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Thomas Winsor Appleby JR
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Thomas Winsor Appleby Jr., known as Tom Appleby, is a Bat Cave, North Carolina resident who ran in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for the Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 4 seat against incumbent Commissioner Rebecca McCall, who was seeking a third term 1. McCall won the primary, 7,285 votes to Appleby's 3,493 2; Appleby will not appear on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot 2.
Appleby did not respond to the Hendersonville Lightning's standard candidate-survey questions, instead submitting his own statement to the paper: he said he was committed to "helping farmers and citizens," intended to "re-evaluate all new projects" because he had "not been happy with the direction of the last four years," and said he had once sued to remove paid parking kiosks from downtown Hendersonville's Main Street shopping district because "the people own the right-of-way, not mayors" 1.
Career
Per his own statement to the Hendersonville Lightning, Appleby holds a four-year degree in business and economics and is a licensed ginseng dealer 1. He described himself as an outdoor enthusiast who skis, races, and hikes 1. Referencing hurricane recovery in the Bat Cave area, he said the community had relied heavily on volunteers and that, if elected, he hoped to help secure more county assistance for it 1.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
North Carolina — campaign finance
- State, county, and municipal candidates — all in one system — NC State Board of Elections — Committee Search. Search by last name “Appleby”.
North Carolina — statement of economic interest
- Required for state-elected and many local officials — NC State Ethics Commission — Statement of Economic Interest Search. Search by last name “Appleby”.