Jeffrey Odham (Mayor of New Bern, North Carolina, candidate 2025)

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Jeffrey Odham

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Mayor of New Bern

Elections and appointments

Last election

October 7, 2025

Education

High school

New Bern High School

Associate

Craven Community College, 2009

Personal

Birthplace

New Bern, N.C.

Religion

Freewill Baptist

Profession

Management

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Jeffrey Odham is running for election for Mayor of New Bern in North Carolina. He is on the ballot in the general runoff election on November 4, 2025.^[source] He was on the ballot in the general election on October 7, 2025.^[source]

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

Biography

Jeffrey Odham provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on August 17, 2025:

• Birth date: August 20, 1979
• Birth place: New Bern, North Carolina
• High school: New Bern High School
• Associate: Craven Community College, 2009
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Freewill Baptist
• Profession: Management
• Prior offices held:
  • Mayor (2022-Prsnt)
  • Alderman (2013-2022)
• Incumbent officeholder: Yes
• Campaign slogan: Capable. Committed. Consistent.
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook
• LinkedIn

Elections

General runoff election

General runoff election for Mayor of New Bern

Jeffrey Odham and Holly Raby are running in the general runoff election for Mayor of New Bern on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Jeffrey Odham (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Holly Raby (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= 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.

General election

General election for Mayor of New Bern

Scott Andrews, Gregory Ryan Fahy, Jeffrey Odham, and Holly Raby ran in the general election for Mayor of New Bern on October 7, 2025.

		Candidate
		Scott Andrews (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Gregory Ryan Fahy (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Jeffrey Odham (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Holly Raby (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= 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.

Endorsements

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Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Jeffrey Odham was elected to serve as Mayor in July 2022. He previously served as Alderman of the Sixth Ward since December of 2013. Jeffrey is the son of the late B.T. and Joan Odham and a lifelong resident of New Bern. He married New Bern native Jeannie Haye Odham in June 2002. They have one son, Gavin. Jeffrey and his family are members of New Life Church.

Mayor Odham is a graduate of both New Bern High School and Craven Community College, where he earned an Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration. He joined Glidden Paint Company in 1997 as an hourly sales associate advancing in his career to his current role as a multi-state manager. In 2002, Jeffrey and his wife became local entrepreneurs when they started a tanning salon known as Sunless Expressions, which they sold after the birth of their son.

As an elected representative, Jeffrey has always been an advocate of fiscal responsibility and smart growth. That proven combination has afforded our residents the opportunity to enjoy a high quality of life and one of the lowest tax rates in the region.

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?

• Experience matters, especially as mayor. As the leader of the board of alderman and primary figurehead for the city, it is vital to have a vast knowledge and understanding of how the city functions and the role the mayor plays in our operation. While certainly not a prerequisite, having served for 9 years as an alderman and the last 3+ years as mayor, it has equipped me for this position to continue the growth and improved quality of life we all enjoy.
• Government moves slow. One example is the newly opened fishing pier. That was a project discussed during our campaign in 2022. Many of the projects we've talked about for years are finally moving forward. We simply can't afford to slow down our progress because of a change in leadership. From the Choice Neighborhood Initiative which will bring generational enhancements to the Duffyfield and Five Points communities, to the many infrastructure projects associated with the bond referendum, we need to keep our momentum going.
• Economic development is the lifeblood of any community. We have seen significant investment over the last decade with more on the horizon. With growth comes challenges and having a proven leader in the mayor's seat ensures our growth is managed and looks out for our citizens. Whether it is transportation improvements or utility capacity, it is critical to address those needs proactively so when opportunities come, we are ready.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm extremely passionate about affordability (low taxes and rates), quality of life (parks & recreation, public safety), and being accessible and available when constituents are in need.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I always looked up to my dad. Although he’s no longer here, he was a Christian, loving husband and father, a great provider and a tremendous role model.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

You can view all of our board meetings since December 2013 and you can see first-hand how I have conducted myself as both an alderman and mayor.

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

honest, fair, tempered, and not self-serving

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have the experience and the record that proves I can do the job.

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

being accessible and responsive

What legacy would you like to leave?

Smart growth of our city while maintaining the hometown feel.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

There have been many, but 9/11/2001 will always stand out. I was on the way to visit a customer with my dad and we watched it on an old TV in their office. It was so surreal. I was 24.

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

Sales associate with The Glidden Paint Company in 1997 right out of high school. I did that job for 3 years before moving into outside sales.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Good Good Father

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

It can be challenging to manage time and the work/life balance. Being mayor is very demanding. I want to do everything that is asked of me, but that’s impossible. Sometimes you have to say no, which is not how I typically operates.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

The mayor position actually comes will very little "power" when it comes to decision-making and actually implementing policy. That all requires a majority of the board of aldermen. However, the mayor often times is the face that visitors, developers, investors, and others see, so it's important that person has a solid understanding of how things work. A mayor without experience will set a city back for years.

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

Communication should always be the top priority. Without good communication, failure will surely ensue. The communication between the mayor and manager should be open and frequent.

What do you love most about your city?

New Bern is my hometown. It is the place I've chosen to stay and raise our family. I have a deep passion for wanting to see this place continue to flourish. We've done a great job, but there's work left to do.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

We've got some challenges ahead with growth and

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

The state sets the guidelines that cities must follow, however, I believe the more authority that can be deferred to local government, the better. We have an excellent working relationship with our state delegation. They are attentive and work hard to represent our area.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

There is a small connection between federal and local government. Other than FEMA, HUD and maybe a couple other agencies, the two operate independently from each other.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

The mayor should be supportive of law enforcement as they literally risk their lives each and everyday while serving our community. I also believe the mayor can be the liaison between the community and the department in certain situations where there could be questions or concerns.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Alderman Bobby Aster (running unopposed)

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

We follow state statutes, as a minimum, however, we go above and beyond what you find in most communities. All of our meetings are visually and audibly recorded as well as live-streamed on multiple social media platforms.

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