Former Guilford County Commissioner James Upchurch, who was elected to the Board of Commissioners as a Democrat in 2020 and then turned Republican a year later, exited the board in early October without completing his first term in office in order to take a job in Georgia – and he told the Rhino Times this week that he’s very glad he did.
“Everything is going good,” Upchurch said of his new life in the Atlanta area.
He said he still doesn’t want to say publicly what his job in Georgia is, but he added that it will become known at some point because part of the job – which does involve politics – is “public-facing.”
He has told his inner circle of family and friends what he’s doing in the Peach State.
“It’s not top secret – I have told some people,” he said.
He did say it was an “executive-level position” paying a lot more than he was making as a county commissioner.
Upchurch also said that, when he was a commissioner, he got a lot of hate mail, and even some death threats, which was one reason why he’s glad he’s now off the Board of Commissioners and is also a reason he’s being somewhat secretive about his new life in Atlanta.
“It’s a clean break for me,” he said.
When he first stepped down as a commissioner, he wouldn’t even say what state he was moving too.
While he will still play a role in politics, he said that role spans both parties.
“I work for Republicans and Democrats,” he said.
When asked whether he registered as a Republican or Democrat in Georgia, he said, “I haven’t registered down here.”
Before Upchurch moved to Georgia, he announced he was running for the NC state treasurer seat – however, not long after that, Upchurch changed course and decided to run for NC state auditor instead.
Obviously, he couldn’t hold either of those positions living in Atlanta so he dropped his state auditor bid. He said he was very confident about what would have happened in the auditor race if he’s continued down that path.
“I feel positive I would have won,” Upchurch said.
James Upchurch had as much a chance of being State Auditor as Roy Carroll has of going bankrupt. The guy is a delusional, immature con man. Think George Santos on a much smaller scale.
My time as a Commissioner was an incredible experience. Like anything, it had its highs and lows. I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish and made friendships that’ll last a lifetime.
The opportunities I have now are a direct result of the policy I was able to pass and the experience I gained as a Commissioner. I am forever grateful for the opportunity. Every time I sat at the Dias, I made the best decisions I could given the information I had and tried to do the right things for the right reasons. I again want to thank everyone who supported me along the way. It was a honor to serve.
Good for him! Betting there are more citizens to follow his example.
Smart move Mr. Upchruch i salute you. Now any chance you could get nancy and skip a job in Georgia.
Benedict Arnold finds Georgia just peachy.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t being a county commissioner not considered a full-time gig?
Upchurch was a political lightweight that had zero impact as a Community due in part because he was mostly concerned with himself and how he “looked”. He loved making splashy headlines by switch parties , after he was elected and that should tell anyone all they need to know. He’s young, so perhaps with some real life experience he will mature and be more focused on others successes and not his own
I have a sneaking suspicion that this job in ATL isn’t all that he purports it to be. This guy has zero real world experience in anything except the commissioner gig.