{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"David Dotson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nWilliam David Dotson is a Republican candidate seeking election as Mayor of Monroe City in 2026 [4]. He currently serves on the Monroe City Council, having previously held the position of mayor pro tem before being removed from that role by the council following a no-confidence vote [5]. Dotson self-describes his leadership philosophy as prioritizing service before self, citing his background as a Marine and police officer alongside his time on the city council [1].\n\nHis 2026 campaign focuses heavily on public safety, with Dotson stating that strong relationships between elected officials and the community are the foundation of a safe city [3]. He has engaged in early voting activities to discuss these issues with constituents, emphasizing the need for elected officials to build bridges with existing police departments [3]. The candidate maintains an online presence through his campaign website and social media platforms to promote his platform [1][4].\n\n## Background and education\n\nDavid Dotson self-describes as having dedicated most of his adult life to the protection and service of others through roles as a Marine, a police officer, and a City Council member [1]. He states that he prioritizes \"service before self\" and has built his leadership philosophy on this foundation [1].\n\nSpecific details regarding his birthplace, year of birth, upbringing, religion, or formal educational background are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Career\n\nDavid Dotson self-describes a career dedicated to the protection and service of others, citing his background as a Marine and a police officer [1]. His professional history includes service on the Monroe City Council, where he served as mayor pro tem until being removed from that leadership role by the council following the passage of House Bill 3 [5].\n\nPrior to his political career, Dotson has been involved in public safety advocacy and community engagement. He has publicly emphasized the importance of strong relationships between police officers and the community as a foundation for city safety [3]. In recent years, he has also utilized social media platforms to advocate for military support and encourage civic participation, such as urging early voting [7].\n\n## Office history\n\nWilliam Dotson served as a member of the Monroe City Council [1]. During his tenure, he held the position of mayor pro tem until the council removed him from that role and passed a no-confidence vote against Mayor Burns in the wake of House Bill 3 [5]. He self-describes his service on the council as part of a career dedicated to the protection and service of others, alongside his work as a Marine and police officer [1].\n\nDotson ran for Monroe City Council but withdrew his notice of candidacy past the deadline for that race [2]. Per North Carolina General Statute 163-106.4, his name remained on the ballot despite the withdrawal [2]. He has filed to run for Monroe Mayor in a subsequent election cycle [4].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nDuring his tenure on the Monroe City Council, Dotson served as mayor pro tem before being removed from that leadership position by the council following the passage of House Bill 3 [5]. The council also passed a no-confidence vote against Mayor Burns during this period [5].\n\nAs a candidate for Monroe Mayor, Dotson self-describes his platform as prioritizing \"service before self\" and building strong bridges between elected officials and the community to ensure public safety [1]. He states that he has dedicated most of his adult life to the protection and service of others through his background as a Marine, police officer, and council member [1].\n\nDotson emphasizes the importance of fostering connections with local law enforcement, noting that Monroe already possesses great police officers and a strong department working to build good communication with residents [3]. He argues that elected officials should help strengthen these relationships as the foundation for a safe city [3].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nIn August 2021, William Dotson withdrew his notice of candidacy for Monroe City Council past the filing deadline; however, per North Carolina General Statute 163-106.4, his name remained on the ballot and any votes cast for him were counted [2].\n\nDuring his tenure as a Monroe City Council member, Dotson was removed from the position of mayor pro tem following the passage of House Bill 3 [5]. The council also held a no-confidence vote against Mayor Robert Burns, a motion supported by Dotson [9][10]. In response to this political conflict, the Union County Republican Party Executive Committee passed a statement of disapproval regarding the council's actions [12].\n\nDotson has publicly distinguished his stance on public safety from immigration enforcement, stating that police work should focus on removing violent offenders to maintain trust within the community [8]. He self-describes his leadership philosophy as prioritizing service and building bridges between law enforcement and residents to foster a safe city [1][3].\n\nIn October 2025, outgoing Monroe Mayor Robert Burns announced he would not seek re-election and endorsed a council member as his successor [6][11]. Dotson has filed for Monroe Mayor in the subsequent election cycle [4], though the outcome of this upcoming race is unknown.\n\n## Family\n\nThe provided sources do not contain information regarding William David Dotson's spouse, children, or other family members in politics. The available text focuses exclusively on his professional background as a Marine and police officer, his service on the Monroe City Council, and details regarding his candidacy for mayor [1], [2], [3], [4].\n\nNO_CONTENT\n\n## Sources\n[1] [David Dotson for Monroe Mayor | Ensure Strong Leadership \u2013 Vote ...](https://www.dotsonformonroe.com/)\n[2] [William Dotson, candidate for Monroe City Council, withdrew his ...](https://www.facebook.com/UnionCountyNCElections/posts/william-dotson-candidate-for-monroe-city-council-withdrew-his-notice-of-candidac/2248611425270447/)\n[3] [Grab a raincoat and head out to the Main Library in Monroe to early ...](https://www.facebook.com/dotsonformonroe/posts/grab-a-raincoat-and-head-out-to-the-main-library-in-monroe-to-early-voteive-had-/930245609349008/)\n[4] [David Dotson (REP) has filed for Monroe Mayor. - Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/DSLabX-k9JG/)\n[5] [In wake of HB3, Monroe council removes Dotson as mayor pro tem ...](https://enquirerjournal.com/enquirer_journal/in-wake-of-hb3-monroe-council-removes-dotson-as-mayor-pro-tem-passes-no-confidence/article_5c32af63-ddb2-534c-9f0a-985559b062e1.html)\n[6] [Monroe mayor will not seek reelection, endorses council member as ...](https://www.wunc.org/2025-10-27/monroe-mayor-will-not-seek-reelection-endorses-council-member-as-successor)\n[7] [Today we should all be praying for our military members, for their ...](https://www.facebook.com/dotsonformonroe/videos/today-we-should-all-be-praying-for-our-military-members-for-their-safety-strengt/2985911004937433/)\n[8] [Our recent position statement reaffirms what's already true: our ...](https://www.facebook.com/monroecouncilmandotson/videos/our-recent-position-statement-reaffirms-whats-already-true-our-police-work-to-re/1720799318520372/)\n[9] [Monroe City Council votes no confidence in Mayor Robert Burns | wcnc.com](https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/monroe/monroe-leaders-no-confidence-vote-mayor-robert-burns/275-c144f3df-1ee8-4a27-ba2b-0f4fb1484ae5)\n[10] [Council Chaos: Monroe City Council votes to replace mayor pro tem, holds no-confidence vote](https://www.yahoo.com/news/council-chaos-monroe-city-council-231414946.html)\n[11] [Monroe Mayor will not run for reelection, endorses councilman | wcnc.com](https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/monroe-mayor-reelection-endorses-councilman/275-b74cec8e-5efc-4c03-9e45-fe9dfee05c34)\n[12] [Union County Executive Committee Passes Statement of Disapproval](https://union.nc.gop/union_county_executive_committee_passes_statement_of_disapproval)","firstname":"William","lastname":"Dotson","middlename":"David","suffix":null,"token":"f7c264499ce0a773"},"token":"tIx_kWUdTV6IBnGT"},{"candidatename":"Surluta B. Anthony","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Surluta B. Anthony is a Democratic candidate for mayor of the City of Monroe, North Carolina, in the November 3, 2026 general election. Monroe holds mayoral elections every four years, and the winner will serve as the city\u2019s chief elected official, responsible for leading municipal government and implementing council policies [16].\n\nAnthony has been a public servant in Monroe for more than a decade. She was first elected to the Monroe City Council in December 2013, becoming the first African American woman to serve on the council, and was re\u2011elected in 2023 for a second term [13][16]. She has also served as mayor pro tem since July 2024, after a council vote removed the previous mayor pro tem and installed her in that role [16].\n\nHer professional background includes service as a Probation Parole Officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and work as a Field Director and Mentoring Specialist for the Girl Scouts. She has owned and published the *Ebon Courier* and holds leadership positions on the Board of Directors for Community Health Services Union County (since 2014) and on the Board of the National Black Caucus\u2011Local Elected Officials (since 2015) [13].\n\nAnthony\u2019s education includes an Associate\u2019s degree in Christian Studies from Sure Foundation and Theological Institute, a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Sociology from Pfeiffer University, and a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Central Piedmont Community College [13][17].\n\nDuring her time on the council, Anthony has championed environmental and growth\u2011management initiatives. She has advocated for banning single\u2011use plastic bags in favor of biodegradable alternatives, a self\u2011imposed moratorium on new residential development to assess impacts on infrastructure and emergency services, and the addition of mental\u2011health professionals to the Monroe Police Department. She also supports completing a new traffic study and exploring public\u2011transport options for the city [18].\n\nAnthony emphasizes community engagement, proposing quarterly round\u2011table meetings to give residents direct access to council members and to discuss ongoing projects. She frames herself as a public servant rather than a career politician, noting her self\u2011imposed term limits and her desire to keep public service rooted in local concerns [18].\n\nIf elected mayor, Anthony would bring over a decade of council experience, a record of community\u2011focused initiatives, and a background in public safety and youth mentorship to the city\u2019s executive leadership.\n\n## Sources\n- [13] [Surluta Anthony - City Councilwoman at City of Monroe, NC | The Org](https://theorg.com/org/city-of-monroe-nc/org-chart/surluta-anthony)\n- [16] [Union County candidates emerge in the 2026 election | Ucweekly | thecharlotteweekly.com](https://www.thecharlotteweekly.com/ucweekly/union-county-candidates-emerge-in-the-2026-election/article_2a5c8643-aa03-4c28-aa3a-f72b93e909f5.html)\n- [17] [Surluta Anthony Email & Phone Number | City of Monroe, NC City Councilwoman Contact Information](https://rocketreach.co/surluta-anthony-email_197312971)\n- [18] [Anthony running for third, final term on council | Enquirer Journal | enquirerjournal.com](https://enquirerjournal.com/enquirer_journal/anthony-running-for-third-final-term-on-council/article_dc0dc367-0b0b-5188-ae19-0a1c983faab8.html)","firstname":"Surluta","lastname":"Anthony","middlename":"B","suffix":null,"token":"48553533640d5d4f"},"token":"A4hSi30ulwRJqE1K"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"city_mayor","o.office":"city_mayor","office":"city_mayor","officedescription":"A city or town mayor is the municipality's chief executive, responsible for administering city departments, proposing the city budget, and representing the city. In some Tennessee cities the mayor is a strong executive; in others the role is more ceremonial alongside a city manager.","officequalities":"- Executive leadership of a city government \u2014 police, fire, public works, parks, and administration.\n- Ability to negotiate and defend an annual budget before the city council.\n- Intergovernmental capacity: with the county, the State of Tennessee, federal partners, and neighboring municipalities.\n- Working familiarity with the city charter, Tennessee municipal law, and open-meetings rules.\n- Crisis-management and public-communication capacity.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Mayor","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"City Of Monroe Mayor"}