{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLee Kirkman (Obie Lee Kirkman Jr. in public records) is the Republican incumbent Chairman of the Craven County Board of Education, representing District 2 [1]. He is running unopposed for reelection in the November 3, 2026 general election [2].\n\n## Background and education\n\nKirkman was born and raised in Craven County and is \"a product of Craven County Schools,\" graduating from West Craven High School [1]. He earned a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics/Ag Business Management from NC State University and later a Master of School Administration/Educational Leadership degree from East Carolina University [1].\n\n## Career\n\nKirkman taught Agricultural Education and served as FFA Advisor at West Craven High School for thirteen years, then became Program Director for the Smaller Learning Communities Federal Grant, through which he helped establish the Freshman Academy, AVID, and Link-Crew programs [1]. He later served as Assistant Principal at West Craven High School before leaving for full-time ministry [1]. He currently serves as Pastor/Director at Kirkman Farm Ministries/Kirkman Family Farms in Cove City [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nKirkman chairs the Craven County Board of Education representing District 2, with a current term of March 2025 \u2013 November 2026 [1].\n\n## Family\n\nKirkman has two children, Grace and Isaac, both graduates of Craven County Schools \u2014 the district he governs [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Lee Kirkman \u2014 Craven County Board of Education](https://www.cravenk12.org/about/board-of-education) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-19\n\n[2] [Meet your Craven County Candidates for the 2026 Election](https://wcti12.com/news/election/meet-your-craven-county-candidates-for-the-2026-election) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-19","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_02","county":"craven","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Craven County Board Of Education District 02"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Obie","fullname":"Obie Lee Kirkman JR","lastname":"Kirkman","middlename":"Lee","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_02","contest_title":"Craven County Board Of Education District 02","county":"craven","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"craven","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"craven","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_02","contest_title":"Craven County Board Of Education District 02","county":"craven","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"craven","office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board","office_title":"County School Board Member","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"suffix":"JR","summary":"Obie Lee Kirkman\u202fJr. is the Republican incumbent on Craven County Board of Education District\u202f2, running for reelection in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"6973d05396872d34"}