{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Stacey Leonard Crouse","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Stacey Leonard Crouse is the Republican candidate for Lincoln County Clerk of Superior Court in the 2026 North Carolina election, a four\u2011year office that serves as the district\u2019s chief record keeper and presides over probate and estate matters [7].\n\nCrouse grew up in Lincolnton, North Carolina, and graduated from Lincolnton High School. She earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, laying the foundation for a career in the court system [7].\n\nHer professional experience spans more than 15 years in county clerk offices across Lincoln, Halifax, and Gaston counties. She began in the clerk\u2019s office of her hometown before moving to other jurisdictions, and also spent four years working for a private attorney. Since 2020, Crouse has served as the district court manager for Lincoln County, overseeing daily operations and staff coordination [7].\n\nIn her campaign, Crouse emphasizes her deep familiarity with the e\u2011court transition, noting that the previous paper\u2011based system was replaced statewide after two years of work. She argues that her varied courtroom experience positions her to address operational issues, improve cross\u2011training, and expand services such as the estate filing office. Crouse also advocates for greater alignment between Lincoln and Cleveland County court processes to reduce confusion for the public and legal professionals [7].\n\nCrouse describes the Clerk of Court as both a record\u2011keeping official and a judicial officer who manages deputies and assistants across civil, criminal, and special proceedings. She contends that the role\u2019s partisan nature stems from the need for elected judges to issue rulings, and she seeks the Republican nomination in the March\u202f3,\u202f2026 primary, with early voting running February\u202f12\u201128 and absentee ballot requests due February\u202f17 [7].\n\n## Sources\n- [7] [Stacey Crouse Running for Lincoln County, NC Clerk of Superior Court - Wise News Network](https://wisenewsnetwork.com/stories/stacey-crouse-running-for-lincoln-county-nc-clerk-of-superior-court,4786)","firstname":"Stacey","lastname":"Crouse","middlename":"Leonard","suffix":null,"token":"46e50684c51120a2"},"token":"Xxu3Y6pItRbY8b6c"}],"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":"Lincoln County Clerk Of Superior Court"}