{"biography":"Ray Gasperson is the Democratic candidate for the Polk County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 North Carolina general election, scheduled for November\u202f3,\u202f2026. He previously appeared on the ballot for the same three\u2011seat commission in the 2022 and 2024 elections, running as a Democrat each time\u30101\u2020L1-L4\u3011\u30102\u2020L1-L4\u3011. \n\nPublicly available biographical details such as education or prior professional employment are not provided on his Ballotpedia pages, which note that no biographical information was submitted\u30101\u2020L1-L2\u3011\u30102\u2020L1-L2\u3011. \n\nGasperson has been active in local policy discussions. In a 2022 Q&A with the Tryon Daily Bulletin he emphasized protecting property\u2011rights and privacy for residents along the proposed Saluda Grade rail\u2011to\u2011trail corridor, warning against the use of eminent domain to acquire land\u301012\u2020L13-L18\u3011. His campaign website describes him as a leader committed to \u201cworking hard, listening to all sides of the issues, and respecting every person\u2019s voice\u201d and highlights a record of service for Polk County\u30106\u2020L1-L5\u3011. \n\nWhile specific legislative achievements are not listed, his stated platform focuses on responsible development, safeguarding individual property rights, and fostering community input on growth projects. The campaign messaging underscores a dedication to transparent, inclusive governance and to representing the diverse voices of Polk County residents. These positions are consistent with his public comments on the rail\u2011to\u2011trail project and the broader emphasis on listening and respect found on his website.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Ray Gasperson (Polk County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Gasperson_(Polk_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [2] [Ray Gasperson (Polk County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2024) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Gasperson_(Polk_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2024))\n- [6] [Ray Gasperson for Polk County Commissioner](https://ray4polk.com/)\n- [10] [County commissioner candidate Ray Gasperson by Polk Lore](https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/james-hrynyshyn5/episodes/County-commissioner-candidate-Ray-Gasperson-e2o1nip)\n- [12] [Q&A with candidates for Polk County Board of Commissioners | The Tryon Daily Bulletin](https://tryondailybulletin.com/2022/10/25/qa-with-candidates-for-polk-county-board-of-commissioners/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","county":"polk","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Polk County Board Of Commissioners"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Ray","fullname":"Ray Douglas Gasperson","lastname":"Gasperson","middlename":"Douglas","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Polk County Board Of Commissioners","county":"polk","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"polk","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"polk","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Polk County Board Of Commissioners","county":"polk","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"polk","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Democratic candidate Ray Gasperson seeks a Polk County Board of Commissioners seat in 2026, emphasizing property rights, community listening, and local service.","terms":[],"token":"70fe7fc7c40645f3"}