{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Jeff Haynes","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Jeffrey Lee Haynes is the incumbent Clerk of Superior Court for Haywood County, North Carolina, having been appointed to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Hunter Plemmons after eight years of service. Haynes previously served as the chief deputy of the Haywood County Sheriff's Office before his appointment. The Clerk of Superior Court is an elected position, and Haynes will serve the remainder of the term\u2014approximately 14 months\u2014until the 2026 election, when a primary in March will select each party\u2019s nominee for the November general election. Haynes has announced his intention to run for a full term as the Democratic candidate in that race. In statements following his appointment, Haynes expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him by local judicial officials and the criminal\u2011justice community, and he outlined goals to continue the legacy of past clerks, strengthen relationships with law\u2011enforcement agencies throughout Haywood County and neighboring areas, and collaborate with other clerks of superior court. His appointment and campaign plans were reported by WLOS News on June 5, 2024[12].\n\n## Sources\n- [12] [Jeff Haynes appointed as Haywood County's next Clerk of Superior Court](https://wlos.com/news/local/jeff-haynes-appointed-haywood-county-clerk-superior-court-sheriffs-office-chief-deputy-resignation-elected-position-election-2026-primary-democrat)","firstname":"Jeffery","lastname":"Haynes","middlename":"Lee","suffix":null,"token":"0a300cb4f33b7ae5"},"token":"Cg8i3397ZVrx4axC"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":null,"o.office":"clerk_of_superior_court","office":"clerk_of_superior_court","officedescription":"In North Carolina, the clerk of superior court keeps the records of the trial courts and also serves as an ex-officio judge of probate and over estates, guardianships, and certain special proceedings. It is both a records office and a judicial one.","officequalities":"- Records management for the trial courts, in conformity with North Carolina procedure and the orders of the judges.\n- Judicial responsibility over probate, estates, guardianships, and special proceedings \u2014 the clerk decides these matters.\n- Financial controls for collecting and disbursing court costs, fines, estate funds, and trust funds, with public accountability.\n- Supervision of a clerical staff handling high case volume and frequent statutory deadlines.\n- Attention to legal detail and sensitivity with a public often dealing with death or incapacity.\n- Administrative reliability \u2014 the office's filings are legally binding and its records are evidence.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Clerk of Superior Court","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Haywood County Clerk Of Superior Court"}