{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJacob Darrell Nelms is an incumbent member of the Graham County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina, having served since 2014. He is running for continued service on the board in 2026. Nelms also serves as the county's Building Inspector.\n\nNot available from public sources.\n\n## Background and education\nNot available from public sources.\n\n## Career\nNelms serves simultaneously as a Graham County Commissioner and as the county's Building Inspector. In early 2026, a significant controversy arose when Graham County District Attorney Ashley Welch filed a petition for the removal of Sheriff Brad Hoxit, alleging the sheriff's office had abused its power by conducting an investigation into Nelms regarding alleged falsification of inspection records and time sheets. Nelms contested the characterization of his conduct. He has also been associated with a food services venture called 28 Hospitality.\n\nNot available from public sources.\n\n## Family\nNot available from public sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Graham County Sheriff Removal Hearing \u2013 Smoky Mountain News](https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/41110-keeping-the-faith-first-of-its-kind-sheriff-removal-hearing-plays-out-in-graham-county)\n- [2] [Graham County Board of Commissioners \u2013 Official Website](https://www.grahamcounty.org/county_comm.html)\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","county":"graham","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Graham County Board Of Commissioners"},{"contest":"county_commission","county":"graham","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Graham County Board Of Commissioners"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Jacob","fullname":"Jacob Darrell Nelms","lastname":"Nelms","middlename":"Darrell","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Graham County Board Of Commissioners","county":"graham","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"graham","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Graham County Board Of Commissioners","county":"graham","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"graham","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"graham","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Graham County Board Of Commissioners","county":"graham","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"graham","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Jacob Nelms is identified as a candidate for the Graham County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina during the 2022 election cycle.","terms":[],"token":"ad6310ea23edb5c2"}