Sheila M Cuffee

Sheila M. Cuffee is the Democratic candidate for the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, District 1, seeking one of the two seats that will be filled after the November 3, 2026 general election. County Commissioners in Cumberland County are elected officials who set county policy, adopt the annual budget, and oversee services such as public safety, health, infrastructure, and economic development ¹.

Cuffee was born and raised in Cumberland County and graduated from C. Reid Ross High School in 1978. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Regent University in 2020 and a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Shaw University Divinity School in 2025 ¹⁹. Her professional background is listed as “Advocate,” and she has extensive experience serving on nonprofit and governmental boards.

Since 2014, Cuffee has been active on the Fayetteville‑Cumberland Human Relations Commission, serving as a member (2014‑2018) and chair (2016‑2018). She has held leadership roles with Cumberland County CommuniCare, including chairmanship beginning in 2022, and has been a gubernatorial appointee to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission since 2021. Additional board service includes the Fayetteville Arts Council (2024‑present), Greater Fayetteville United (2014‑2023), and the First Baptist Church Corporation Board of Directors (2024‑present) ⁹.

In the 2026 Democratic primary, Cuffee ran alongside four other candidates and placed second with 3,494 votes (26.30 %), securing one of the two nominations for District 1 ¹¹. The district encompasses Spring Lake, Fort Bragg, and portions of Fayetteville, including the Murchison Road corridor and downtown areas.

Cuffee’s campaign platform emphasizes three priority areas: economic revitalization, health and human services, and housing stability. She advocates for attracting new businesses, supporting small and minority‑owned enterprises, and expanding workforce development in partnership with local schools and colleges. She calls for comprehensive mental‑health services, stronger partnerships with providers, and increased outreach. On housing, she supports affordable‑housing development and programs that help families maintain stable residences ⁹¹⁰.

Her public statements also address environmental concerns, such as protecting water resources and addressing methane leaks from a local landfill, and she supports expanding countywide water service and a regional aquatic center to create jobs and community amenities ¹⁰.

Cuffee’s community‑focused approach is rooted in her identity as a military spouse and her belief in servant leadership, humility, and accountability. She has been recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Awards (under Presidents Bush and Obama) and the Burton Pate Award for Commissioner of the Year (2015, 2018) ⁹.

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