{"biography":"Marsie Karis West is the Democratic candidate for Forsyth County\u2019s Board of Commissioners, District\u202fB, on the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election ballot.  County Commissioners in Forsyth set policy, approve the annual budget, oversee strategic vision, and coordinate with the County Manager, city leaders, and school officials on issues such as budgeting, school funding, housing, and public safety\u202f[12][9].\n\nWest was born in Buffalo, New\u202fYork, earned her high\u2011school diploma from Hamden High School, and graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983\u202f[1].  After college she began her career in finance, working for large insurance companies and institutional banks where she led operational teams across multiple cities and managed strategic transformation programs focused on process improvement and internal consulting\u202f[9][1].  Her professional experience also includes living abroad in Hong\u00a0Kong and Macau and traveling the country with Cirque du Soleil before returning to Forsyth County to be near family\u202f[9].\n\nHer public\u2011service r\u00e9sum\u00e9 includes more than a decade of elected experience in Reading, Massachusetts.  She served on the Reading Select Board (2013\u20112015), including a term as Vice Chair (2014\u20112015), was Commissioner of Trust Funds, chaired the Zoning Bylaw Advisory Committee, and acted as Municipal Light Commissioner (2012\u20112013).  West also chaired the town\u2019s Finance Committee (2010\u20112012) and served on the Town Audit Committee and Town Meeting for several years\u202f[1].  These roles gave her direct experience with municipal budgeting, zoning, and community outreach\u202f[9].\n\nWest first sought a Forsyth County commission seat in 2024, finishing third in the general election behind three Republican incumbents\u202f[1].  She ran again in 2026, defeating fellow Democrat Adam Hill in the March\u202f3 primary with 62.2\u202f% of the vote (13,429 votes)\u202f[1].  In the November\u202f3 general election she will face Republican Chris Parker\u202f[1].  In a 2026 forum West emphasized that the District\u202fB race could shift the partisan balance of the seven\u2011member board, which is currently four Republicans to three Democrats, and highlighted the need for Democratic leadership on budget management, school funding, and housing\u202f[12].\n\nWest\u2019s campaign platform stresses transparency, collaborative leadership, and a strategic vision for Forsyth County.  She argues that her combined public\u2011sector finance expertise and hands\u2011on municipal experience equip her to oversee the county\u2019s budget, balance fiscal constraints with community service needs, and engage diverse constituents through outreach sessions and brainstorming meetings\u202f[9][5].  Key policy priorities she cites include strengthening public education funding, expanding affordable housing, and enhancing public safety while minimizing tax burdens\u202f[9].\n\nResiding across the street from the historic home built by her husband\u2019s grandparents, West lives in Forsyth County with her family and remains active in local civic affairs\u202f[9].  Her campaign website provides additional details and a portal for supporters to receive text updates\u202f[5].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Marsie West - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Marsie_West)\n- [5] [Marsie West for Forsyth County Commission B](https://west4forsyth.com/)\n- [6] [Endorsements for Marsie West - North Carolina Democratic Party Candidate](https://bluevoterguide.org/NC/candidate_Marsie_West/530421)\n- [9] [West 4 Forsyth](https://west4forsyth.com/about-marsie)\n- [11] [Marsie West platform & website | Forsyth County Commissioner, Ward B, Democratic Primary](https://www.branch.vote/races/2024-nc-primary-election-nc-state-county-commissioner-nc-forsyth-county-district-b-d/candidates/marsie-west)\n- [12] [High-stakes race in Forsyth could reshape county commission | 88.5 WFDD](https://www.wfdd.org/politics-government/2026-02-06/high-stakes-race-in-forsyth-could-reshape-county-commission)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_b","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Forsyth County Board Of Commissioners District B"},{"contest":"county_commission_district_b","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Forsyth County Board Of Commissioners District B"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Marsie","fullname":"Marsie Karis West","lastname":"West","middlename":"Karis","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_b","contest_title":"Forsyth County Board Of Commissioners District B","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"forsyth","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_commission_district_b","contest_title":"Forsyth County Board Of Commissioners District B","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"forsyth","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"forsyth","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_b","contest_title":"Forsyth County Board Of Commissioners District B","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"forsyth","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":"Marsie West, a finance professional and former Massachusetts town official, is the Democratic candidate for Forsyth County Commissioner District\u202fB in the 2026 election.","terms":[],"token":"839a702db355636b"}