Julie Branstetter (Elm City Town Council, North Carolina, candidate 2025)

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Julie Branstetter

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Elm City Town Council

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Personal

Birthplace

Rocky Mount, N.C.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Teacher

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Julie Branstetter is running for election to the Elm City Town Council in North Carolina. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

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

Biography

Julie Branstetter provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 28, 2025:

• Birth date: June 25, 1976
• Birth place: Rocky Mount, North Carolina
• High school: Northern Nash Senior High
• Bachelor's: Nashville Theological Seminary, 2008
• Gender: Female
• Religion: Christian
• Profession: Teacher
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Transparency, Integrity, Efficiency: Building a better city for a better tomorrow!
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Elm City Town Council (5 seats)

The following candidates are running in the general election for Elm City Town Council on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Tammie R. Atkinson (Nonpartisan)
		Julie Branstetter (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Tim Bridgers (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Vonica Carr (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Lin Jones (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Gabe Merando (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Linda O'Boyle (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Jason Osborne (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Bud Pittman (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Carl Davis Smith (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Bridget Wimberley (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Julie Branstetter completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Branstetter'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.

The successes of my life are deeply embedded in the people around me. I've always been in service in one way or another to others. Before I met my husband, I managed The Dunn Center Box Office at North Carolina Wesleyan University. After marrying, we had our first child and moved to Elm City in July of 2003 with our 18 month old daughter. We've lived in Elm City for the last 22 years and during that time we've brought two more beautiful children into the world. When we moved here, I had just recently left my career in management to stay home and care for my daughter, essentially cutting our income in half, but my husband and I had a vision for how we wanted to raise our children and build a family, and we both had faith and believed in it. So we started out in home ownership in Elm City making $13 an hour on one income. We purchased our home on West Nash Street, where we lived for 15 years, and when it was time to upgrade because we'd long out grown our first tiny house, we moved across the tracks to Branch street. Despite the issues the town faced over all those years, I have always loved Elm City very much. I have delighted in raising my children here. Even still, I know what it is like to have to bathe my children in dirty water. I have seen the town grapple with issues over the years.

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?

• Transparency
• Integrity
• Efficiency

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about solving our town's waste water issues, bringing clean water into every household, making public works more efficient, and helping to create and preserve a safe, vibrant, and healthy community.

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

Elm City town commissioners are accessible directly by the people they serve. They live in the town they lead. Every decision they make also affects their own families and friends and neighbors.

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

Visit Https://JulieBranstetter.com for more info on my platform.

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

Integrity is most important. It is the foundation behind all the right decisions you will have to make. It is always followed by transparency and honesty.

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

I am a great communicator and a very hard worker. I do not procrastinate and I will continue to try to solve a problem no matter how many obstacles get in the way. I believe in transparency, integrity, and being efficient in all I do. I believe in proa tive leadership, not reactive. And I prefer results not excuses. I can work together with anyone to accomplish what is needed for our town.

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

Commissioners are responsible for allocating funds for and making sure that projects preserving the foundational function of the town remain intact and most efficient for every person living and working in the town.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like for people to look back at the council I sat on and be able to say, "Those people really turned this town around, and we are better today for all they did. Our water is clean, our town is safe, and we have everything we need right here in town. It's a great place to work and raise kids." That's the success story I'm aiming for!

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

I've had many great struggles in life. I know great heartaches and deep worry. I also know great triumphs! I know that prayer and my relationship with the Lord is what carried me through so many storms and made me a stronger, better person too. I have be blessed tremendously despite what has come my way, and I give all the honor and glory for that to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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

I have served others for almost 30 years in the community and in church outreaches to the community, often for little to no pay. The best experience you can have for a small town office like ours is active practice in caring for and serving others.

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

I am the kind of person who does not rest until a problem is solved. I am highly self-motivated to succeed, not just for myself, but for all others dependling on me. For more info about me and my platform, visit JulieBranstetter.com.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Commisioner Gil Wheeler has endorsed me along with a fellow candidate for commissioner, Gabe Merando. I also endorse their campaigns.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency is key to gaining the trust of the people. If you are managing funds properly, you have no reason not to be completely transparent.

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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