The Orange County Board of Commissioners appointed Laura Jensen as the county’s new Clerk to the Board at its Dec. 15 meeting. Jensen currently serves as Assistant Finance Director/Budget Manager for Person County, a position she has held since 2013. She also served as Interim Assistant County Manager from June 2019 to August 2020.
Jensen, who lives in Hillsborough, graduated from North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. She earned a degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina-Asheville and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2008.
“Dozens of candidates applied for this critical position, and Laura impressed us immensely for reasons including her 13 years of progressively responsible local government experience,” said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “The fact that we attracted so many strong candidates is a testament to Orange County. We look forward to working with Laura as she brings her skills and professionalism to the office and to our community.”
Jensen’s career in local government began as a management intern with Durham County in 2007. She worked for Durham County from 2007-2013, as a budget technician, assistant to the county manager and budget analyst before moving to Person County.
“I am grateful for all of the experiences I've had in my professional career that have led to this opportunity in Orange County,” she said. “I am passionate about working in local government, and it will be a great honor to serve the county I call home.”
The Clerk to the Board is a statutorily authorized (N.C. GS 153A-111) position appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Jensen’s first day in Orange County will be Jan. 4, 2021.