{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Mark A. Cody","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Mark Allison Cody is the incumbent Madison County Clerk of Superior Court and is running for re\u2011election as the Democratic candidate in the 2026 general election on November 3, 2026 [2]. The Clerk of Superior Court is an elected official who oversees the administration of the county\u2019s superior court, including maintaining court records, collecting fees, and managing other court services [2].\n\nCody\u2019s current office is listed on the Madison County government website, which provides his office address (2 North Main Street, P.O. Box 217, Marshall, NC) and a contact telephone number (828\u2011649\u20112531) [2]. No educational background or prior professional experience is detailed in the available sources.\n\nDuring his tenure, Cody was quoted in a 2018 news report about an embezzlement investigation involving a court bookkeeper. He said the investigation began after the employee was terminated and that the alleged misappropriation totaled about $108,000 [12]. The case resulted in the bookkeeper\u2019s conviction and sentencing, highlighting Cody\u2019s role in overseeing the clerk\u2019s office integrity.\n\nAs the 2026 election approaches, Cody is listed as the Democratic candidate for the Clerk of Superior Court on the official Madison County elected\u2011officials page and appears in the North Carolina State Board of Elections candidate listings for the upcoming race [2][5]. No campaign website or additional contact email was found in the sources consulted.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [North Carolina elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2026)\n- [2] [Elected Officials - Madison County](https://www.madisoncountync.gov/elected-officials.html)\n- [5] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [7] [2026 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_North_Carolina)\n- [8] [See the full list of candidates running in North Carolina's ...](https://www.facebook.com/thecharlotteobserver/posts/see-the-full-list-of-candidates-running-in-north-carolinas-2026-electionsread-mo/1306299098202723/)\n- [9] [Madison County \u2013 North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds](https://www.ncard.us/find-your-register-of-deeds/madison-county/)\n- [12] [North Carolina court bookkeeper found guilty of embezzlement - Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/2/north-carolina-court-bookkeeper-found-guilty-of-em/)","firstname":"Mark","lastname":"Cody","middlename":"Allison","suffix":null,"token":"7be9a34e2a56edc1"},"token":"dqiUTwylz0AsWHmt"}],"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":"Madison County Clerk Of Superior Court"}