{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Tracey A. Johnson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Tracey A. Johnson is the incumbent Chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners and is seeking re\u2011election to represent District\u202f03 on the Board in the 2026 general election. The Board of Commissioners governs Washington County, North Carolina, overseeing the county\u2019s budget, land\u2011use planning, public safety, health services, and infrastructure, and each commissioner is responsible for representing the interests of their district while collaborating on county\u2011wide policy decisions. Johnson, a Democrat, currently serves as the county\u2019s chief elected official and will be on the ballot for a fourth term.\n\nJohnson has served as a Washington County commissioner since 2006, giving her more than a decade of experience in local government. She rose to the position of Board Chair, a role that involves setting meeting agendas, leading policy discussions, and acting as the public face of the county government. In addition to her county duties, Johnson was elected by her fellow commissioners to represent North Carolina on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors for a two\u2011year term, a position that allows her to influence national policy affecting counties across the United States [6][9].\n\nHer leadership has been recognized at the state level. Johnson is the immediate past President of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) and was inducted into the NCACC Hall of Fame class of 2025, highlighting her contributions to rural advocacy, broadband expansion, and inter\u2011county collaboration [10]. During her tenure as NCACC President, she championed a federal broadband presidential initiative, speaking on a national panel to help secure funding for connectivity in underserved areas of North Carolina. Johnson continues to be a vocal advocate for broadband access, rural hospitals, and economic development, testifying before Congress on the challenges facing rural health facilities.\n\nBeyond broadband, Johnson has served on numerous advisory boards, including the Lottery Commission Advisory Board, the New Schools Advisory Board, the Sentencing Commission, the Airport Advisory Board, the STEM Project, the Northeast Commission, the NC East Alliance, and the Albemarle Commission. These roles reflect a broad policy portfolio that spans education, criminal justice, transportation, and regional economic initiatives. She has also testified in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Washington County\u2019s efforts to preserve its local hospital, underscoring her commitment to maintaining essential health services for rural residents.\n\nJohnson\u2019s platform for the 2026 race emphasizes continued investment in broadband infrastructure, support for rural health care, and fostering economic opportunities that retain young people in the county. She promises to leverage her state and national connections to bring additional resources to Washington County while maintaining transparent, fiscally responsible governance.\n\nIf elected, Johnson will continue to fulfill the statutory duties of a county commissioner, including budgeting, policy development, and oversight of county departments, while advocating for the specific needs of District\u202f03 residents.\n\n## Sources\n- [6] [From Tracey Johnson, Chair of the... - Washington County, ...](https://www.facebook.com/Washconc/posts/from-tracey-johnson-chair-of-the-washington-county-board-of-commissioners-the-vo/2575654609123489/)\n- [9] [Hon. Tracey Johnson | National Association of Counties](https://www.naco.org/people/hon-tracey-johnson)\n- [10] [Tracey Johnson Named to the NC Association of County Commissioners Hall of Fame - Beaufort County Community College](https://www.beaufortccc.edu/tracey-johnson-named-to-the-nc-association-of-county-commissioners-hall-of-fame/)","firstname":"Tracey","lastname":"Johnson","middlename":"A","suffix":null,"token":"35f0b5ee55f8f678"},"token":"UJxDrGIIAwuR9zyq"}],"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":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Washington County Board Of Commissioners District 03"}