{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Aubrey Gregory","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nAubrey Leigh Gregory is a Democratic candidate for the Catawba County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 general election. Gregory filed for the race in December 2025 and resides in Claremont, North Carolina.\n\n## Career\nGregory is active in the Catawba County Democratic Party and is described as having spearheaded numerous outreach activities and bringing new elements to help people engage with the party.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Filing Period For 2026 Election Concludes, Numerous Candidates Enter Catawba County Contests \u2013 WHKY](https://whky.com/filing-period-for-2026-election-concludes-numerous-candidates-enter-catawba-county-contests/)\n","firstname":"Aubrey","lastname":"Gregory","middlename":"Leigh","suffix":null,"token":"aa168d8af8ff1295"},"token":"gDfUvdKwM10JWRJ8"},{"candidatename":"Jay Moore","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Jason Dean Moore is a registered voter in Catawba County, North Carolina, registered since 1992 (34 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Jason Dean Moore's year of birth as 1974; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 12 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Jason Dean Moore can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Jason","lastname":"Moore","middlename":"Dean","suffix":null,"token":"df7243cb86308c43"},"token":"dgNgWDfIMAJ63b1P"},{"candidatename":"Cole Terrell Setzer","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Cole Terrell Setzer is a registered voter in Catawba County, North Carolina, registered since 2008 (18 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Cole Terrell Setzer's year of birth as 1986; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 11 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Cole Terrell Setzer can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Cole","lastname":"Setzer","middlename":"Terrell","suffix":null,"token":"ae41d75ddb833e5d"},"token":"GkGBomKxpwuAxb-z"},{"candidatename":"Phyllis Michaux","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Phyllis Deitrell Michaux is a Democratic candidate seeking a seat on the Catawba County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 general election. She previously appeared on the ballot for the same two\u2011seat commission in the November 5, 2024 election, running alongside Geno Baker for the Democratic nomination and competing against Republican candidates Austin Allran and Barbara Gale Beatty [1].\n\nThe Catawba County Board of Commissioners serves as the elected governing body for the county, responsible for setting policy, approving the annual budget, and overseeing a range of county services such as public safety, infrastructure, and social programs [1]. Commissioners work with county staff and community stakeholders to address local needs and ensure fiscal responsibility.\n\nMichaux is a North Carolina native who lives in Hickory. She earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in business administration, management, and operations from American InterContinental University, a master\u2019s degree in strategic leadership from Mountain State University, and a second master\u2019s degree in liberal arts and sciences from Lenoir\u2011Rhyne University [11].\n\nProfessionally, Michaux works as a research analyst and lead supervisor in the manufacturing sector, where she also coordinates community\u2011outreach programs. Earlier in her career she served as an Eligibility Specialist for the Catawba County Department of Social Services, gaining direct experience with county\u2011level service delivery and client assistance [11].\n\nHer political experience includes an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Hickory Public Schools Board of Education in 2021, followed by her 2024 campaign for the county commission, where she was listed on the general\u2011election ballot as a Democratic candidate [11][1].\n\nMichaux\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes integrity, transparency, and inclusive service delivery. She advocates for programs that support combat veterans\u2019 mental\u2011health needs and emergency shelters, and she promotes community\u2011engagement initiatives to give diverse cultural groups and small businesses a stronger voice in county decisions. On economic issues, she backs sustainable growth paired with environmental protection, and she calls for balanced education funding to address teacher shortages and enrollment declines. Public\u2011safety priorities include a more effective local drug\u2011addiction services program, while her housing agenda focuses on affordable\u2011housing development, transitional housing for the homeless, and partnerships with lenders willing to work with low\u2011credit borrowers who have stable employment. Michaux also stresses the importance of responsive government that builds trust and confidence among all residents [11].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Phyllis Michaux (Catawba County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2024) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Phyllis_Michaux_(Catawba_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2024))\n- [10] [Catawba County commissioner candidates talk goals, future of county, tax rate](https://hickoryrecord.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/catawba-county-north-carolina-election-november-beatty-baker-allran-michaux/article_dda9e7b2-64b5-11ef-b9e5-1b9556faddd9.html)\n- [11] [Phyllis Michaux platform & website | Catawba County Commissioner](https://www.branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-county-commissioner-nc-county-catawba/candidates/phyllis-michaux)","firstname":"Phyllis","lastname":"Michaux","middlename":"Deitrell","suffix":null,"token":"78c741d5f61eef07"},"token":"8W-n2pxPyh2jBjKP"},{"candidatename":"Jesse Alden","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Jesse Lee Alden is a registered voter in Catawba County, North Carolina, registered since 2023 (3 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Jesse Lee Alden's year of birth as 1986; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 4 elections voted in since 2020, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Jesse Lee Alden can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Jesse","lastname":"Alden","middlename":"Lee","suffix":null,"token":"53bdce9460f073cb"},"token":"OE6FM_7o97UwQm1m"},{"candidatename":"Sherry Edmonds Butler","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Sherry Edmonds Butler is a Republican incumbent serving on the Catawba County Board of Commissioners and is a candidate for re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election.  Butler has represented the county since 2014 and continues to hold leadership roles on several regional boards while emphasizing education, public health, and emergency services.\n\nA longtime Newton resident, Butler retired as executive director of The Green Room Community Theatre, Inc., and has been active in the Newton\u2011Conover Rotary Club, serving twice as its president.  She also served on the Catawba County Board of Education for many years, later becoming chair of the board of directors for the K\u201164 Education Board and a member of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners\u2019 Public Education Steering Committee.  Butler holds seats on the Catawba Valley Community College Board of Trustees and the Catawba County Social Services Board, where she serves as chair.\n\nIn her capacity as commissioner, Butler has overseen a range of county initiatives.  In May\u202f2021 she was selected for the inaugural Hunt State Policy Fellows Program, a statewide leadership cohort focused on education governance and policy\u2011making [1].  She has chaired the Catawba County Social Services Board, a role confirmed by the state Department of Health and Human Services staff list [3][5].  Butler also chairs the county\u2019s Social Services Board and serves on the county\u2019s Policy and Public Works Subcommittee.  In December\u202f2021 she participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 5,925\u2011square\u2011foot Emergency Medical Services base in Newton, illustrating her involvement in public\u2011safety infrastructure projects [2].\n\nButler\u2019s public service record includes appointments to the statewide Justus\u2011Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force and leadership of the Catawba County Social Services Board, which advises on department policies affecting health, child welfare, and economic services.  Her community\u2011service background, combined with her long tenure on the county commission, positions her as a seasoned local official seeking to continue her work on education, health, and emergency\u2011services issues.\n\nButler\u2019s campaign for 2026 is listed as a Republican candidacy for the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, though a formal campaign website has not been identified in the available sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Catawba County Government - Catawba County North Carolina](https://catawbacountync.gov/news/commissioner-butler-selected-to-inaugural-hunt-state-policy-fellows-program/)\n- [2] [Catawba County - Catawba County Government - Catawba County North Carolina](https://www.catawbacountync.gov/news/commissioners-break-ground-at-site-of-future-new-ems-base-in-newton/)\n- [3] [Catawba County Department of Social Services | NCDHHS](https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/catawba-county-department-social-services)\n- [5] [Catawba County - Catawba County Government - Catawba County North Carolina](https://www.catawbacountync.gov/news/social-services-celebrates-new-retiring-board-members/)\n- [6] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [7] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [9] [Catawba County Schools - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherrills_Ford_Elementary_School)\n- [10] [Catawba County Schools - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catawba_County_Schools)\n- [11] [Vote-USA | Sherry Edmonds Butler | Previous Candidate for Catawba County Board of Commissioners, Catawba County, North Carolina](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NC&Id=NCButlerSherryEdmonds)\n- [12] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)","firstname":"Sherry","lastname":"Butler","middlename":"Edmonds","suffix":null,"token":"8d4b3ae01b59e11b"},"token":"hOpTmm_buXF0ARGt"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":"county_commission","office":"county_commission","officedescription":"A county commissioner is a member of the county's legislative body. The commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, authorizes borrowing, and passes county resolutions and ordinances. Commissioners are elected from districts (or at-large seats) to represent constituents on countywide policy.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on countywide matters \u2014 budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues \u2014 within Tennessee county-government law.\n- Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.\n- Constituent relations in the district \u2014 case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Commissioner","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":3,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Catawba County Board Of Commissioners"}