{"biography":"Ashley Mcmullan Woolard is a Republican candidate for the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 election in Beaufort, North Carolina. He is seeking a seat on the county\u2019s governing body, which is responsible for setting policy, approving the budget, and overseeing local services such as public safety, land use, and infrastructure.\n\nWoolard was born and raised in Beaufort County, graduating from Washington High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in business from East Carolina University. After college he joined the family\u2011owned Woolard Insurance Group, eventually becoming its president (or vice\u2011president, according to his own statements) and building a career as a small\u2011business owner in the region.[1]\n\nHis political involvement began early. Woolard served as Chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party from March\u202f2007 to March\u202f2009, a role in which he helped organize local GOP activities and candidate recruitment.[1][4] He also held leadership positions in civic groups, including three years as an officer of the Washington Rotary Club (earning Rotarian of the Year in 2005), and service as president of the Old Ford Ruritan Club in 2004, where he was named Ruritan of the Year in 2002.[4]\n\nWoolard first ran for elected office in 2014, seeking the Republican nomination for North Carolina House District\u202f6. His platform emphasized two tracks: lowering taxes and reducing regulation to foster small\u2011business job creation, and maintaining a strong job base while supporting a raise for all teachers without tenure\u2011related penalties.[1] He again pursued the District\u202f6 seat in 2016, finishing a close second in the Republican primary with 36.73% of the vote behind Beverly Boswell\u2019s 39.27%.[1] Although he did not win the primary, his campaigns highlighted a conservative fiscal agenda, support for eliminating the state income tax, and a pledge to protect constitutional principles.[1]\n\nIn 2009 Woolard announced a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 1st Congressional District, positioning himself as a \u201ccitizen\u2011legislator\u201d who would remain rooted in Beaufort County while serving in Washington. His campaign messaging stressed opposition to what he described as intrusive federal government, a commitment to conservative values, and a promise to defend the Constitution.[4][9]\n\nWhile Woolard has not held elected office, his repeated candidacies and party leadership experience have kept him visible in local politics. His current run for the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners builds on his business background and long\u2011standing involvement in community organizations, and he continues to advocate for lower taxes, limited government regulation, and policies he believes will benefit small businesses and families in eastern North Carolina.[1][4]\n\nIf elected, Woolard says he will bring a \u201cconservative platform of fiscal awareness\u201d to the board, aiming to balance budgetary responsibility with support for essential services and local economic development. He also emphasizes his intention to remain a \u201ccitizen\u2011politician,\u201d living in Beaufort County when not serving in a governmental role, and to uphold Judeo\u2011Christian values in public decision\u2011making.[4][9]\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Ashley Woolard - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ashley_Woolard)\n- [4] [Ashley Woolard Announces his Candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives, 1st District | Eastern NC Now](https://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/49/ashley-woolard-announces-his-candidacy-for-the-u-s-house-of-representatives-1st-district.html)\n- [9] [Ashley Woolard for Congress](https://web.archive.org/web/20101029062440/http://woolardforcongress.com/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","county":"beaufort","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Beaufort County Board Of Commissioners"},{"contest":"county_commission","county":"beaufort","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Beaufort County Board Of Commissioners"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Ashley","fullname":"Ashley Mcmullan Woolard","lastname":"Woolard","middlename":"Mcmullan","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Beaufort County Board Of Commissioners","county":"beaufort","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"beaufort","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Beaufort County Board Of Commissioners","county":"beaufort","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"beaufort","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"beaufort","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Beaufort County Board Of Commissioners","county":"beaufort","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"beaufort","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":"Republican Ashley Mcmullan Woolard, a Beaufort County business owner and former GOP chair, is running for the county Board of Commissioners in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"5b8e37d50dec1cce"}