{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Steve Coleman","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nSteve Coleman, chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Education, won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat with 53.97% of the vote, defeating Mark Stalcup. He faces Democrat Judith King Bodley in the November 3, 2026 general election [1].\n\n## Background\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Coleman is a registered voter in Cherokee County, North Carolina, registered since 2011 (15 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [2].\n\nThe voter file shows Coleman's year of birth as 1977; 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] [Voters toss incumbents in Cherokee County elections \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/voters-toss-incumbent-cherokee-county-commissioners)\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":"Steven","lastname":"Coleman","middlename":"Douglas","suffix":"JR","token":"dc77e78c9e6ee56d"},"token":"2xvkCoLCDag05zcR"},{"candidatename":"Barry Killian","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Barry Lewis Killian, a retail manager, ran in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners seat then held by incumbent Dan Eichenbaum, finishing second with 33.93% of the vote. Sue Lynn Ledford won the seat outright with 45.42%, avoiding a runoff; withdrawn candidate Tom O'Leske, who had endorsed Killian, still appeared on the ballot and received 2.18% [1]. According to the North Carolina voter file, Killian is a registered Republican in Cherokee County, registered since 1986, with a recorded birth year of 1962 [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Voters toss incumbents in Cherokee County elections \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/voters-toss-incumbent-cherokee-county-commissioners)\n[2] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)","firstname":"Barry","lastname":"Killian","middlename":"Lewis","suffix":null,"token":"2cc103009df3c9c7"},"token":"Le6su-1twmhKe9ee"},{"candidatename":"Tom O'Leske","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Thomas Brace O'Leske, an accountant and Army Reserve veteran, was a Republican candidate for the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners seat then held by incumbent Dan Eichenbaum, but withdrew from the March 3, 2026 primary on January 2, 2026, saying, \"Because I don't want to divide support and risk changing the outcome in the wrong direction, I've decided to step aside and support Barry Killian\" [1]. His name remained on the ballot; he received 88 votes (2.18%) in a race Sue Lynn Ledford won outright with 45.42% [2]. According to the North Carolina voter file, O'Leske is a registered Republican in Cherokee County, registered since 2020, with a recorded birth year of 1976 [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Commission Candidate drops out of District 4 race \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-newsletter/commission-candidate-drops-out-district-4-race)\n[2] [Voters toss incumbents in Cherokee County elections \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/voters-toss-incumbent-cherokee-county-commissioners)\n[3] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)","firstname":"Thomas","lastname":"O'Leske","middlename":"Brace","suffix":null,"token":"8597833c8697a9c7"},"token":"w5ln9wyyL8h6CdyV"},{"candidatename":"Dan Eichenbaum","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDan Eichenbaum (\"Dr. Dan\"), a Republican, was the Cherokee County, North Carolina commissioner for District 4 and served as board chairman [1]. He sought re-election in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary but lost, finishing third among three active candidates with 18.4% of the vote; Sue Lynn Ledford won outright with 45.42%, avoiding a runoff, ahead of retail manager Barry Killian's 33.93% [2]. Eichenbaum resigned his commission seat on March 9, 2026, telling the county manager it had been \"an honor to serve the people of Cherokee County for the past 11 years\" [3].\n\n## Career\nEichenbaum is a physician \u2014 HuffPost identified him as an ophthalmologist \u2014 and a conservative talk-radio host [4]. Per his campaign/LinkedIn-listed biography, he graduated from the Yale School of Medicine cum laude, served as a commissioned naval officer during the Vietnam era, has authored 14 peer-reviewed articles, and holds six U.S. patents (LinkedIn requires login; reflects the public profile as of July 2026) [5]. He hosts \"Dr. Dan's Freedom Forum,\" a conservative talk-radio program on WJRB 95.1 FM also distributed as a podcast [6].\n\n## Office history\nEichenbaum was elected to the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners representing District 4, was re-elected in 2022, and was appointed board chairman [1][7]. He lost his 2026 re-election bid in the Republican primary and resigned March 9, 2026 [2][3].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nAfter winning the 2014 county commissioner election, Eichenbaum and his wife, Rhonda Crowder, sued defeated opponent Edward Figueroa and Figueroa's wife for defamation. The two men had been friendly members of a preparedness group before a falling-out; during the campaign, Figueroa made claims about Eichenbaum involving moldy hay given to horses, membership in a militia-style group, improperly obtained prescriptions, outdated medical certifications, and intimidation of local businesses. Eichenbaum's suit alleged the statements were made \"with reckless disregard for the truth\"; Figueroa said his statements reflected \"firsthand knowledge\" and were constitutionally protected political speech about a public figure [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Dr. Dan Eichenbaum \u2013 Cherokee County, NC](https://www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov/344/Dr-Dan-Eichenbaum)\n[2] [Voters toss incumbents in Cherokee County elections \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/voters-toss-incumbent-cherokee-county-commissioners)\n[3] [Two Cherokee County commissioners resign, County Manager confirms \u2013 NewsChannel 9](https://newschannel9.com/news/local/two-cherokee-county-commissioners-resign-county-manager-confirms)\n[4] [Conservative County Commissioner Files Incendiary Lawsuit Against Defeated Opponent \u2013 HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/defamation-suit-north-carolina_n_6736900)\n[5] [Dr. Dan Eichenbaum - LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-dan-eichenbaum-50234b2b/) (LinkedIn requires login; reflects the public profile as of July 2026)\n[6] [Dr. Dan's Freedom Forum](https://drdansfreedomforum.com/)\n[7] [Election 2022 Profiles \u2013 Dan Eichenbaum \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local/election-2022-profiles-dan-eichenbaum)","firstname":"Daniel","lastname":"Eichenbaum","middlename":"Michael","suffix":null,"token":"9e7de412b1e5bd19"},"token":"9tdQ-EX7AWNgRyM1"},{"candidatename":"Steve Jordan","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJimmy \"Steve\" Jordan, a former longtime Andrews alderman and one-time Cherokee County commissioner, ran in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat, finishing third in a three-candidate field won by Jeana Conley. He will not appear on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot [1].\n\n## Background\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Jordan is a registered voter in Cherokee County, North Carolina, registered since 1994 (32 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [2].\n\nThe voter file shows Jordan's year of birth as 1964; 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 15 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Voters toss incumbents in Cherokee County elections \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/voters-toss-incumbent-cherokee-county-commissioners)\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":"Jimmy","lastname":"Jordan","middlename":"Steve","suffix":null,"token":"848a914e96ed0b62"},"token":"sjyw_JrU5e563Dm8"},{"candidatename":"Jeana Conley","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDr. Jeana Yuvonne Conley, a retired Cherokee County Schools superintendent, won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat with a \"commanding\" 52.8% of the vote, defeating incumbent Cal Stiles and former Andrews alderman Steve Jordan. She faces Democrat Rex Cable in the November 3, 2026 general election [1].\n\n## Background\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Conley is a registered voter in Cherokee County, North Carolina, registered since 1986 (40 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [2].\n\nThe voter file shows Conley's year of birth as 1967; 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] [Voters toss incumbents in Cherokee County elections \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/voters-toss-incumbent-cherokee-county-commissioners)\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":"Jeana","lastname":"Conley","middlename":"Yuvonne","suffix":null,"token":"f94c422d6205a0aa"},"token":"j_ZHMzX2B4D0CvgE"},{"candidatename":"Sue Lynn Ledford","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nSue Lynn Ledford is a Republican member of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, representing District 4. She won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary outright with 45.42% of the vote, defeating three-term incumbent Dan Eichenbaum (18.4%, third place) and retail manager Barry Killian (33.93%, second place); withdrawn candidate Tom O'Leske still appeared on the ballot and received 2.18% [1]. After Eichenbaum resigned his seat on March 9, 2026, Ledford was selected by the Cherokee County Republican Party Executive Committee to fill the vacancy [2]. She is running unopposed in the November 3, 2026 general election [2].\n\n## Career\nLedford is executive director of Four Square Community Action, Inc., and previously worked as a public health nurse and county health director [2][3]. Her swearing-in, alongside fellow commissioner Jeana Conley, was noted locally as the first time two Cherokee County commissioners held doctorate-level degrees at the same time [2][3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Voters toss incumbents in Cherokee County elections \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/voters-toss-incumbent-cherokee-county-commissioners)\n[2] [Conley, Ledford take seats on Cherokee County Board of Commissioners \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-newsletter/conley-ledford-take-seats-cherokee-county-board-commissioners)\n[3] [Conley and Ledford will make history \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-newsletter/conley-and-ledford-will-make-history)","firstname":"Sue","lastname":"Ledford","middlename":"Lynn","suffix":null,"token":"a82236317274a687"},"token":"AGc17GPAuKMuxFrS"},{"candidatename":"Mark Stalcup","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMark Allen Stalcup is a candidate for Cherokee County Board Of Commissioners District I in Cherokee County, North Carolina in the 2026 election cycle. The North Carolina primary is scheduled for March 3, 2026, with the general election on November 3, 2026.\n\nNo additional biographical information is currently available for this candidate. Voters seeking more information are encouraged to contact local news sources, the county Board of Elections, or the candidate's campaign directly.\n","firstname":"Mark","lastname":"Stalcup","middlename":"Allen","suffix":null,"token":"198b30bdea2c9c04"},"token":"jJYIFgppqzroRasi"},{"candidatename":"Cal Stiles","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nCalvin \"Cal\" Harold Stiles II is a Republican who represented Cherokee County's District 1 on the Board of Commissioners, having served for about nine years as of his 2022 reelection bid [2]. He sought reelection in 2026 but lost the March 3 Republican primary to retired Cherokee County Schools superintendent Jeana Conley, who won a \"commanding\" 52.8% of the vote in a three-candidate field that also included Steve Jordan [1].\n\n## Career\nStiles has more than 40 years of business experience in grocery, real estate, and storage units [2]. During his time on the board he was a member of the N.C. Water Infrastructure Authority and said he helped the Town of Andrews secure almost $2 million in water and sewer project funding. He was voted Best Government Official in the Cherokee Scout's Readers' Choice contest in both 2019 and 2021, with an honorable mention in 2020 [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Voters toss incumbents in Cherokee County elections \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-news/voters-toss-incumbent-cherokee-county-commissioners)\n[2] [Election 2022 Profiles \u2013 Cal Stiles \u2013 Cherokee Scout](https://www.cherokeescout.com/local/election-2022-profiles-cal-stiles)\n[3] [Cal Stiles | Cherokee County, NC](https://www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov/341/Cal-Stiles)","firstname":"Calvin","lastname":"Stiles","middlename":"Harold","suffix":"II","token":"c38370d2042dc342"},"token":"KkbQKmz3skW0Hnim"}],"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":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Cherokee County Board Of Commissioners District I"}