{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Cathy Cloninger","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nCathy Cloninger is a Republican incumbent serving as the Dallas Township Commissioner on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina [5]. She has filed for re-election to the position in 2026 [6]. As the current officeholder, she holds the title of Vice Chair of the board [3].\n\nCloninger states that she is running for a second term as Dallas Township Commissioner [8]. Her campaign platform emphasizes fiscal responsibility and maintaining low tax rates while preserving vital county services [8]. She has participated in public forums to discuss her plans for office, including an appearance at Wise News Network studios [4].\n\n## Background and education\n\nCathy Cloninger is a lifelong resident of Gaston County and hails from Dallas, North Carolina [5][7]. She identifies as a Republican [4][6]. Regarding her religious affiliation, she self-describes as attending Holy Commu[7].\n\nCloninger graduated from Cherryville High School [5][9]. She holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in social work from Mars Hill College [5][7].\n\n## Career\n\nCathy Cloninger is a lifelong resident of Gaston County who graduated from Cherryville High School and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in social work from Mars Hill College [5][9]. Prior to her political career, she worked as a county employee for thirty-four years, serving as a dedicated leader in domestic violence cases from 1983 until her retirement in 2017 [5][9].\n\nCloninger resides in Dallas, North Carolina, with her husband and their two daughters and two grandchildren [7]. She self-describes as a Republican and has established a campaign website to outline her platform for public office [8].\n\n## Office history\n\nCathy Cloninger currently serves as a Commissioner for Dallas Township on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners [5]. She is an incumbent who previously ran for this seat in 2022 [2]. In 2026, she is running for re-election to the position [1]. As of May 2026, she holds the title of Vice Chair of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners [3].\n\nCloninger\u2019s professional background includes thirty-four years of service to Gaston County citizens in domestic violence advocacy, from 1983 until her retirement as a county employee in 2017 [5]. She holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Social Work from Mars Hill College and is a graduate of Cherryville High School [5].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nAs an incumbent commissioner for Dallas Township, Cloninger has served as Vice Chair of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners [3]. Her legislative record includes participating in ribbon-cutting ceremonies for local infrastructure and educational facilities, such as the Mountain Island Educational State Forest\u2019s Laura Shidal Visitor and Interpretive Center, alongside state officials including State Rep. John Torbett, State Sen. Ted Alexander, and North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler [3].\n\nCloninger self-describes her policy focus as maintaining fiscal responsibility among county departments to keep tax rates low while preserving vital services for citizens [8]. She states that she intends to continue being responsive to taxpayer concerns and complaints during a potential second term [8]. Her platform emphasizes representation and fiscal stewardship, though specific bill numbers sponsored or detailed committee assignments are not provided in the available sources [1], [7].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nCathy Cloninger\u2019s professional background is rooted in public service rather than private business ownership or wealth accumulation. She worked for Gaston County for thirty-four years as a leader in domestic violence services, retiring from her position as a county employee in 2017 [5][9]. Her career history does not indicate ownership stakes in commercial enterprises, sales of businesses, or independent sources of significant personal wealth beyond her government salary.\n\nFinancial disclosure details regarding specific assets, income levels, or business holdings are not provided in the available source material for this candidate [1][2]. Voters seeking detailed financial disclosures must consult official county filing records, as the current biographical summaries focus on her tenure as a commissioner and her platform priorities rather than her personal financial portfolio [7][8].\n\n## Family\n\nCathy Cloninger self-describes as a lifelong resident of Gaston County who lives in Dallas, North Carolina [5]. She states that she resides with her husband and their two daughters and two grandchildren [7]. Additionally, sources indicate that she attends Holy Communion [7].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Cathy Cloninger (Gaston County Board of Commissioners Dallas Township, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Cathy_Cloninger_(Gaston_County_Board_of_Commissioners_Dallas_Township,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n[2] [Cathy Cloninger (Gaston County Board of Commissioners Dallas Township, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Cathy_Cloninger_(Gaston_County_Board_of_Commissioners_Dallas_Township,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n[3] [Gaston County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Cathy Cloninger joined State Rep. John Torbett, State Sen. Ted Alexander and North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler on Wednesday in celebrating the ribbon cutting at the Mountain Island](https://www.facebook.com/GastonCountyGov/posts/gaston-county-board-of-commissioners-vice-chair-cathy-cloninger-joined-state-rep/1163692592610134/)\n[4] [Another candidate, Cathy Cloninger the Dallas Township ...](https://www.facebook.com/WiseNewsNetwork/posts/another-candidate-cathy-cloninger-the-dallas-township-incumbent-commissioner-has/883310874445677/)\n[5] [Staff Directory \u2022 Cathy Cloninger](https://www.gastongov.com/directory.aspx?EID=430)\n[6] [Cathy Cloninger, Running For Dallas Township Commissioner, Republican Incumbent 2026 - Wise News Network](https://www.wisenewsnetwork.com/stories/cathy-cloninger-running-for-dallas-township-commissioner-republican-incumbent-2026,4696)\n[7] [Cathy Cloninger platform & website | Gaston County Commissioner, Dallas Township](https://branch.vote/races/2026-north-carolina-general-election-nc-state-county-commissioner-nc-gaston-county-district-dallas/candidates/cathy-cloninger)\n[8] [Cathy Cloninger](https://www.cathycloninger.com/)\n[9] [Staff Directory \u2022 Cathy Cloninger](https://www.gastongov.com/Directory.aspx?EID=430)","firstname":"Cathy","lastname":"Cloninger","middlename":"Mabry","suffix":null,"token":"b12a2a16bc817144"},"token":"c8ePp8kmp_RM0iqM"},{"candidatename":"Dennis James Stines","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Dennis James Stines is a registered voter in Gaston County, North Carolina, registered since 1984 (42 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Dennis James Stines's year of birth as 1959; 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 Dennis James Stines 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":"Dennis","lastname":"Stines","middlename":"James","suffix":null,"token":"24b1996d4904206e"},"token":"Bxer1NOJtzL_pyte"}],"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":"Gaston County Board Of Commissioners Dallas Twp"}