility is the role City Council plays in economic development. Through zoning decisions, incentive programs, and land-use planning, councilmembers help determine whether Greensboro can attract new employers, support small businesses, and create good-paying jobs. For example, decisions about zoning can shape whether we attract high-skill industries like advanced manufacturing, aerospace, or technology — sectors that provide the kind of middle-class jobs Greensboro needs.

Because I’ve worked in corporate site selection, I know how companies decide where to expand, what they look for in a workforce, and what kinds of incentives actually matter. I’ve also seen, in my nonprofit and government work, how local policies can create opportunities or deepen inequities. As an At-Large member, I would bring that knowledge to ensure Greensboro makes smarter, more strategic choices that benefit residents citywide.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Experience in government can be helpful, but it is not the only path to effective leadership. In fact, sometimes career politicians are too tied to “business as usual” and don’t bring new ideas or approaches to solving problems. What matters most is whether a candidate has experience managing complex challenges, balancing budgets, and delivering measurable results.

My professional background — spanning corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors — demonstrates that experience outside politics can be just as valuable. At Amazon, IBM, and Deloitte, I led billion-dollar transformation projects that required strategic vision, operational excellence, and accountability. In government and nonprofit roles, I worked with limited resources to achieve big goals, which required collaboration, innovation, and a clear understanding of community needs.

For Greensboro, which faces challenges ranging from staffing shortages in public safety to “talent flight” of college graduates, we need leaders who can think strategically, implement solutions, and build partnerships. That’s the type of experience I bring, even though I am not a career politician.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

The most important skills for City Councilmembers are financial management, strategic planning, and community engagement. Councilmembers oversee a city budget of more than $700 million. Without strong financial skills, it’s easy to misallocate resources or fail to hold departments accountable for results.

Equally important is expertise in economic development. Greensboro has lost many high-skill, middle-class jobs over the past two decades, and more than 60% of local graduates leave within five years because they don’t see enough opportunity here. Councilmembers must understand workforce development, site selection, and industry trends to ensure Greensboro competes for — and wins — the jobs of the future.

My expertise is rooted in strategy and innovation across sectors. I know how to evaluate budgets from my government consulting work, how to attract employers from my corporate site selection experience, and how to engage communities from my nonprofit work. These skills allow me to bridge the gap between long-term vision and daily governance, which is exactly what this office requires.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

City Council is where government decisions most directly impact daily life. Unlike state or federal offices, City Council determines whether a 911 call is answered quickly, whether potholes get repaired, whether leaf collection happens on time, and whether affordable housing gets built. That makes it one of the most important and impactful levels of government for residents.

The At-Large position is especially unique because it requires representing the interests of the entire city. While district representatives focus on their local neighborhoods, At-Large members must take a broad view and ensure resources are distributed equitably. This helps maintain balance and fairness across Greensboro, particularly in areas like East Greensboro that have historically been underfunded.

With my background across corporate, nonprofit, and government strategy, I know how to combine citywide vision with practical, neighborhood-level improvements. I have experience leading multi-stakeholder projects where competing priorities had to be aligned to achieve a common goal. That ability to balance detail with big-picture perspective is exactly what makes the At-Large seat such an important part of Greensboro’s local government.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Greensboro Police Officers Association

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.

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