{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Harry Southerland","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Harry Lamont Southerland is a Democratic member of the Hoke County Board of Commissioners, serving at\u2011large and whose current term runs through December\u202f31,\u202f2026. He is again a candidate for the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 primary election\u202f[10].\n\nSoutherland was born and raised in Raeford, North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration and Management from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University\u202f[3][8]. He also holds a second bachelor\u2019s degree in economics from NC\u202fState\u202f[8].\n\nBefore entering elected office, Southerland built a career in both law and business. He has been chair of The Southerland Group since 2002\u202f[3] and for the past five years has served as agency director of Elite Group Services, a home\u2011health agency in Raeford\u202f[8]. He also co\u2011hosts the Sheryl Underwood Radio show\u202f[3] and previously owned and operated a multimillion\u2011dollar business employing over 200 people\u202f[9]. His professional background includes negotiating large\u2011scale contracts and serving on numerous legal and civic organizations, such as the North Carolina Bar Association and the 100\u202fBlack\u202fMen Association\u202f[3].\n\nSoutherland\u2019s public service began with a four\u2011year stint on the Hoke County Board of Education, where he served as vice chair from 2000 to 2004\u202f[3]. He was first elected to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in 2015 and has now completed seven years in that role\u202f[8]. As a commissioner he oversees an annual county budget exceeding $56\u202fmillion, directing funds toward commercial and residential growth\u202f[8]. Notable achievements during his tenure include raising the minimum wage for full\u2011time county employees and initiating construction on a $27\u202fmillion aquatic and recreation center\u202f[8].\n\nIn addition to his elected duties, Southerland remains active in community organizations, including the Hoke County Civic League and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity\u202f[3]. He previously served on the Judicial District\u202f16A Penalties Committee and the North Carolina Association of Trial Attorneys\u202f[3].\n\nSoutherland\u2019s campaign for re\u2011election is hosted on his personal website, www.harrysoutherland.com, where voters can learn more about his platform and contact his campaign\u202f[4].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Harry Southerland (Hoke County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Harry_Southerland_(Hoke_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [3] [Harry Southerland's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/162740/harry-southerland)\n- [4] [Vote-USA | Harry Southerland | Currently Elected Hoke County Board of Commissioners At-Large, Hoke County, North Carolina](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NC&Id=NCSoutherlandHarry)\n- [8] [Harry Southerland | Cake](https://www.cake.me/resumes/harry-southerland)\n- [9] [Harry Southerland](https://www.thenews-journal.com/pages/harrysoutherland.html)\n- [10] [Harry Southerland | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/nc/north-carolina-hoke-county-commissioner/harry-southerland)","firstname":"Harry","lastname":"Southerland","middlename":"Lamont","suffix":null,"token":"59219d7d5ab2d2ee"},"token":"WHJqt9AuNT1C41_S"},{"candidatename":"Deborah McMillan-Evans","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nDeborah McMillan-Evans is a Democratic candidate for one of three seats on the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 election. She placed third of five candidates in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary, with 2,047 votes; Allen Thomas (2,961 votes) and Harry Southerland (2,691 votes) placed first and second. All three advance to the November 3, 2026 general election, while Tony Hunt (1,775 votes) and Ricky Locklear (1,159 votes) did not advance [1][4]. Per her campaign website, her platform priorities include violence control in Hoke County schools, rehabilitation programs for former inmates, economic growth and small-business support, public safety and community trust, and resources for seniors [2].\n\n## Background and education\n\nA lifelong resident of Hoke County, McMillan-Evans says on her campaign website that she graduated from Hoke County High School in 1989, holds an associate degree in Human Services Technology from Sandhills Community College and an associate degree in Early Childhood from Fayetteville Technical College, a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Ashford University, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Leadership, Policy and Advocacy in Early Childhood [2].\n\n## Career\n\nMcMillan-Evans's campaign website describes her as Pastor and Founder of Kingdom of Glory Ministries, Inc., a Hoke County church [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nMcMillan-Evans previously ran for the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in the 2024 Democratic primary, placing fourth of seven candidates with 793 votes. James A. Leach (1,910 votes) and Mary Blue McCollum (1,591 votes) received the most votes and advanced to the November 2024 general election [3].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nMcMillan-Evans owns and operates two Hoke County childcare businesses, Little Angels Childcare and Garden of Eden Childcare, which her campaign website says she has run for \"25+ years\" [2].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 2026 Candidate Filing List](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/Candidate_Listing_2026.csv) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n\n[2] [McMillan-Evans for Hoke County Commissioner \u2014 campaign website](https://deborahmcmillan-evans.com/home) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections, 2024 primary precinct-level election results (`results_pct_20240305.txt`, from [https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2024_03_05/results_pct_20240305.zip](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2024_03_05/results_pct_20240305.zip)) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n\n[4] North Carolina State Board of Elections, 2026 primary precinct-level election results (`results_pct_20260303.txt`, from [https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip)) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-24","firstname":"Deborah","lastname":"Mcmillan-Evans","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"01cc5623337b3a82"},"token":"8QfhukfUTCIkBUFt"},{"candidatename":"David Frump","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid Arthur Frump is a candidate for a county commission seat in North Carolina.\n\n## Background and education\nFrump holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a concentration in urban planning and minority affairs. He earned two graduate degrees: a Master of Arts in Strategic Planning and a Master of Arts in Foreign Relations. He served in the United States Navy for 25 years before retiring.\n\n## Career\nFollowing his military retirement, Frump worked as a broadcast journalist. He subsequently served as a congressional representative for a defense contractor, representing defense industry interests before members of Congress. He has also worked as a building contractor. He is currently retired.\n\n## Family\nFrump is married and has a daughter.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [David Frump platform \u2013 branch.vote](https://branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-county-commissioner-nc-county-hoke/candidates/david-frump)","firstname":"David","lastname":"Frump","middlename":"Arthur","suffix":null,"token":"dd850ca84a0bda45"},"token":"8igKuayFj860pdeO"},{"candidatename":"Stephanie Carter","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nStephanie Carter is a Republican candidate running for Hoke County Commissioner in North Carolina [6]. She is seeking election in the 2026 cycle, having previously served on the Hoke County Board of Commissioners [1]. Carter is one of two Republican candidates vying for the position, alongside David Frump [5].\n\nCarter has established a campaign platform focused on addressing community needs, fostering economic growth, and ensuring responsible governance [5]. She describes herself as self-employed and notes that she started her own goat dairy business [7]. Carter states that she is originally from Hoke County and earned a degree in marketing from Appalachian State University [7]. Her civic engagement includes serving on the Hoke Soil and Water Board and holding the position of vice president of the Small Ruminants Association [7].\n\nIn recent campaign developments, Carter has participated in local events such as Hoke Fest, where she spoke alongside other local candidates about the importance of the election [4]. She maintains an online presence through Branch.vote to share her platform with voters [6].\n\n## Background and education\n\nStephanie Carter is originally from Hoke County [7]. She earned a degree in marketing from Appalachian State University [7].\n\n## Career\n\nStephanie Carter is originally from Hoke County and earned a degree in marketing from Appalachian State University [7]. She operates Ith\u00edka Acres Creamery, a business she started that utilizes goats to produce cheese and other products [7][9]. The creamery has received recognition through AgCarolina Farm Credit and AgSouth Farm Credit as part of their Young Farmer of the Day Program [10]. Carter also serves as the vice president of the Small Ruminants Association [7].\n\nIn addition to her private business, Carter works for the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute [11]. She holds a position on the Hoke Soil and Water Board [7].\n\n## Office history\n\nStephanie Carter has sought election to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners multiple times. She first ran in the 2022 general election for a seat on the board [2]. In the 2024 general election, she again ran for Hoke County Commissioner as a Republican candidate [1]. The November 5, 2024 official general election results for Hoke County are available from the North Carolina State Board of Elections [3]. Carter also competed in the Republican primary for Hoke County Commissioner in 2026, where she was one of two Republican candidates vying for the position alongside David Frump [5]. Because the 2026 primary race is uncontested, Carter is projected to take office if elected in that cycle [6].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nDuring her tenure on the Hoke County Board of Commissioners, Stephanie Carter participated in regular board meetings, including the session held on December 19, 2022 [8]. Specific legislative records, such as sponsored bills, vote tallies, or committee assignments, are not detailed in the available sources.\n\nCarter\u2019s policy platform emphasizes fostering economic growth and addressing community needs with integrity and diligence [5]. She self-describes her professional background as starting her own goat dairy business [7]. Additionally, she serves on the Hoke Soil and Water Board and holds the position of vice president of the Small Ruminants Association [7].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nStephanie Carter is originally from Hoke County and earned a degree in marketing from Appalachian State University [7]. She self-describes as self-employed and is the owner of Ith\u00edka Acres Creamery, a business located in Raeford that produces goat cheese, goat milk fudge, and other dairy-based products using Alpine, Saanen, and Anglo-Nubian goats [7][9][12]. The creamery was established after Carter\u2019s family had kept goats since the early 2000s, aiming to utilize them for new product lines [9].\n\nCarter has received recognition for her agricultural work, including being named a \"Young Farmer of the Day\" at the Got to Be NC Festival by AgCarolina Farm Credit and AgSouth Farm Credit [10][12]. She is also the vice president of the Small Ruminants Association and serves on the Hoke Soil and Water Board [7]. Her professional background includes roles with the Agriculture & Food Systems Institute, though specific details of her tenure there are not fully detailed in available summaries [11].\n\nFinancial disclosure records for Carter\u2019s 2024 campaign indicate she is a self-employed individual with no significant outside wealth sources listed beyond her business activities [1][2]. There are no public records in the provided sources indicating the sale of major business assets or significant family wealth transfers; her financial profile is primarily tied to her agricultural enterprise and local government service [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Stephanie Carter (Hoke County Board of Commissioners, North ...](https://ballotpedia.org/Stephanie_Carter_(Hoke_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2024))\n[2] [Stephanie Carter (Hoke County Board of Commissioners, North ...](https://ballotpedia.org/Stephanie_Carter_(Hoke_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n[3] [11/05/2024 official general election results - hoke](https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=47&office=ALL&contest=0)\n[4] [What a great turn out tonight at Hoke Fest. We had ... - Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/C79X8RXNGta/)\n[5] [Stephanie Carter is 1 of 2 Republican candidates vying ... - Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4mKMCENWJo/)\n[6] [Stephanie Carter platform & website | Hoke County Commissioner ...](https://www.branch.vote/races/2026-north-carolina-primary-election-nc-state-county-commissioner-nc-county-hoke-r/candidates/stephanie-carter)\n[7] [Stephanie Carter platform & website | Hoke County Commissioner](https://branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-county-commissioner-nc-county-hoke/candidates/stephanie-carter)\n[8] [Hoke County Board of Commissioners December 19, 2022 regular ...](https://hoke.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=289&meta_id=30000)\n[9] [Our Story - Ithika Acres Creamery](https://ithikaacres.com/our-story/)\n[10] [Young Farmer of the Day: Stephanie Carter with Ithika Acres Creamery](https://deepfried.ncstatefair.org/young-farmer-of-the-day-stephanie-carter-with-ithika-acres-creamery/)\n[11] [Stephanie Carter - Agriculture & Food Systems Institute](https://foodsystems.org/staff/stephanie-carter/)\n[12] [Meet our Got to Be NC Festival Young Farmer of the Day - Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/DJzC1mOuOrP/)","firstname":"Stephanie","lastname":"Carter","middlename":"Elizabeth","suffix":null,"token":"cf4b4b13545df03d"},"token":"4SEWTUnOnkRGeZ-q"},{"candidatename":"Allen Thomas","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Allen Melvin Thomas JR is a registered voter in Hoke County, North Carolina, registered since 2006 (20 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Allen Melvin Thomas JR's year of birth as 1986; 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 16 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 Allen Melvin Thomas JR 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":"Allen","lastname":"Thomas","middlename":"Melvin","suffix":"JR","token":"eaacbf5076f52a86"},"token":"Fo_Co-l6Jc6zr0aZ"}],"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":3,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Hoke County Board Of Commissioners"}