District 5

James West

James West web photo

2004 Osbourne Court 
Raleigh, NC 27604 

Wake County: 919-856-5573 
Phone: 919-856-5573 
Fax: 919-856-5699 

Contact Commissioner West

Appointed: 2010
Elected: 2012
Re-elected: 2016, 2018, 2020
Term expires: December 2024

Health & Human Services Committee Chair

Professional

  • 1995–Present 
    NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, Raleigh, NC 
    • Director of County Operations Emeritus 
  • 1995–Present 
    NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, Raleigh, NC 
    • Associate Tenured Professor Emeritus 
  • 1995–Present 
    ​​​​​​​J WEST ASSOCIATES, INC., Raleigh, NC 
    • Consultant 
      Select Workshops:
      • ​​​​​​​Program Model for Planned Change, Alcorn State Univ. Extension Program (ASUEP) 
      • Leadership and Process Management for Continuous Quality Improvement (ASUEP) 
      • Conflict Management and Change, North Carolina Institute for Government 
  • 2009–Present 
    ​​​​​​​ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY, Lorman, MS 
    • Adjunct Professor 
      Course: Special Problems in Agricultural Education (Course AN601) 

Regional, State & National Leadership

  • Raleigh City Council 
    • Raleigh City Council, District C Representative, 1999-2010 
    • Mayor Pro Tem, 2003-2010 
    • Committees: 
      • Budget & Economic Development, Co-Chair 
      • Law & Public Safety 
      • Public Works 

Public Service & Community Activities

  • Founder, Wake County Collaborative Partnership in Excellence in Youth Development 
  • Founder, Southeast Raleigh Assembly (SERA) 
  • Charter Member, Wake County Voter Education Coalition 
  • Century Club Member, Wake County Democratic Party 
  • Chair, Garner Schools Area Advisory Council 
  • Founding Co-Chair, Raleigh South Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) 
  • Chair, Southeast Community Land Use Planning Task Force 
  • President, Fred A. Smith Elementary School Parent Teacher Association 
  • Raleigh-Wake Citizen Association 
  • City of Raleigh Board of Adjustments 
  • Louisburg College Board of Trustees 

Education

  • NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, Raleigh, NC 
    • Post-doctoral study, Legislative Process, 1995 
    • Post-doctoral study, Advanced Management, 1981 
    • Doctor of Education, Adult and Community College Education, 1981 
    • Master of Education, Adult and Community College Education, 1971 
  • NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY, Greensboro, NC 
    • Bachelor of Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, 1964