Shakinah Simeona-Lee (Jamestown Town Council, North Carolina, candidate 2025)
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Shakinah Simeona-Lee is running for election to the Jamestown Town Council in North Carolina. She is on the ballot in the primary on October 7, 2025.[source]
Simeona-Lee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Shakinah Simeona-Lee provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on August 18, 2025:
- Birth date: March 19, 1990
- Birth place: East Meadow, New York
- High school: Gwynn Park High School
- Bachelor's: Elon University, 2012
- Graduate: The University of North Carolina - Greensboro, 2016
- Gender: Female
- Religion: African Methodist Episcopal
- Profession: College Instructor
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: “Fresh Vision. Strong Leadership. A Thriving Jamestown.”
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Jamestown Town Council (2 seats)
The following candidates are running in the primary for Jamestown Town Council on October 7, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Phyllis Bridges (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Richard Clapp (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Jim Gibson (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Darren Myers (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Cliff Paddock (Nonpartisan) | ||
Shakinah Simeona-Lee (Nonpartisan)  | ||
| Jim Westmoreland (Nonpartisan) | ||
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| = 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. | ||||
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Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Shakinah Simeona-Lee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Simeona-Lee's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m Shakinah Simeona-Lee. I am a mother, wife, higher education leader, and proud resident of Jamestown. With over 10 years of experience in program management, advocacy, innovation, and strategic operations, I have spent my career building inclusive, impactful programs that drive sustainable change. As a new voice in Jamestown, I am deeply committed to ensuring our town thrives as it grows, maintaining its small-town charm while embracing opportunities for community development, economic growth, and civic engagement. I lead with empathy, strategy, and collaboration, and I’m running to serve all of Jamestown — present and future.
- A Voice for All I believe Jamestown deserves a representative who listens, learns, and leads with empathy and compassion. As a mother and newcomer, I bring a fresh, inclusive perspective to the table, one that reflects the needs of both long-standing residents and new families. My goal is to amplify community voices and strengthen communication between the town and its people.
- Smart Growth for a Changing Jamestown Jamestown is growing, and we must grow wisely. I will advocate for strategic development that enhances infrastructure, supports small businesses, preserves town character, and makes Jamestown a model for thoughtful expansion. With a business background, I also want to lead with transparency, especially regarding the financial operations within the town.
- Innovation Rooted in Community With a background in leadership and innovation, I bring creative, practical solutions to the challenges our town faces. From youth initiatives to public safety and senior support, I’ll work to make Jamestown more inclusive, connected, and future-ready.
I am passionate about policies that strengthen the community and develop opportunities. I believe in forward-thinking planning that makes our town sustainable, family-friendly, and resilient for future generations. As an educational advocate, I am passionate about any policy that strengthens the youth.
The Town Council is unique because it is the level of government closest to the people—it directly impacts residents’ daily lives. While state and federal leaders make broad policies, Town Council members make local legislative decisions that shape how communities grow, how resources are allocated, and how public services function. What makes this office important is its ability to listen to residents, represent their concerns, and translate that into action that strengthens the quality of life in our town. At its best, Town Council is both a voice for the people and a bridge between the community and larger levels of government.
I look up to my mother. She is one of the strongest people I know, and throughout my life she and my father have worked together to make sure my brothers and I had the very best opportunities. Her example has shown me what it means to lead with strength, perseverance, and love. I strive to carry those same values forward in my own life and leadership—putting family, community, and service at the heart of everything I do.
Honesty, transparency, and empathy are the most important qualities for an elected official. As a public servant, I believe in leading with integrity so that the community can place their trust in me. Elected officials are representatives of the people, and I want Jamestown to know that I lead with empathy and always have their best interests at heart.
I bring a combination of leadership, empathy, and problem-solving skills that I believe are essential for a successful town council member. I have experience building community programs, leading diverse teams, and creating opportunities that serve people’s needs. I listen carefully, make thoughtful decisions, and work collaboratively to turn ideas into action. These qualities will allow me to represent Jamestown effectively and help our community thrive.
To care, seek the truth, come prepared, and listen to those around you.
I want the legacy I leave to be a light to others, to make my daughters proud, and to show that leadership is about service, integrity, and making a lasting positive impact on the community. I hope to inspire future generations to get involved, lead with empathy, and believe that their voices truly matter.
Although tragic, the first historical event I remember is 9/11. At the time, my family lived in Virginia, and some of my classmates’ families were directly impacted by the Pentagon. Being originally from Long Island, New York, I also recall my family’s deep concern for loved ones who worked in the city and near the Twin Towers.
I worked at Bob Evans in Waldorf, Maryland as my first job. I was a waitress and worked there for about a year and a half.
One of my favorite books is Atomic Habits. It reminds me that small, consistent actions add up to meaningful progress and that each step forward is a step toward becoming a better version of yourself. It’s a great reminder to stay disciplined, intentional, and focused in both personal growth and professional goals.
One responsibility that many residents may not realize is how much influence the Town Council has over zoning, land use, and development. These decisions shape the look and feel of our community for generations—where parks are built, what kind of businesses can open, and how neighborhoods grow. Another little-known power is the Council’s role in approving the town budget, which directly impacts public services like road maintenance, safety, and community programs. These responsibilities may not always make headlines, but they affect our everyday lives in Jamestown, which is why it’s so important to have thoughtful, community-minded leaders in these seats.
I believe prior experience in government can be helpful, but it’s not the only path to being an effective town council member. What matters most is having strong leadership skills, the ability to listen, and a genuine commitment to serving the community. My background in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and community service has prepared me to bring people together, solve problems, and make decisions that reflect the needs of Jamestown residents. Coming from outside a "traditional political path" can be a strength as it allows me to approach challenges with fresh ideas, creativity, and a focus on real solutions rather than “business as usual.”
Town council members need to be skilled communicators, active listeners, and problem-solvers. The role is about representing diverse voices, weighing different perspectives, and making thoughtful decisions that impact the daily lives of residents. Skills in collaboration, budget oversight, and strategic planning are essential, but so are empathy, transparency, and the ability to engage with the community in meaningful ways. A successful council member should combine practical leadership skills with a genuine passion for service and a vision for helping the town thrive.
The town council is unique because it’s the closest level of government to the people. It directly shapes the policies, budgets, and services that impact residents’ daily lives, making it one of the most important voices for the community.
Bethel A.M.E Church in Greensboro
The Blend in Jamestown
Willie Reid of Jamestown
I think financial transparency is a top priority for every town or city, but especially for the town of Jamestown. If constituents cannot trust what their elected officials are doing, we have a big problem. Transparency isn’t just about making information available—it’s about making sure it’s digestible, easy to comprehend, and accessible to every resident. I believe our community deserves regular, clear updates on how taxpayer dollars are being allocated and spent, and town leaders should be proactive in explaining decisions, not reactive when questions arise. True accountability means creating open lines of communication, welcoming feedback, and ensuring residents feel informed and empowered to engage in the process.
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
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
