{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Lisa McMillan","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Lisa Michele McMillan is the Democratic candidate for the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, District 7, on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. The Board of Commissioners serves as the governing body for Guilford County, North Carolina, setting policy, adopting the county budget, and overseeing county services such as public safety, health, and infrastructure [1].\n\nMcMillan grew up in Greensboro, attending Southern Guilford High School before leaving school at 17 while homeless. She later earned a GED and returned to higher education in her thirties, graduating from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (North Carolina A&T) with a degree in sociology at age 39 [8]. She also holds a bachelor\u2019s degree earned in 2011, according to Ballotpedia [1].\n\nProfessionally, McMillan founded and serves as executive director of Turning Everything Around, a nonprofit that provides mentorship, meals, trauma therapy, and resources to teen girls and other community members. The organization runs a mentoring program that connects young women with professionals ranging from lawyers to artists, and it operates a community\u2011advocacy arm that supports broader local initiatives [8][10]. In addition to her nonprofit work, she chairs the Greensboro Transit Advisory Commission and the Guilford County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, demonstrating a focus on transportation equity and youth safety [10].\n\nMcMillan\u2019s political experience includes two recent campaigns for the District\u202f7 commissioner seat. In the 2022 Democratic primary she placed third behind incumbent Frankie T.\u202fJones Jr., receiving 25.3% of the vote [1]. She ran again in 2026, narrowly defeating public\u2011school educator Walter Johnson III in the Democratic primary with 50.2% of the vote (3,655 votes) to Johnson\u2019s 49.8% (3,628 votes) \u2013 a margin of 34 votes that prompted a recount, which the Guilford County Board of Elections scheduled for March\u202f2026 [1][9][12]. The recount confirmed McMillan\u2019s lead, positioning her as the likely commissioner\u2011elect to replace Jones, who is not seeking reelection.\n\nMcMillan\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes \u201cAccess, Opportunity & Community.\u201d Her stated priorities are:\n\u2022 Individuals, Families & Children\n\u2022 Economic Opportunity & Affordability\n\u2022 Public Health & Community Well\u2011Being\n\u2022 Support for Small Businesses\n\u2022 Accountability, Transparency & Inclusion\nThese priorities are outlined on her campaign website and reflect her background in community advocacy and nonprofit leadership [4].\n\nIf elected, McMillan would bring experience in grassroots organizing, nonprofit management, and youth mentorship to the county board, aiming to translate her personal journey of overcoming adversity into policies that expand resources and equity for Guilford County residents.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Lisa McMillan - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Lisa_McMillan)\n- [4] [Elect Lisa McMillan | District 7 | Guilford County, NC, USA](https://www.electlisamcmillan.com)\n- [8] [Guilford County woman shows girls bright future](https://www.yahoo.com/news/forsyth-county-woman-shows-girls-223944445.html)\n- [9] [Guilford County to hold recount for District 7 commissioner seat | WUNC News](https://www.wunc.org/2026-03-16/guilford-county-to-hold-recount-for-district-7-commissioner-seat)\n- [10] [Woman working to keep pregnancy prevention program open for teen girls](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2024/02/02/everyday-hero-works-to-keep-program-open-for-teen-girls-)\n- [12] [Guilford County to hold recount for District 7 commissioner seat](https://www.bpr.org/2026-03-16/guilford-county-to-hold-recount-for-district-7-commissioner-seat)","firstname":"Lisa","lastname":"Mcmillan","middlename":"Michele","suffix":null,"token":"5ffd0231b01158c5"},"token":"RELUXIS6d4TlwLcB"},{"candidatename":"Walter T. Johnson III","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nWalter Thaniel Johnson III ran for Guilford County, NC Commissioner District 7 in the 2026 election.\n\nHe campaigned on capping property taxes while helping residents build home equity, along with quality education, livable wages, youth programs, and public safety.\n\n## Background and education\nA graduate of NC A&T State University, where he played collegiate baseball.\n\n## Career\nJohnson has 20 years of experience as a high school business economics teacher. He is also an entrepreneur who has promoted boxing events and high school football games throughout the Greensboro area and has served as a youth basketball and soccer coach for 16 years.\n\n## Family\nFather of three daughters who are Guilford County Schools graduates.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Walter T. Johnson III for Guilford County Commissioner District 7 \u2013 Campaign Website](https://votewalterjohnson.com/)\n","firstname":"Walter","lastname":"Johnson","middlename":"Thaniel","suffix":"III","token":"c7598c82fc2637be"},"token":"J5kXnzvAvgFiBqrB"}],"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":"Guilford County Board Of Commissioners District 07"}