Re-elected in 2022 to her fourth term and seeking her fifth term in the 2024 election in the North Carolina State House, Rep. Cynthia Ball continues to work for the citizens of North Carolina by advocating for progressive public policies to build a NC that works for ALL. She is committed to providing responsive constituent services and to finding common ground on policies to benefit the residents of House District 49 and all of NC. Demonstrating her commitment to strengthening public education in North Carolina, she visits schools and regularly participates in various opportunities to interact with students, teachers and principals. To connect with her constituents on important issues, she hosts Town Hall Forums on topics including public education and healthcare.
In the current 2023-24 Session, Rep. Ball has sponsored or co-sponsored 213 pieces of legislation – serving as Primary Sponsor on 32 bills of which she is the Lead Primary sponsor on 13. These bills focus on improving the funding for public education, building the teacher pipeline, improving the community responses to mental health crises, protecting the vote and democracy, and improving mental health and healthcare services in our schools.
She has served in key House Leadership roles since her first term – In her first term as Freshman Democratic Chair; in her second term as Democratic Whip; and in her third as Co-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Campaign and Vice Chair of Education Appropriations Shadow Committee. Currently, she serves in one of the four senior Caucus leadership positions as Democratic Conference Chair, leading the Caucus programs to elect more House Democrats. These roles recognize her leadership skills and commitment to working for the future of NC,
and demonstrate the respect and confidence of her colleagues.
Among many recognitions of her work, Rep. Ball was named Representative of the Year in 2022 by the NC League of Conservation Voters, after previously being recognized in her second term as one of their Rising Stars. These distinctions recognize her strong environmental voting record and her leadership within the House Democrats to advocate for policies that protect the future of our state and its natural resources. She is proud to have earned a wide range of additional
endorsements from various groups and organizations who acknowledge her commitment to service and dedication to issues of importance for our State.
Born in Franklin County, her parents instilled in her the importance of family, hard work and public education. She graduated as valedictorian of her public school in Franklinton, and then went on to UNC-Greensboro on a full academic scholarship, earning a BA in Psychology, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Rep. Ball also earned an MBA at Virginia Commonwealth University and pursued extensive doctoral coursework in Human Resources and Organizational Development at NC State University.
After working in marketing research following her MBA, she joined William Peace University (formerly Peace College) and then NC State University, directing their Development and External Affairs programs. She also served as the Executive Director of one of NC State University’s foundations. She is now practicing as a mediator, certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission.
In her fourth term on the City of Raleigh Civil Service Commission, Rep. Ball also serves on the Boards of the Kiwanis Club of Raleigh, WomenNC, and the Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance. She is also an advisor to the NC New Teacher Support Program and the North Carolina Voter Project. With other members of Community United Church of Christ in Raleigh, she serves on the “Do Justice Ministry” and advocates for social and economic justice and equity.
Rep. Ball and her husband Dr. David E. Aspnes, Distinguished University Professor of Physics at NC State, live in a National Register of Historic Places and Raleigh Historic Landmark mid-century modern home in central Raleigh. Rep. Ball comes from a close family, and with David, she shares 3 step-children and 6 step grandchildren. Numerous cats and dogs have adopted them over the years and continue to give them joy.