{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nFredrick Edward Crawford, known publicly as Fred Crawford, is an unaffiliated candidate for Swain County Commission Chairman in the 2026 election. As an unaffiliated candidate, Crawford was required to collect petition signatures from approximately 397 registered voters to qualify for the November ballot. He collected 550 signatures.\n\nCrawford emphasizes government transparency and bringing private-sector management experience to county leadership.\n\n## Career\nCrawford spent 25 years working for a public water and electric utility that served 60 counties in rural central Texas, where he managed the company's real estate division. After retiring, he moved to Swain County, North Carolina, and began attending county commission meetings and offering public comments.\n\nCrawford serves on the board of directors of Mainspring Conservation Trust. He is Swain County's delegate to the North Carolina Senior Tarheel Legislature. He teaches yoga and has been a leader in the Swain County Beekeepers Association.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Unaffiliated candidates test their mettle in WNC counties \u2013 Smoky Mountain News](https://smokymountainnews.com/news/news-latest/unaffiliated-candidates-test-their-mettle-in-wnc-counties/)\n- [2] [Some NC candidates reject parties. Here's how they get on your ballot \u2013 WFAE](https://www.wfae.org/politics/2026-04-23/some-nc-candidates-reject-parties-heres-how-they-get-on-your-ballot)\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_chairman","county":"swain","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Swain County Board Of Commissioners Chairman"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Fredrick","fullname":"Fredrick Edward Crawford","lastname":"Crawford","middlename":"Edward","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_chairman","contest_title":"Swain County Board Of Commissioners Chairman","county":"swain","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"swain","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"UNA","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"swain","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_chairman","contest_title":"Swain County Board Of Commissioners Chairman","county":"swain","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"swain","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"UNA","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"UNA","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Fredrick Edward Crawford is listed as a candidate for County Commission Chairman in Beaufort County, NC, with filing closing in December 2025.","terms":[],"token":"aa37fb9b7c738c57"}