{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Robert Kirk","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJames Robert Kirk is a Republican candidate for the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education at-large seat in the 2026 general election. He is running under the campaign name \"Robert Kirk\" with the slogan \"Kirk for Cabarrus Kids.\" His campaign contact address is in Concord, North Carolina.\n\nKirk's campaign identifies county growth as placing pressure on school facilities, teachers, and staff. He emphasizes ensuring that every student in Cabarrus County has a quality education that prepares them for future opportunities.\n\n## Career\nKirk has experience spanning military service, private sector leadership, classroom teaching, and district-wide educational leadership. He has previously served on the Cabarrus County Board of Education and has been involved in public service and nonprofit work.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Robert Kirk for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education \u2013 kirkforcabarruskids.com](http://www.kirkforcabarruskids.com/home)\n","firstname":"James","lastname":"Kirk","middlename":"Robert","suffix":null,"token":"b9ce270ba5db39fb"},"token":"sVE-ImDvUAjX3uKV"},{"candidatename":"William L. Barbee","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nWilliam L. Barbee is a Republican candidate running for an at-large seat on the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education in North Carolina [2]. He is seeking one of three available seats in the 2026 election cycle [3]. As of May 2026, Barbee has not held previous elected office and works as a realtor [3].\n\nBarbee describes himself as a small business owner and grandfather to four Cabarrus County Schools (CCS) students [4]. He holds a degree in Business Administration along with project management credentials [4]. His campaign platform focuses on supporting teachers and staff, promoting strong core academics, and ensuring schools remain safe, orderly, and respectful [3].\n\nIn the Republican primary for the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education, Barbee is one of five Republicans competing for the three open seats [4]. He advanced in the primary alongside other candidates, including Dr. Robert Kirk and Hartsell [5]. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026 [3].\n\n## Background and education\n\nWilliam L. Barbee is a 76-year-old candidate for the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education [3]. He identifies as a Republican and works as a realtor [2][3]. Barbee self-describes as a local small business owner and a grandfather of four students within the Cabarrus County Schools system [4].\n\nBarbee holds a degree in Business Administration, along with project management credentials [4]. He states that his top issues include supporting teachers and staff, promoting strong core academics, and enabling safe, orderly, and respectful schools [3][4].\n\n## Career\n\nWilliam Barbee holds a degree in Business Administration and has professional experience in project management [4]. He is a licensed real estate agent operating in Concord, North Carolina, where he runs his business, Realtor Bill Barbee NC, which focuses on connecting buyers and sellers in the state's real estate market [6][7]. Additionally, Barbee previously held an unlimited license as a general building contractor in Wilson, North Carolina, though that license has since expired [8].\n\nBarbee is a small business owner who states that his professional background positions him to focus on student readiness, teacher support, and fiscal accountability [9]. He is also a grandfather of four students enrolled in Cabarrus County Schools [4].\n\n## Office history\n\nWilliam Barbee has no prior history of holding elected or appointed office [3]. He is a candidate for the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education, At-Large Seats in the 2026 election cycle [2][4]. As of May 2026, he is running in the Republican primary for this position and has not yet won an elected office [3].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nWilliam Barbee has not held prior elected office, and his legislative record is therefore limited to his current campaign for the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education [1][3]. As a candidate rather than an incumbent legislator, he has not sponsored bills or served on committee assignments within a governing body. His policy positions are defined by his campaign platform, which emphasizes supporting teachers and staff, promoting strong core academics, and enabling \"safe, orderly, and respectful\" schools [3][4]. Barbee self-describes his top issues as ensuring students receive a high-quality education in a safe, supportive learning environment [4].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nWilliam Barbee is a self-described small business owner and real estate professional who holds a degree in Business Administration [4]. He operates under the brand Realtor Bill Barbee NC, describing his mission as helping buyers, sellers, and investors navigate the North Carolina real estate market [6]. His professional profile lists him as a licensed real estate agent based in Concord, North Carolina [7].\n\nBarbee\u2019s business background includes prior experience as a licensed general building contractor. Records indicate he held an unlimited license for general building in Wilson, North Carolina, though that specific license status is listed as expired [8]. He also holds project management credentials, which he cites as part of his professional qualifications [4].\n\nRegarding family wealth and historical business interests, sources reference \"Barbee Farms\" in Cabarrus County, but do not explicitly identify William L. Barbee as the current owner or operator of that specific entity [10]. Other records link the Barbee name to various other business ventures, including a firm associated with valuation services in Charlotte and a contractor license in Wilson under the name William C. Barbee, Jr., but these are not directly confirmed as his current primary sources of wealth [8][11].\n\nFinancial disclosure documents for the 2026 election are available through voter guide profiles, though specific asset values or detailed income breakdowns are not provided in the available source text [2]. Barbee has stated that his business experience positions him to focus on fiscal accountability and student readiness [9].\n\n## Family\n\nWilliam Barbee is a grandfather of four students enrolled in Cabarrus County Schools [4]. He holds a degree in Business Administration and has experience in project management [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [William Barbee - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/William_Barbee)\n[2] [William L. Barbee - iVoterGuide](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/89942/race/24776/election/1371)\n[3] [William L. Barbee | The Election Hub](https://www.theelectionhub.org/mecklenburg-county/william-l.-barbee/2026-primary/cabarrus)\n[4] [The Cabarrus Compass | William Barbee is one of five Republicans ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUTJw5EjVWp/)\n[5] [Cabarrus County Board of Education election story is updated with ...](https://www.facebook.com/61578162131770/posts/cabarrus-county-board-of-education-election-story-is-updated-with-comments-from-/122163722636938737/)\n[6] [About Us - realtorbillbarbeenc.com - Bill Barbee Real Estate](https://realtorbillbarbeenc.com/about-us)\n[7] [Bill Barbee - Real Estate Agent in Concord, NC - Reviews - Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/profile/wbarbee9)\n[8] [William C. Barbee, Jr. - Find Licensed Contractors in North Carolina](https://nccontractorcheck.com/wilson/building/william-c-barbee-jr-wilson-nc/)\n[9] [Get to know Cabarrus County Board of Education Republican ...](https://cabarruscompass.com/p/get-to-know-cabarrus-county-board-76e)\n[10] [Barbee Farms | Explore Cabarrus](https://www.explorecabarrus.com/businesses/barbee-farms/)\n[11] [William A. (Andy) Barbee - Charlotte](https://greerwalker.com/team-member/william-a-andy-barbee/)","firstname":"William","lastname":"Barbee","middlename":"Lee","suffix":null,"token":"f65c3835380a2045"},"token":"18yY4NG_hZUb-EHJ"},{"candidatename":"Bubba Hartsell","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nPatrick \"Bubba\" Lynn Hartsell won one of three Republican nominations for the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education in the March 3, 2026 primary, finishing third among five candidates with 19.10% of the vote (Robert Kirk led with 25.44%, William L. Barbee was second with 19.14%). Hartsell advances to the November 3, 2026 general election [1].\n\n## Background\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Hartsell is a registered voter in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, registered since 2018 (8 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [2].\n\nThe voter file shows Hartsell's year of birth as 1985; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [2].\n\nThe voter history file shows 13 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 March 3, 2026 primary official precinct-level results](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip)\n[2] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Patrick","lastname":"Hartsell","middlename":"Lynn","suffix":null,"token":"18e26ef807d45e58"},"token":"A_p_V5xs22lR7uAL"},{"candidatename":"Amanda Wortman","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nAmanda Barton Wortman ran in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education, one of five candidates competing for three nominations. She finished fifth with 17.69% of the vote; Robert Kirk (25.44%), William L. Barbee (19.14%), and Bubba Hartsell (19.10%) won the three Republican nominations. Wortman will not appear on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot [1].\n\n## Background\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Wortman is a registered voter in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, registered since 2008 (18 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [2].\n\nThe voter file shows Wortman's year of birth as 1983; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [2].\n\nThe voter history file shows 8 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 March 3, 2026 primary official precinct-level results](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip)\n[2] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Amanda","lastname":"Wortman","middlename":"Barton","suffix":null,"token":"9af72e38efd76f07"},"token":"SyjdY7L_mf7WceS2"},{"candidatename":"Deborah Allen","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDeborah Lynn Allen is a Republican candidate for the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education at-large seat in the 2026 elections [1]. She is based in Concord, North Carolina, and competed in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026 [2].\n\nAllen has stated a desire to bring excitement for learning back to students and to restore respect and professionalism for teachers in the school system [1]. She has also expressed a goal of increasing parental involvement and building stronger partnerships between families and educators [1].\n\n## Background and education\nAllen earned a Master's Degree in education along with two additional certificates \u2014 one for school district administration and one for school supervision [1].\n\n## Career\nAllen retired from teaching in 2016 after 32 years in public education [1]. She began her career teaching children with special needs, a role she held for 14 years before moving into general education [1]. During her teaching career, she mentored new teachers and served as the chief building representative for her school [1]. Since retirement, she has continued working in Cabarrus County Schools as a substitute teacher, with a primary focus at the middle school level [1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Get to know Cabarrus County Board of Education Republican Candidate Deborah Allen \u2013 Cabarrus Compass](https://cabarruscompass.com/p/get-to-know-cabarrus-county-board)\n","firstname":"Deborah","lastname":"Allen","middlename":"Lynn","suffix":null,"token":"aeffba2bdb1b28fc"},"token":"nbxTmyD2aL-FS4M8"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board","office":"county_school_board","officedescription":"A school board member serves on the elected body that governs a public school district. The board sets district policy and budget priorities and hires and evaluates the superintendent, while leaving day-to-day management to the administration.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment for a public school district \u2014 setting direction while leaving day-to-day management to the superintendent.\n- Budget literacy for operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the county commission (which appropriates) and the state.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 the board's highest-stakes recurring decision.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County School Board Member","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":3,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Cabarrus County Schools Board Of Education"}