{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Justin Edwards","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Justin Charles Edwards is the incumbent District\u202f3 commissioner on the Duplin County Board of Commissioners, seeking re\u2011election as a Republican for the 2026 race. The Board of Commissioners governs Duplin County, overseeing the budget, infrastructure projects, and county services, and each commissioner works with department heads and the county manager to allocate resources and address community needs [8].\n\nEdwards grew up on a small family farm in the Cedar Fork community of Duplin County. He lives there with his wife Erica and their two children. He is a full\u2011time farmer and serves as president of the Duplin County Farm Bureau Federation, a role that connects him with the county\u2019s agricultural sector [8].\n\nHe entered county government in December\u202f2022, when he was appointed (or elected) to fill the District\u202f3 seat, and his current term runs until December\u202f2026 [1]. His official county contact information lists a phone number of 910\u2011271\u20111079 and a mailing address at 507 Cedar Fork Church Road, Beulaville, NC\u202f28518 [1].\n\nIn December\u202f2021 Edwards announced his candidacy for the District\u202f3 commissioner seat, filing as a Republican [8]. During his campaign he highlighted several priorities: improving flood mitigation for homes in the Chinquapin and Northeast communities, supporting the return to grade\u2011level education for students after COVID\u201119 disruptions, reducing the county\u2019s debt load from past capital projects, and leveraging state\u2011allocated infrastructure funding of roughly $49\u202fmillion to address local needs. He also emphasized the development of renewable natural gas via methane digesters on hog farms, seeking additional support from local and state officials for this emerging technology [8].\n\nAs a commissioner, Edwards says he will work with fellow board members and department heads to identify and fund infrastructure projects, manage the county\u2019s debt, and allocate resources to departments that need them most. He has expressed a stance against budget cuts that would jeopardize essential services, provided that county leaders remain fiscally responsible, and he opposes mandates he views as infringements on personal and religious freedoms [8].\n\nEdwards\u2019 background as a farmer and farm\u2011bureau leader informs his focus on agricultural issues, rural infrastructure, and community resilience. His ongoing service on the board, combined with his leadership in the local farm bureau, positions him as a candidate with direct experience in both the economic and governance aspects of Duplin County.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Staff Directory \u2022 Justin Edwards](https://www.duplinnc.gov/directory.aspx?EID=14)\n- [8] [Q&A with County Commissioner candidate Justin Edwards | News | reflector.com](https://www.reflector.com/duplin/news/local/q-a-with-county-commissioner-candidate-justin-edwards/article_3df87656-b499-5616-b573-615e22319269.html)","firstname":"Justin","lastname":"Edwards","middlename":"Charles","suffix":null,"token":"7a7c423a9e96a6b0"},"token":"tAGXxJY5LptqN16g"}],"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":"Duplin County Board Of Commissioners District 03"}