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John Hughes Bender III
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
John Hughes Bender III, known as Jack Bender, is an unaffiliated candidate for the Jones County Board of Commissioners, District 3, in the November 3, 2026 general election. A WCTI12 report published in late February 2026 (updated March 6, 2026) described him as running unopposed 1. However, the North Carolina State Board of Elections' 2026 candidate filing list shows two more unaffiliated candidates, Fernanda Gayle Copeland and Richard Gene Avery Jr., later filed for the same District 3 seat -- both on April 15, 2026, after that report was published -- making this a three-candidate race 2.
Career
Bender is identified on LinkedIn as the Economic Development and Planning Director for Jones County, North Carolina 3 (LinkedIn requires login; reflects the public profile as of July 2026).
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
North Carolina — campaign finance
- State, county, and municipal candidates — all in one system — NC State Board of Elections — Committee Search. Search by last name “Bender”.
North Carolina — statement of economic interest
- Required for state-elected and many local officials — NC State Ethics Commission — Statement of Economic Interest Search. Search by last name “Bender”.