“My professional career in operations and my grassroots organizing work have been about building inclusive communities to ensure equitable outcomes. That’s exactly what County Government is all about too.”
-Marilyn Carter
DISTRICT 1 COUNTY COMMISSIONER
ORANGE COUNTY, NC
Meet Marilyn
Marilyn was elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in November, 2024 and was sworn in on December 2, 2024.
A Trailblazer
Marilyn’s Mom was a nurse, and her Dad was an electrical lineman and union member. They instilled in her a commitment to service and a determination to study science and engineering.
Marilyn was the first in her family to graduate from college when she received her BS in Electrical Engineering from SUNY Stony Brook. Community college (a county-funded resource!) helped make that possible, by enabling her to take summer classes and work year-round through college.
She joined IBM Corporation in San Jose, CA and later moved to North Carolina with the company. While working full-time, she earned an MS in Engineering at Duke University. She later joined Cisco Systems, progressing into operations and senior management.
North Carolina has been Marilyn’s home for most of her adult life. Marilyn and her husband, Mehdi, raised their twin daughters in Orange County, where they attended Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
​A Grassroots Leader
Marilyn was elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in November, 2024 and was sworn in on December 2, 2024.
Prior to her role as County Commissioner, Marilyn served on the Orange County Planning Board and as a leader in the local and state Democratic Party. In 2021, she was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.
Marilyn is also a retired engineer with nearly 30 years of experience in Fortune 100 companies developing strategic plans, balancing revenue and costs, and ensuring excellent customer service.
Affiliations
• Board Member, Orange County Planning Board
• Member, Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services
• Member, Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP
• Member, League of Women Voters of Orange/Durham/Chatham Counties
• Member, NC Reproductive Freedom Coalition
• Member, Sierra Club