John Allen Shearl

John Allen Shearl is the incumbent Republican commissioner for Macon County Board of Commissioners District 1 and is seeking re‑election in the 2026 general election held on November 3, 2026. He first won the District 1 seat in the November 8, 2022 general election and has served on the board since then, participating in budget, capital‑improvement and personnel decisions for the county [1][4][10].

Shearl grew up in Franklin, North Carolina, and graduated from Franklin High School. He is a licensed North Carolina contractor and the founder of Shearl Produce, Inc., a family‑owned business in Otto that he has operated for more than three decades. He also owns J&J Lawn Service and Home Maintenance in Highlands. In addition to his business career, Shearl served as a Highlands firefighter and medical responder, and later retired from the Highlands Fire Department. He has been a member of the Macon County Planning Board and coached baseball at Highlands High School, earning the school’s “Service to the School” award [4].

During his first term on the commission, Shearl emphasized low taxes, property‑rights protection, and fiscal restraint. He opposed a proposed grading‑license requirement for land‑disturbing activities, arguing it infringed on private property rights, and he voted against the county’s premium‑pay plan for employees, questioning the legality of using ARPA funds for that purpose [8][10]. He has also spoken about the pending tax revaluation, capital‑improvement projects, and the need for high‑speed internet access in the county, promising to scrutinize expenditures and, when appropriate, place major projects before voters via referenda [5][12].

Shearl’s personal life includes his wife Lila Munger Shearl, three sons—Allen, Michael, and Jared—and several grandchildren. He lists his email as JOHN.SHEARL@MACONNC.ORG and his phone number as (828) 342‑6289, both provided by the Macon County GOP site [4].

Sources

• [1] John Shearl (Macon County Board of Commissioners District 1, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia
• [4] Macon County Info — Macon County GOP
• [5] Seven running for Commissioner seats, pt. 1 | The Highlander, Highlands, North Carolina
• [7] Candidate Profiles: Macon County Commissioners District I - The Southern Scoop
• [8] Republicans vie for Macon commissioner seat
• [9] John shearl
• [10] Mayhem in Macon
• [12] Macon commission candidates address issues facing county