12/19/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 December 2025
CONTACT: HOUSTON BARROW --
[email protected]
(336) 347-8009
Houston Barrow Announces Candidacy for Reelection to Rockingham County Board of Commissioners
Chairman seeks second term to continue infrastructure improvements and address foster care crisis
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NC – Houston Barrow, Chairman of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners, announced today that he is seeking reelection in the 2026 Republican primary on March 3rd.
Since taking office in 2022, Chairman Barrow has focused on strengthening the county's foundation and addressing critical community needs. Since being elected, the Board has continued to expand and improve infrastructure throughout Rockingham County, including partnering with Waga Energy to transform the Rockingham County Landfill into a renewable natural gas production facility. This innovative project will generate new revenue for the county while providing sustainable energy to the community and reducing environmental impact.
Chairman Barrow has also prioritized supporting emergency services personnel. Shortly after taking office, he helped establish the EMS Academy in partnership with Rockingham Community College, a groundbreaking program that pays trainees to earn their EMT-Basic credential while working as full-time county employees. This innovative approach addresses critical staffing shortages while making it possible for residents to pursue careers in emergency services without financial hardship.
While on the board, Rockingham County has made significant strides in combating mental health and substance abuse challenges. The county launched the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program in February 2024, which combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to address the root causes of addiction. The results have been encouraging: reported overdoses declined by 43% in 2024, with over 75% of MAT program participants engaging in ongoing care.
Additionally, Chairman Barrow supported the opening of the Rockingham Behavioral Health Urgent Care in April 2024, which has transformed access to mental health and substance use services in the county. Operating seven days a week, the facility has significantly reduced the burden on law enforcement and health services. The center has facilitated enhanced crisis response training, Narcan distribution programs, and ongoing collaboration among healthcare providers and first responders. The county is now working to expand veterans court to provide even more comprehensive care to residents.
"Serving on the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners has been one of the greatest honors of my life," said Barrow. "We've made real progress over the past few years, from bringing renewable energy projects to our county to creating new pathways for people to serve as first responders and launching innovative programs to combat substance abuse and improve mental health services. But there's more work to be done, especially for our most vulnerable children."
Looking ahead to his next term, Chairman Barrow has identified a pressing priority: increasing the number of foster families in Rockingham County. Currently, too many children are being moved out of the county for foster care, separating them from their schools, communities, and support networks.
"No child should have to leave Rockingham County to find a safe, loving home," Barrow emphasized. "In my next term, I'm committed to working with our community to recruit and support more local foster families so our children can stay close to home where they belong."
Chairman Barrow pledged to continue his work improving county infrastructure, supporting emergency services personnel and first responders with competitive salaries, and addressing mental health and substance abuse issues while making foster care reform a centerpiece of his campaign.
The Republican primary election will be held on March 3, 2026.
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