{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Kyle Stogoski","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Kyle Ryan Stogoski is the Republican candidate for an at\u2011large seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 general election, scheduled for November 3, 2026. The Republican primary for this office was cancelled, allowing Stogoski and fellow Republican Gary Hartong to advance directly to the ballot alongside Democrats Christine Kushner and Mona Singh [1].\n\nStogoski was homeschooled through high school, earning a diploma without attending a traditional secondary school. He is 25 years old and has spent recent years working in sales while also volunteering on local political campaigns and community initiatives in Wake County [1][6].\n\nProfessionally, Stogoski\u2019s experience centers on sales, a field in which he has developed client\u2011relationship and negotiation skills. His involvement in local politics includes campaign work for other candidates, giving him insight into the county\u2019s electoral landscape and constituent concerns [1][6].\n\nIn his campaign, Stogoski emphasizes the \u201cBroad Prosperity Initiative,\u201d a five\u2011pillar plan aimed at making Wake County more affordable and sustainable for working families. The initiative calls for fast\u2011track starter housing, expanded down\u2011payment assistance, and protections against predatory corporate investors in the housing market. It also promotes a local\u2011business\u2011first economy with grant programs, streamlined permitting, and incentives for employers that reinvest locally, while safeguarding farmland and natural resources. Stogoski frames these policies as a response to the county\u2019s rapid growth, arguing that prosperity should be broadly shared rather than concentrated [6].\n\nStogoski\u2019s platform highlights three core themes: housing affordability, intelligent stewardship of growth, and accountability in government spending. He argues that rising costs of living are unsustainable for Generation Z residents and pledges to use his legislative connections to curb predatory practices by large landlords and investment firms. Additionally, he advocates for responsible infrastructure development, quality schools, safe communities, and transparent use of tax dollars [6].\n\nIf elected, Stogoski would join the Wake County Board of Commissioners, a body responsible for setting county policy on land use, budgeting, public services, and economic development. Commissioners work collaboratively to address issues such as transportation, public safety, health services, and environmental protection, shaping the daily lives of the county\u2019s roughly one million residents [1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Kyle Stogoski - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Kyle_Stogoski)\n- [6] [Kyle Stogoski for Wake County Commissioner | Kyle Stogoski | Wake County, NC, USA](https://www.stogoskiforwake.com/)","firstname":"Kyle","lastname":"Stogoski","middlename":"Ryan","suffix":null,"token":"812167f8d74e4841"},"token":"ky4PFiS4zoz7nY1i"},{"candidatename":"Gary Dale Hartong","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Gary Hartong is the Republican candidate for an at\u2011large seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 general election. The Republican primary was canceled, so Hartong advanced to the November 3, 2026 ballot alongside fellow Republican Kyle Stogoski and Democrats Christine Kushner and Mona Singh [1].\n\nHartong grew up in North Carolina, earning his high\u2011school diploma from Hoover High School before attending North Carolina State University, where he received a bachelor\u2019s degree in engineering in 1998 and a master\u2019s degree in 2009 [1]. He is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and has spent more than 25 years in civil and environmental engineering, rising from an intern to become President of The Wooten Company, a leading North Carolina engineering firm that delivers water, sewer, and community\u2011infrastructure projects [10].\n\nBeyond his private\u2011sector work, Hartong has held leadership roles in the engineering profession. He has served on the Board of Directors for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) nationally and for ACEC North Carolina, where he participated in legislative advocacy for long\u2011term infrastructure investment [1]. Locally, he chaired and vice\u2011chaired the Town of Wake\u202fForest Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board, contributing to community planning and greenway projects such as the 2022 Wake Forest bond referendum for trail improvements [1][12].\n\nHartong\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes four pillars: innovative infrastructure, fiscal conservancy, modern safe schools, and a strong business climate. He argues that Wake County\u2019s 12 municipalities, state agencies, and developers must coordinate strategic, data\u2011driven capital planning to keep roads, water, sewer, parks, buildings, and broadband services reliable and future\u2011ready [10]. He also calls for proactive investment to address a $200\u202fmillion deferred HVAC maintenance backlog and recent school closures, aiming to modernize facilities while controlling long\u2011term operating costs [10]. Finally, he promotes policies that support small\u2011business growth and protect taxpayers\u2019 dollars, positioning the county for sustained economic vitality [10].\n\nHartong is married with four daughters\u2014three graduates of Wake County Public Schools and one current student\u2014and two dogs. He has lived in Wake County for 23 years, witnessing its rapid growth and the accompanying challenges, which he says motivate his focus on infrastructure, education, and fiscal responsibility [10].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Gary Hartong - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gary_Hartong)\n- [10] [Home | Elect Gary Hartong for Wake County](https://www.garyforwake.org/)\n- [12] [Gary Hartong, PE, LEED AP on LinkedIn: These greenway improvements will connect existing Wake Forest greenways](https://cp.linkedin.com/posts/gary-hartong-pe-leed-ap-344042b_these-greenway-improvements-will-connect-activity-6980342668425883648-XMDN)","firstname":"Gary","lastname":"Hartong","middlename":"Dale","suffix":null,"token":"1960a39c45e9e5cc"},"token":"NP9NTNXWMZ5caohg"},{"candidatename":"Mona Singh","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMona Singh is the Democratic nominee for an at-large seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners. She secured the Democratic nomination in the March 3, 2026 primary and is running in the November 2026 general election.\n\nSingh's platform prioritizes strengthening public education, expanding access to healthcare, and improving transportation and infrastructure to meet Wake County's growth needs.\n\n## Background and education\nSingh was born in Delhi, India. She earned a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. She has lived in Wake County since 1995.\n\n## Career\nSingh is a nationally recognized technology expert who holds more than 130 U.S. patents in areas including smartphone technology and augmented reality. She has led major technology businesses with annual net revenues exceeding $1 billion and has managed large teams developing and deploying products with tens of thousands of users. She has also served as an expert witness in high-profile technology cases.\n\nSingh serves on the Board of Directors for Activate Good and on the Town of Cary's Information Services Advisory Board. She has led hunger relief and refugee support programs and volunteers teaching English to refugees.\n\n## Family\nSingh is married to a professor at North Carolina State University. They have two children, both graduates of Wake County Public Schools.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Meet Mona \u2013 monaforwake.com](https://www.monaforwake.com/meetmona)\n- [2] [Wake County Commissioners: Mona Singh \u2013 Indy Week](https://indyweek.com/news/wake-county-board-of-county-commissioners-mona-singh-2026/)\n- [3] [Mona Singh secures Democratic nomination for Wake County Commissioner \u2013 American Bazaar Online](https://americanbazaaronline.com/2026/03/06/mona-singh-secures-democratic-nomination-for-wake-county-commissioner-476394/)\n","firstname":"Mona","lastname":"Singh","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"df944ec7c0ecf201"},"token":"hflJ8fPba3ysNgMF"},{"candidatename":"Christine Kushner","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nChristine Kushner is a Democratic candidate for one of two at-large seats on the Wake County Board of Commissioners. She advanced from a seven-candidate March 3, 2026 Democratic primary, winning one of the two Democratic nominations alongside Mona Singh, and faces Republicans Kyle Stogoski and Gary Hartong in the November 3, 2026 general election [1][4].\n\n## Background and education\nKushner is 62 years old [2]. In an Indy Week candidate questionnaire, she describes her education as a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science, as a Morehead Scholar, from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University; she also says she is a William C. Friday Fellow for Human Relations through the Wildacres Leadership Initiative [2].\n\n## Career\nKushner was first elected to the Wake County Board of Education in 2011 and served 11 years, through three re-elections, including terms as board Chair and Vice Chair [1][2][3]. She has since served four years on the Wake County Health and Human Services Board [1][2]. She says she was appointed by then-Governor Roy Cooper in 2023 to represent North Carolina on the Southern Regional Education Board [2][3]. Indy Week describes her earlier career as a health care policy analyst and nonprofit administrator [1]; her campaign lists her current occupation as a self-employed policy analyst and writer [2].\n\n## Office history\nWake County Board of Education, 2011-2022 (three re-elections; served terms as Chair and Vice Chair) [1][2][3].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nOn her campaign site and in her Indy Week questionnaire, Kushner says she will draw on her school-board experience to advocate for public education -- particularly students' behavioral and mental health needs -- pursue expanded property-tax relief for residents on fixed incomes, and work with municipal and nonprofit leaders on affordable housing and homelessness [2][3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Who's Running For Wake County Board of Commissioners? - Indy Week](https://indyweek.com/news/whos-running-wake-county-board-of-commissioners/) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n[2] [Wake County Board of County Commissioners, At-Large: Christine Kushner - Indy Week](https://indyweek.com/news/wake-county-board-of-county-commissioners-christine-kushner-2026/) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n[3] [Christine Kushner for Wake County - campaign site](https://christineforwake.com) -- accessed 2026-07-19\n[4] North Carolina State Board of Elections 2026 candidate filing list (`Candidate_Listing_2026.csv`, dl.ncsbe.gov), accessed 2026-07-19\n","firstname":"Christine","lastname":"Kushner","middlename":"C","suffix":null,"token":"a6eb27ebcebc78e5"},"token":"8nV25rb-NSXogble"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":"county_commission","office":"county_commission","officedescription":"A county commissioner is a member of the county's legislative body. The commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, authorizes borrowing, and passes county resolutions and ordinances. Commissioners are elected from districts (or at-large seats) to represent constituents on countywide policy.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on countywide matters \u2014 budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues \u2014 within Tennessee county-government law.\n- Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.\n- Constituent relations in the district \u2014 case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Commissioner","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":2,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Wake County Board Of Commissioners At-Large"}