{"biography":"Sheila M. Cuffee is the Democratic candidate for the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, District\u202f1, seeking one of the two seats that will be filled after the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 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].\n\nCuffee was born and raised in Cumberland County and graduated from C.\u202fReid\u202fRoss 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 [1][9]. Her professional background is listed as \u201cAdvocate,\u201d and she has extensive experience serving on nonprofit and governmental boards.\n\nSince 2014, Cuffee has been active on the Fayetteville\u2011Cumberland Human Relations Commission, serving as a member (2014\u20112018) and chair (2016\u20112018). 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\u2011present), Greater Fayetteville United (2014\u20112023), and the First Baptist Church Corporation Board of Directors (2024\u2011present) [9].\n\nIn the 2026 Democratic primary, Cuffee ran alongside four other candidates and placed second with 3,494 votes (26.30\u202f%), securing one of the two nominations for District\u202f1 [11]. The district encompasses Spring Lake, Fort\u202fBragg, and portions of Fayetteville, including the Murchison Road corridor and downtown areas.\n\nCuffee\u2019s 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\u2011owned enterprises, and expanding workforce development in partnership with local schools and colleges. She calls for comprehensive mental\u2011health services, stronger partnerships with providers, and increased outreach. On housing, she supports affordable\u2011housing development and programs that help families maintain stable residences [9][10].\n\nHer 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].\n\nCuffee\u2019s community\u2011focused 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\u2019s Volunteer Service Awards (under Presidents Bush and Obama) and the Burton Pate Award for Commissioner of the Year (2015,\u202f2018) [9].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Sheila Cuffee (Cumberland County Board of Commissioners District 1, North Carolina, candidate 2026)](https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Cuffee_(Cumberland_County_Board_of_Commissioners_District_1,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n- [9] [Sheila Cuffee | Cumberland County District 1 | Get Involved Today](https://www.sheilacuffee.com/)\n- [10] [Cumberland County Commission, District 1: Sheila Cuffee](https://www.cityviewnc.com/stories/sheila-cuffee-qa-in-cumberland-county-commissioner-election/)\n- [11] [Adams, Cuffee Win District 1 Cumberland commissioner elections](https://www.cityviewnc.com/stories/glenn-adams-sheila-cuffee-win-democratic-primary/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_01","county":"cumberland","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Cumberland County Board Of Commissioners District 01"},{"contest":"county_commission_district_01","county":"cumberland","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Cumberland County Board Of Commissioners District 01"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Sheila","fullname":"Sheila M Cuffee","lastname":"Cuffee","middlename":"M","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_01","contest_title":"Cumberland County Board Of Commissioners District 01","county":"cumberland","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"cumberland","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_commission_district_01","contest_title":"Cumberland County Board Of Commissioners District 01","county":"cumberland","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"cumberland","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"cumberland","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_01","contest_title":"Cumberland County Board Of Commissioners District 01","county":"cumberland","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"cumberland","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Sheila M. Cuffee is the Democratic candidate for Cumberland County Commissioner District\u202f1, emphasizing economic growth, mental\u2011health services, and affordable housing.","terms":[],"token":"1e020df3062e4a36"}