{"biography":"Brandon Keith Pitman is the current County Extension Director for Agriculture in Mitchell County, North Carolina, and is a Republican candidate for the Mitchell County Board of Education in the 2026 general election. The Board of Education is responsible for setting policy, approving curricula, overseeing the county\u2019s school budget, and hiring the superintendent, duties that require familiarity with local educational needs and community resources.\n\nPitman\u2019s professional background is rooted in agricultural outreach. As the Mitchell County Extension Director, he leads the local office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension, a partnership between North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and state and federal agencies that delivers research\u2011based education to residents. In this role he coordinates programs that support farmers, provides disaster assistance information, and promotes sustainable agricultural practices across the county[9].\n\nIn addition to his extension work, Pitman has previously sought elected office. He ran as a nonpartisan candidate for an at\u2011large seat on the Mitchell County Board of Education in the November 8, 2022 general election, appearing on the ballot alongside other local candidates[1]. Although he did not complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, the 2022 campaign demonstrates his ongoing interest in serving the county\u2019s educational system.\n\nPitman\u2019s recent public activities highlight his focus on agricultural resilience. In a 2025 episode of the \u201cWe Are Mitchell\u201d podcast, he explained the North Carolina General Assembly\u2019s $300\u202fmillion disaster\u2011crop\u2011loss program, guiding local producers on how to apply for aid and outlining Cooperative Extension\u2019s role in recovery efforts after severe weather events such as Hurricane Helene[12]. This outreach underscores his experience in navigating state resources and communicating complex information to rural constituents.\n\nWhile specific details of Pitman\u2019s formal education are not provided in the available sources, his leadership position within the Cooperative Extension suggests a background in agricultural science or a related field. His combined experience in agricultural extension and prior candidacy for the school board positions him as a candidate familiar with both the economic and educational challenges facing Mitchell County residents.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Brandon Pitman (Mitchell County Board of Education, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brandon_Pitman_(Mitchell_County_Board_of_Education,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [9] [Brandon Pitman - County Extension Director, Agriculture](https://mitchell.ces.ncsu.edu/profile/brandon-pitman/)\n- [12] [Agriculture Disaster Crop Loss Program - Brandon Pitman | We Are Mitchell](https://wearemitchell.podbean.com/e/agriculture-disaster-crop-loss-program-brandon-pitman/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board","county":"mitchell","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Mitchell County Board Of Education"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Brandon","fullname":"Brandon Keith Pitman","lastname":"Pitman","middlename":"Keith","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board","contest_title":"Mitchell County Board Of Education","county":"mitchell","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"mitchell","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"mitchell","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board","contest_title":"Mitchell County Board Of Education","county":"mitchell","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"mitchell","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Brandon Pitman, Mitchell County Extension Director for Agriculture, is the Republican candidate for the 2026 Mitchell County Board of Education race.","terms":[],"token":"1a186fc312a72958"}