{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Barbara McKoy","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nBarbara McKoy serves as a commissioner for District 1 on the Harnett County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina [3]. She is running for re-election to this office in the 2026 election cycle [6]. McKoy identifies herself as a retired Business Agent for Workers United and a long-time community activist born and raised in Harnett County [5].\n\nIn October 2024, McKoy was honored with the President\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award for her volunteer service, which she stated reflected her passion for helping others [2][4]. Her campaign platform emphasizes economic development, job creation, and education, arguing that the current board has failed citizens in these areas [9]. Recent campaign activities include a town hall event held in September 2025 where officials addressed local issues such as growth and taxes [7].\n\n## Background and education\n\nBarbara McKoy was born and raised in Harnett County [5]. She resides in Lillington, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Willie McKoy, and their two adult sons [5]. McKoy self-describes as a retired Business Agent for Workers United and has identified herself as a community activist for many years within the county [5].\n\nSpecific details regarding her religious affiliation, K-12 schooling, or higher education degrees are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Career\n\nBarbara McKoy is a native of Harnett County who resides in Lillington with her husband, Willie McKoy, and their two adult sons [5]. Professionally, she self-describes as a retired Business Agent for Workers United [5]. Her career has also included extensive work as a community activist in Harnett County, where she has focused on making a difference in the lives of local citizens [5].\n\nIn recognition of her long-term civic engagement, McKoy was awarded the 2024 President\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the community and the state of North Carolina [8]. This honor is presented to individuals who have dedicated over 4,000 hours of volunteer service [8]. She stated that receiving the award was an honor and emphasized her passion for helping others and making a difference [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nBarbara McKoy served as a member of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners for District 1 [3]. She was honored with the 2024 President\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her volunteer service and contributions to the community [2][4][8]. Prior to her election to the county commission, McKoy worked as a retired Business Agent for Workers United [5].\n\nMcKoy ran for re-election to the Harnett County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat in 2022 [1]. She also campaigned for the same position in an election scheduled for May 6, which is upcoming relative to the current date [6].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nAs a member of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners representing District 1, McKoy serves on the governing body that oversees county budgeting, zoning regulations, and planning initiatives [3]. Her legislative priorities center on economic development, job creation, and education, arguing that these are critical for improving the quality of life for residents [9]. She has characterized the board's previous performance as a failure to serve citizens, positioning her tenure as an effort to address these concerns with a strong representative voice [6][9].\n\nMcKoy engages directly with constituents through public forums, such as a town hall held in September 2025 where she addressed local issues including growth and taxation alongside other county officials [7]. Her service has been recognized with the 2024 President\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor bestowed upon individuals who have dedicated over 4,000 hours of volunteer service to their communities and the state of North Carolina [2][4][8]. She has stated that receiving this award is an honor and reflects her passion for helping others and making a difference in Harnett County [2][4].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nBarbara McKoy self-describes as a retired Business Agent for Workers United [5]. Her campaign materials identify her husband, Willie McKoy, and note that they raise two adult sons in Lillington, North Carolina [5]. The provided sources do not detail specific business ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or the primary source of her personal wealth beyond her employment history.\n\nFinancial disclosure documents are listed as available on the Harnett County government website under Board of Commissioners financial records [3]. However, the specific contents of these disclosures regarding assets or income sources are not detailed in the provided reference materials.\n\n## Family\n\nMcKoy states that she is married to Willie McKoy and that they reside in Lillington, North Carolina, where they have raised two adult sons [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Barbara McKoy (Harnett County Board of Commissioners District 1, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Barbara_McKoy_(Harnett_County_Board_of_Commissioners_District_1,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n[2] [Harnett County Commissioner Barbara McKoy Honored ...](https://www.facebook.com/HarnettCounty/posts/harnett-county-news-harnett-county-commissioner-barbara-mckoy-honored-with-2024-/973792158128931/)\n[3] [Meet the Commissioners](https://www.harnett.org/boc/meet-the-commissioners.asp)\n[4] [Harnett County Commissioner Barbara McKoy Honored with 2024 President\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award](https://www.harnett.org/publicinfo/press-releases.asp?btid=13&bid=1958)\n[5] [About - Barbara McKoy For Harnett County Commissioner](https://campaigntoelectbarbaramckoy.weebly.com/about.html)\n[6] [Barbara McKoy For Harnett County Commissioner - Home](https://campaigntoelectbarbaramckoy.weebly.com/)\n[7] [Harnett County Commissioner McKoy\u2019s Impactful and Informative Town Hall](https://caro.news/harnett-county-commissioner-mckoys-impactful-and-informative-town-hall/)\n[8] [Harnett County Commissioner Barbara McKoy honored ...](https://bizfayetteville.com/printstory/3556)\n[9] [Issues - Barbara McKoy For Harnett County Commissioner](https://campaigntoelectbarbaramckoy.weebly.com/issues.html)","firstname":"Barbara","lastname":"Mckoy","middlename":"Ann","suffix":null,"token":"ce02d2343f910280"},"token":"SbKy2WgtGrOMzASn"},{"candidatename":"Abraham (Abe) Durante","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLinton Abraham Durante, of Erwin, filed as a Republican candidate for the Harnett County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat on December 8, 2025 [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n- [1] [Harnett County Board of Elections \u2013 Candidate Detail List](https://www.harnett.org/elections/downloads/cont-cand-rpt-2-12-19-25.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-02","firstname":"Linton","lastname":"Durante","middlename":"Abraham","suffix":null,"token":"deaca45b20b6dc88"},"token":"2aZFyP6zDEMtLBWE"}],"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":"Harnett County Board Of Commissioners District 01"}