{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Holly Fehl","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Holly Fehl is a Democratic candidate for Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court in North Carolina\u2019s 2026 election cycle. She appeared on the Democratic primary ballot on March 3, 2026, where she competed against fellow Democrat Jon Fullen for the party\u2019s nomination for the clerk\u2019s office [1]. Fehl also sought the same position in the 2022 election, appearing on the general\u2011election ballot on November 8, 2022, where she faced Republican challenger Charles M. Haynes [3]. Both Ballotpedia entries note that she is affiliated with the Democratic Party and that she did not complete Ballotpedia\u2019s Candidate Connection survey for either the 2022 or 2026 contests [1][3].\n\nBallotpedia does not provide a narrative biography for Fehl; the biography section for the 2026 page states that no biographical information was received [1]. The pages likewise contain no listed phone number or campaign website for her candidacy. The only contact information supplied is an email address: fehlforclerk@gmail.com is shown on the 2022 page, and FEHLFORCLERK@GMAIL.COM appears on the 2026 page, both of which can be used to request additional details or to ask the candidate to complete the survey [1][3].\n\nThe external\u2011links section of each page contains only Ballotpedia logos and generic placeholder silhouettes; no portrait of Fehl is provided, and no other image appears to represent her personally [1][3].\n\nIn summary, Holly Fehl\u2019s public record on Ballotpedia consists of her candidacies for Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court in 2022 and 2026, her Democratic Party affiliation, the names of her opponents in each race, the absence of a completed candidate survey, and the email addresses listed for voter outreach. No additional personal, educational, or professional background information is available from the cited sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Holly Fehl (Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Holly_Fehl_(Watauga_County_Clerk_of_Superior_Court,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n- [3] [Holly Fehl (Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Holly_Fehl_(Watauga_County_Clerk_of_Superior_Court,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))","firstname":"Holly","lastname":"Fehl","middlename":"Bernice","suffix":null,"token":"7721edb6f637f0fd"},"token":"I0aKzAihQHdGZZfM"},{"candidatename":"Charles M. Haynes","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Charles Milton Haynes is the incumbent Clerk of Superior Court for Watauga County, North Carolina, and is the Republican candidate seeking election to a full four\u2011year term on November\u202f3,\u202f2026. The Clerk of Superior Court is an elected official responsible for record\u2011keeping and clerical functions of the superior and district courts, probate of wills, estate administration, and special proceedings such as foreclosures, adoptions, and land condemnations; the office also appoints guardians, schedules Small Claims Court, issues subpoenas and warrants, and collects fines and court costs [10].\n\nHaynes has spent more than eight years working within the Watauga County Clerk\u2019s office, first as a deputy clerk and later as an assistant clerk, gaining experience in the day\u2011to\u2011day operations of the court system [11]. In April\u202f2021, Honorable Gary M. Gavenus appointed him to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of longtime Clerk Diane Cornett Deal, and he was sworn in on June\u202f1, 2021 by Judge Rebecca Eggers\u2011Gryder, with his wife Caitlin holding the Bible during the ceremony [8][11]. Since his appointment, Haynes has continued to serve the office while preparing for his first election campaign, stating that he is \u201cexcited to run\u201d for the next term [8].\n\nBeyond his county duties, Haynes was selected as the Watauga County representative on the executive committee of the North Carolina Conference of Clerks of Superior Court for the 2024\u201125 term, a body that meets monthly to discuss court administration, legislative issues, and collaborative initiatives among clerks statewide [2]. This role underscores his involvement in broader judicial administration and policy discussions across North Carolina.\n\nHaynes\u2019 office is located in the Watauga County Courthouse, Room\u202f117, with a mailing address of 842 West King Street, Suite\u202f13, Boone, NC\u202f28607, and can be reached by phone at (828)\u202f268\u20116600 [10]. No public email address has been listed in the sources consulted. As a candidate, Haynes is expected to emphasize continuity of service, his extensive on\u2011the\u2011job experience, and his participation in statewide clerk leadership, though a formal platform has not been published in the available sources.\n\nThe upcoming 2026 election will be Haynes\u2019 first contested race for the Clerk of Superior Court, transitioning from his appointed term to an elected four\u2011year term that will allow him to continue overseeing vital court functions for Watauga County residents.\n\n## Sources\n- [2] [North Carolina Conference of Clerks of Superior Court 2024-2025 Officers Sworn In | North Carolina Judicial Branch](https://www.nccourts.gov/news/tag/press-release/north-carolina-conference-of-clerks-of-superior-court-2024-2025-officers-sworn-in)\n- [3] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [4] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [5] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [8] [Haynes sworn in as new Clerk of Court, plans to run for election | Watauga | wataugademocrat.com](https://www.wataugademocrat.com/watauga/haynes-sworn-in-as-new-clerk-of-court-plans-to-run-for-election/article_a807eacf-26e4-5bbf-8bdd-b34e879003ae.html)\n- [9] [Watauga County \u2013 North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds](https://www.ncard.us/find-your-register-of-deeds/watauga-county/)\n- [10] [Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court](https://www.wataugacounty.org/App_Pages/Dept/ClerkofCourt/home.aspx)\n- [11] [Charles Haynes appointed to fill Clerk of Court position beginning June 1 - WataugaOnline.com](https://wataugaonline.com/charles-haynes-appointed-to-fill-clerk-of-court-position-beginning-june-1/)\n- [12] [Watauga County Clerk Of Court Records](https://watauga-county-clerk-of-court-records.govbackgroundchecks.com/index.php)","firstname":"Charles","lastname":"Haynes","middlename":"Milton","suffix":null,"token":"541b9f2885369fee"},"token":"yYj-nMGfSII-Tv4M"}],"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":"Watauga County Clerk Of Superior Court"}