{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Bennie Heath","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nBennie James Heath (Democrat) served as an incumbent member and longtime chairman of the Greene County, NC Board of Commissioners, representing District 4. He sought reelection in the 2026 Democratic primary and was defeated by challenger Tyrone Sutton Jr.\n\n## Career\n\nHeath served on the Greene County Board of Commissioners for more than two decades, including extended service as board chairman. He is based in Snow Hill, NC.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [1] [Heath Soundly Defeated in Greene County \u2013 The Daily Reflector](https://www.reflector.com/standard/news/local/heath-soundly-defeated-in-greene-county/article_15a9233b-dc57-4b12-a4ab-bcea5865bab9.html)\n- [2] [Updated Candidates for Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties \u2013 Neuse News](https://www.neusenews.com/index/2025/12/8/updated-current-list-of-2026-primary-candidates-for-lenoir-greene-and-jones-counties-)","firstname":"Bennie","lastname":"Heath","middlename":"James","suffix":null,"token":"1a094dd250a65656"},"token":"eAZtBb8wRcBzokPY"},{"candidatename":"Tyrone Sutton, Jr.","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Tyrone Sutton Jr. is the Democratic candidate for Greene County Board of Commissioners District\u202f4 in the 2026 North Carolina primary, with the primary held on March\u202f3,\u202f2026 and the general election slated for November\u202f3,\u202f2026\u30101\u3011. County commissioners in Greene County are responsible for setting local policy, adopting the county budget, overseeing public services such as health, public safety, and infrastructure, and representing the interests of their district\u2019s residents.\n\nSutton was born and raised in the region and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Elizabeth City State University. He earned two master\u2019s degrees\u2014one in criminal justice from Purdue University Global and another in strategic leadership from North Carolina Wesleyan College\u30103\u3011. His professional career has been rooted in juvenile justice and social services. Beginning in 2014, he worked as a youth behavior specialist at Dobbs Youth Development Center and later served as a juvenile court counselor for District\u202f8, which includes Wayne, Lenoir, and Greene counties\u30103\u3011. From 2021 to 2024 he broadened his experience in social work roles at Maury Correctional Institution, the Lenoir County Department of Social Services, and the Wayne County Health Department\u30103\u3011.\n\nIn November\u202f2024, Sutton was appointed director of the Pitt Regional Juvenile Detention Center, where he oversees facility operations, court services, and program delivery for detained youth\u30103\u3011. He also serves on the Greene County Board of Health, contributing to public\u2011health policy and community wellness initiatives\u30103\u3011.\n\nSutton\u2019s campaign emphasizes a \u201ccommunity\u2011first\u201d approach. In a Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey he highlighted a decade of hands\u2011on community work, a vision to increase awareness, collaborate with local leaders, and strengthen existing efforts to address challenges such as education, mental\u2011health services, public\u2011health programs, infrastructure, and affordable housing\u30101\u3011. His campaign website reiterates these priorities, promising to advocate for more funding for schools, mental\u2011health and public\u2011health services, and to support youth development through mentorship and after\u2011school programs\u30108\u3011.\n\nWhile Ballotpedia does not list any endorsements for Sutton in this race\u30101\u3011, his blend of juvenile\u2011justice leadership, social\u2011service experience, and ongoing service on the county health board positions him as a candidate with direct experience in the areas the commission oversees. Should he be elected, Sutton would bring his background in facility management, court coordination, and community health to the board\u2019s policy\u2011making and budgeting responsibilities.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tyrone Sutton Jr. (Greene County Board of Commissioners District 4, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tyrone_Sutton_Jr._(Greene_County_Board_of_Commissioners_District_4,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n- [3] [Sutton Named Director at Pitt Regional Juvenile Detention Center | NC DPS](https://www.ncdps.gov/news/press-releases/2024/11/25/sutton-named-director-pitt-regional-juvenile-detention-center)\n- [8] [Sutton for Commissioner | Sutton for Commissioner](https://www.suttonforcommissioner.com/)\n- [9] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)","firstname":"Tyrone","lastname":"Sutton","middlename":null,"suffix":"JR","token":"3cbdf4d9a5540569"},"token":"Ng879CFNuLqAE_8Z"}],"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":"Greene County Board Of Commissioners District 04"}