{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"L. Neil Brendle","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nLandon Neil Brendle, known as L. Neil Brendle, is the incumbent Surry County Clerk of Superior Court, running as a Republican for re-election in 2026. He was first elected to the position in 2018 and is seeking a third term.\n\n## Background and education\nBrendle is from Dobson, North Carolina, and is a graduate of Surry County High School (1995). He holds an Associate's degree from Surry Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University.\n\n## Career\nBefore his judicial career, Brendle worked in project management, supervision, and administrative roles within grading and public utilities companies. He subsequently served multiple terms as a Magistrate in Surry County, presiding over small claims hearings and serving as a courtroom clerk. He ran for Clerk of Superior Court in 2018, defeating Teresa O'Dell in the Republican primary and winning the November general election. He was sworn in on December 3, 2018.\n\n## Family\nBrendle is married to Carrie Brendle. They have two daughters, Erin and Ava.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Surry County Clerk of Superior Court \u2013 L. Neil Brendle \u2013 Elkin Tribune](https://www.elkintribune.com/news/politics/surry-county-clerk-of-superior-court-l-neil-brendle/article_736164bd-fd55-55fa-ad4e-03c11c9fde26.html)\n- [2] [Re-elect L. Neil Brendle Surry County Clerk of Superior Court 2026 \u2013 Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BrendleforClerk/)","firstname":"Landon","lastname":"Brendle","middlename":"Neil","suffix":null,"token":"6d36a81851fc4a9f"},"token":"UIvJhRMMu0M8zk0W"}],"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":"Surry County Clerk Of Superior Court"}