Burlington city councilman and former mayor Ronnie Wall announces today his intention to run for mayor of the city again this year. Wall had served as mayor for eight years between 2007 to 2015, and earlier on the city council 2005-2007 before defeating then-mayor (now state representative) Steve Ross in 2007. He returned to the council in 2021.
While Wall had originally indicated to The Alamance News that he would not be running again in 2025 for either council or mayor, he’s changed his mind. “I’ve had many people reach out to me,” Wall says, “to express their concerns that the momentum of the current council would be lost without more continuity in the future council. I believe the residents of Burlington deserve to continue experiencing and benefiting from tenured leadership.”
Wall’s announcement follows the decision of current mayor Jim Butler not to seek reelection.
In 2021, Butler, Wall, and councilman Harold Owen ran as a sort of slate, with all three winning their races. Butler defeated then-mayor Ian Baltutis, who has filed for election to the city council in 2025. Butler won reelection to a second, two-year term in 2023 over Beth Kennett by 200 votes. Meanwhile, Owen told The Alamance News he plans to seek a third term, probably filing later today. [See separate story this edition.]
Wall points to progress over the past four years. “The Milken Institute issues an annual report on the best-performing small cities in the U.S. The city of Burlington improved its ranking from 75th in 2022 to 17th in 2025,” Wall notes. “We must continue to grow and complete the bond referendum projects for the benefit of our citizens.”
Wall, 68, retired after 32 years with the Alamance-Burlington School System, ending his tenure as Assistant Superintendent for Auxiliary Services (overseeing the school system’s facilities).
After his retirement from the school system, he held the position of president of the United Way of Alamance County until 2014 before taking a post as Head of School with The Burlington School, an independent pre-K through 12th grade college preparatory school.
Wall is a Burlington native and graduate of Cummings High School and North Carolina State University. He holds two graduate degrees – a Masters in Safety and Driver Education and a Masters in Educational Administration from A & T State University.
Wall is married to the former Susan (Susie) Black of Greensboro, and they have two adult daughters. Wall is an avid landscaper, dating back to his days as principal at Turrentine Middle School when he was well known for his efforts to dress up the appearance of the school.
Burlington is the only local municipality that has a potential for a primary.
If more than two candidates file for mayor (Wall is the first to indicate an intention to do so), or more than four for the two city council seats, there will be a primary on October 7 to narrow the number before the general election on November 4.
Filing for all municipal positions ends on Friday at noon.
