{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Andre Knecht","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Andre Knecht is the incumbent Vice Chair of the Lee County Board of Commissioners and is running as the Republican candidate for the District\u202f3 seat in the 2026 election on November\u202f3,\u202f2026. The Lee County Board of Commissioners governs the county by setting policy, approving the annual budget, and overseeing county services such as public safety initiatives; commissioners meet twice a month to conduct this work, as noted in the board\u2019s December meeting schedule and the discussion of the Lee County Safety Action Plan\u202f[4].\n\nKnecht\u2019s public service record includes his election to the board\u2019s leadership team in December 2023, when he and Chair Kirk Smith were re\u2011elected to serve another year\u202f[4]. In that role he helped present the Lee County Safety Action Plan, a guideline aimed at reducing traffic\u2011related fatalities and serious injuries with a target of a 50\u202f% reduction by 2040\u202f[4]. The plan addresses high\u2011injury road corridors, pedestrian safety, and driver behavior, reflecting the board\u2019s oversight of transportation and public safety matters.\n\nKnecht previously sought a seat on the Board of Commissioners in the 2022 general election, appearing on the ballot for District\u202f3 alongside Democrat Kate Woods\u202f[1]. Although the outcome of that race is not detailed in the available sources, his continued presence on the board indicates he either won a seat or was appointed thereafter.\n\nControversy has also marked Knecht\u2019s tenure. In early 2022 he shared a Facebook meme that depicted a Muslim man in a toilet and criticized refugees, prompting public outcry and calls for his resignation from Lee County residents and former officials\u202f[10]. Knecht did not comment publicly on the incident, and later declined to explain the post when approached by local media\u202f[12]. The episode illustrates the scrutiny elected officials may face for their social\u2011media activity.\n\nKnecht is identified in news reports as \u201cCommissioner Dr. Andre Knecht,\u201d suggesting he holds a doctoral degree, though the field of study is not specified in the sources\u202f[10]. His ongoing role as Vice Chair and his candidacy for District\u202f3 demonstrate his continued involvement in Lee County governance and local political affairs.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Andre Knecht (Lee County Board of Commissioners District 3, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andre_Knecht_(Lee_County_Board_of_Commissioners_District_3,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [4] [No change in officers, public safety plan presented | News | sanfordherald.com](https://www.sanfordherald.com/news/no-change-in-officers-public-safety-plan-presented/article_e31174ed-4223-56b0-b404-942049252d46.html)\n- [9] [andre knecht \u2013 THE RANT](https://rantnc.com/tag/andre-knecht/)\n- [10] [Lee County residents call for commissioner to resign over anti-Muslim meme - ABC11 Raleigh-Durham](https://abc11.com/lee-county-commissioner-andre-knecht-anti-islam-controversial-meme/1764655/)\n- [12] [Knecht won\u2019t explain anti-Muslim meme; remains active on social media](https://rantnc.com/2017/02/09/knecht-wont-explain-anti-muslim-meme-remains-active-on-social-media/)","firstname":"Andre","lastname":"Knecht","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"8899051b2244d3bc"},"token":"YJO4lk3rNbHEH1Su"}],"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":"Lee County Board Of Commissioners District 03"}