James was born and raised in Raleigh. He is a pre-law student at William Peace University. He has a family and a beloved cat named Masha.

James is a manager at a catering company, a position he has held for 6 years.

Facebook

James L. Shaughnessy IV's campaign for mayor is his first entry into politics.

Candidate website

Promises to work hard to ensure tax dollars are used effectively.

Promises to ensure tax dollars are used effectively.

Plans to reduce unnecessary spending and use AI to improve government efficiency.

Wants to utilize AI to improve government efficiency.

Plans to partner with local farms and promote on-site school farms to provide healthy food and teach students about sustainability.

- Promises to ensure tax dollars are used effectively.
- Wants to utilize AI to improve government efficiency.
- Plans to partner with local farms and promote on-site school farms to provide healthy food and teach students about sustainability.

Economy

Plans to establish a new mental hospital to increase resources for individuals facing mental illness, addiction, and homelessness.

Plans to collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address mental health challenges and develop innovative solutions tailored to community needs.

Supports establishing new mental health facilities, expanding ACORNs, and collaborating with NGOs to address the mental health crisis and provide resources for vulnerable individuals.

Believes in the importance of public service and community engagement, having volunteered with various organizations and in Ukraine during the war.

Believes governance is a "team sport" and encourages direct communication from constituents to help him serve them better.

Believes in the importance of community service and has worked with various organizations to support public services.

- Plans to establish a new mental hospital to increase resources for individuals facing mental illness, addiction, and homelessness.
- Plans to collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address mental health challenges and develop innovative solutions tailored to community needs.
- Supports establishing new mental health facilities, expanding ACORNs, and collaborating with NGOs to address the mental health crisis and provide resources for vulnerable individuals.
- Believes in the importance of public service and community engagement, having volunteered with various organizations and in Ukraine during the war.
- Believes governance is a "team sport" and encourages direct communication from constituents to help him serve them better.
- Believes in the importance of community service and has worked with various organizations to support public services.

Public Services

Plans to enhance police capabilities in mental health emergency calls by expanding the ACORNS Unit.

Promises to document all donated funds and their uses on a publicly accessible spreadsheet that will be updated monthly.

Promises to serve constituents with "honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic."

- Plans to enhance police capabilities in mental health emergency calls by expanding the ACORNS Unit.
- Promises to document all donated funds and their uses on a publicly accessible spreadsheet that will be updated monthly.
- Promises to serve constituents with "honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic."

Public Safety

Believes Raleigh needs to build more apartments, townhomes, and houses.

Proposes a city servant housing credit, providing stipends for city workers to live within the municipality.

Plans to restructure zoning laws to encourage more development.

Believes housing is the most important expense for residents, noting that the average price of housing has increased over 150% in the past 10 years while wages have not.

- Believes Raleigh needs to build more apartments, townhomes, and houses.
- Proposes a city servant housing credit, providing stipends for city workers to live within the municipality.
- Plans to restructure zoning laws to encourage more development.
- Believes housing is the most important expense for residents, noting that the average price of housing has increased over 150% in the past 10 years while wages have not.

Housing & Urban Development

Plans to prioritize recruitment to fully staff the bus service and then expand the transit network to increase accessibility and ridership.

Plans to collaborate with local and federal transportation agencies to secure funding for road improvements.

Acknowledges that while many Raleigh residents use their own vehicles, a significant portion rely on the GoRaleigh transit system, which "certainly has room for improvement."

- Plans to prioritize recruitment to fully staff the bus service and then expand the transit network to increase accessibility and ridership.
- Plans to collaborate with local and federal transportation agencies to secure funding for road improvements.
- Acknowledges that while many Raleigh residents use their own vehicles, a significant portion rely on the GoRaleigh transit system, which "certainly has room for improvement."

Transportation & Infrastructure

Believes in providing a well-rounded education that includes both traditional academics and practical skills such as mechanics, construction, and cooking.

Believes prioritizing local schools is essential to fostering a healthy future.

Believes providing fresh and nutritious meals for children is crucial for their overall well-being and educational success.

Believes in reintroducing job skills training in schools.

- Believes in providing a well-rounded education that includes both traditional academics and practical skills such as mechanics, construction, and cooking.
- Believes prioritizing local schools is essential to fostering a healthy future.
- Believes providing fresh and nutritious meals for children is crucial for their overall well-being and educational success.
- Believes in reintroducing job skills training in schools.

Education

Twitter

Instagram

James L. Shaughnessy IV

- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor attends and runs City Council meetings, serving as an important leader for how local laws get set. These laws affect local services, such as Police, City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation.  
- The Mayor in some circumstances may vote to break a tie in council meetings. They do not have veto power.

Raleigh

Housing Costs

Policing

North Carolina

Mayor

AssemblyNC's team of journalists conducted background research on each candidate in the guide presented here.

AssemblyNC 2024 Voter Guide