{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Regina C. Billings","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Regina Combs Billings is the incumbent Clerk of Superior Court for Wilkes County, North Carolina, and is seeking re\u2011election as the Republican candidate in the 2026 race for the office. The Clerk of Superior Court is responsible for maintaining the county\u2019s judicial records, overseeing the general ledger that tracks all court\u2011related finances, managing evidence custody, and ensuring compliance with state audit standards across areas such as case\u2011file handling, cash disbursements, and human\u2011resources functions [1].\n\nBillings has served as the elected clerk since December 3, 2018, after a long career within the clerk\u2019s office spanning more than three decades. In an interview following a state\u2011mandated audit released in 2020, she highlighted that the office received an \u201ceffective\u201d rating in every evaluated category \u2014 the first such perfect result since the audit program began in 2014. The audit, conducted by the North Carolina Judicial Branch, examined the office\u2019s case\u2011file compliance, cash handling, general ledger accuracy, asset safeguarding, and evidence\u2011room procedures, all of which were found to meet or exceed standards [1].\n\nDuring the audit, Billings emphasized the importance of the general ledger, describing it as \u201cthe center of the clerk\u2019s office\u201d and noting its role in tracking a wide range of financial transactions, from trust funds for minors to traffic\u2011ticket fines and restitution payments. She credited her administrative assistant, Carla Royall, and Assistant Clerk Teresa Stone for their meticulous record\u2011keeping, which contributed to the clean audit outcome [1].\n\nBefore becoming the elected clerk, Billings worked for 31 years in various capacities within the Wilkes County clerk\u2019s office, gaining extensive experience in court administration and public service. The 2020 audit itself took place during North Carolina\u2019s COVID\u201119 shutdown, when the office was closed to walk\u2011in members of the public and business was conducted through the courthouse\u2019s front office window [1].\n\nIn the 2022 election cycle, Billings won the Republican primary on May 17, 2022 against Teresa Byers Stone, 6,834 votes to 3,397, and then ran unopposed in the November 8, 2022 general election, winning 21,198 votes, according to official North Carolina State Board of Elections results [2].\n\nBillings\u2019 platform for the 2026 race is expected to build on her record of achieving an exemplary audit rating, maintaining transparent financial practices, and ensuring the integrity of court records and evidence handling.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Clerk of court\u2019s office receives top marks in required state audit](https://www.journalpatriot.com/news/clerk-of-court-s-office-receives-top-marks-in-required-state-audit/article_7a50e868-d347-11ea-9c91-cfd79358399e.html) \u2014 Journal Patriot, July 31, 2020\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 official precinct-level results, Wilkes County Clerk of Superior Court, 2022 Republican primary (May 17, 2022) at https://dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2022_05_17/results_pct_20220517.zip and 2022 general election (November 8, 2022) at https://dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2022_11_08/results_pct_20221108.zip \u2014 accessed 2026-07-19","firstname":"Regina","lastname":"Billings","middlename":"Combs","suffix":null,"token":"59e96439649a7fee"},"token":"G-gUgwXbVo52fLPW"}],"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":"Wilkes County Clerk Of Superior Court"}