{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Eddie Cathey","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEddie (Edwin Glenn) Cathey is the incumbent Sheriff of Union County, North Carolina, seeking a seventh consecutive four-year term in the 2026 election [1]. First elected in 2002, he will be the longest-serving sheriff in county history by the end of his current term [1]. He advanced from the March 3, 2026 Republican primary \u2014 which also included Terry Boag and Todd Elmore \u2014 and faces the general election on November 3, 2026 [1][2].\n\n## Career\nCathey has served more than 45 years in law enforcement [1]. Announcing his 2026 reelection bid on November 10, 2025, he said: \"With your continued support, we will keep Union County safe, strong and united.\" [1]\n\n## Office history\nCathey has served as Union County Sheriff since 2002 [1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey announces bid for record-setting 7th term in 2026 - WCCB Charlotte](https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2025/11/10/union-county-sheriff-eddie-cathey-announces-bid-for-record-setting-7th-term-in-2026/)\n- [2] [2026 primary election: Union County sheriff candidates answer questions about top issues - wbtv.com](https://www.wbtv.com/2026/02/18/2026-primary-election-union-county-sheriff-candidates-answer-questions-about-top-issues/)","firstname":"Edwin","lastname":"Cathey","middlename":"Glenn","suffix":null,"token":"1fc49a18174a78c0"},"token":"UERnVboizImkYEZH"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"sheriff","o.office":"county_sheriff","office":"county_sheriff","officedescription":"The sheriff is the county's chief law-enforcement officer. The office operates the county jail, provides court security, serves civil process and executes warrants, and provides patrol and investigation \u2014 a large operational command with a substantial budget.","officequalities":"- Organizational leadership of a sheriff's office spanning patrol, investigations, court services, and the county jail.\n- Oversight of the county jail, including intake, inmate health, and release procedures.\n- Working knowledge of Tennessee criminal law, court process, and constitutional search-and-seizure standards.\n- Ability to develop and oversee the office's operating budget with public accountability.\n- Coordination with municipal police departments and neighboring-county and state agencies.\n- A documented law-enforcement or public-safety background.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Sheriff","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Union County Sheriff"}