{"biography":"Kevin Eugene Johnson is a Republican candidate for the unexpired at\u2011large seat on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 election.  He currently serves as the Program Manager for the North Carolina Foundation of Soil and Water Conservation, a nonprofit that works to protect family farms and preserve agricultural land in eastern North Carolina [9][11].\n\nJohnson spent more than a decade leading the county\u2019s agricultural outreach as the Wayne County Cooperative Extension director from 2011 until 2024, overseeing programs that assist local farmers and promote sustainable practices [11].  He also chaired the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors through 2023, where he helped shape small\u2011business development initiatives for the region [11].\n\nIn addition to his professional roles, Johnson has been an active community volunteer, youth soccer coach, and deacon at his church, and his family includes a son serving in the United States Navy [9].  These experiences form the basis of his stated commitment to \u201csteady, dependable, common\u2011sense leadership\u201d for Wayne County residents [9][11].\n\nJohnson\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes three core priorities.  First, he seeks to protect the county\u2019s farmland and support the \u201cagricultural backbone\u201d by advancing policies that preserve open space and assist farmers [11].  Second, he proposes strategic investments in water and sewer infrastructure, roads, and broadband\u2014especially in rural areas\u2014to strengthen small\u2011business growth, attract new employers, and bolster connections with Wayne Community College and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base [11].  Third, he pledges to safeguard taxpayers\u2019 dollars, increase transparency in board spending, and ensure public\u2011safety departments have adequate staffing and resources [11][9].\n\nIf elected, Johnson says he will remain accessible and visible across the county, listening to residents and guiding decisions that benefit both rural and urban communities while honoring the legacy of the late Commissioner Wayne Aycock [9][11].\n\n## Sources\n- [9] [Kevin Johnson Announces Candidacy for Wayne County Commissioner | Goldsboro Daily News](https://www.goldsborodailynews.com/2025/11/25/kevin-johnson-announces-candidacy-for-wayne-county-commissioner/)\n- [10] [Kevin Johnson - County Extension Director and Extension Agent, Agriculture](https://wayne.ces.ncsu.edu/profile/kevin-johnson/)\n- [11] [Johnson vies for county commissioner at-large seat | Local News | newsargus.com](https://www.newsargus.com/news/local/johnson-vies-for-county-commissioner-at-large-seat/article_eb9ebcc8-cc0e-5772-b133-e4bbd72beaff.html)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_at_large","county":"wayne","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Wayne County Board Of Commissioners At-Large (Unexpired)"},{"contest":"county_commission_at_large","county":"wayne","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Wayne County Board Of Commissioners At-Large (Unexpired)"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Kevin","fullname":"Kevin Eugene Johnson","lastname":"Johnson","middlename":"Eugene","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_at_large","contest_title":"Wayne County Board Of Commissioners At-Large (Unexpired)","county":"wayne","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"wayne","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_commission_at_large","contest_title":"Wayne County Board Of Commissioners At-Large (Unexpired)","county":"wayne","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"wayne","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"wayne","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_at_large","contest_title":"Wayne County Board Of Commissioners At-Large (Unexpired)","county":"wayne","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"wayne","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Kevin Eugene Johnson, a program manager and former extension director, is running as a Republican for the unexpired at\u2011large Wayne County Commissioner seat in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"55d7a08b128a4345"}