{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJessica \"Jess\" Young McLean ran for Asheville City Council in the March 3, 2026 nonpartisan primary, in which 20 candidates competed for 3 seats [2]. She did not advance from the primary and will not appear on the November 2026 general-election ballot, according to her campaign website [1].\n\n## Background and education\nMcLean was raised in Asheville, attending Estes Elementary, Valley Springs Middle School, and T.C. Roberson High School [1]. She lives in the Oakley neighborhood [1].\n\n## Career\nMcLean is co-executive director of Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe, a nonprofit literacy program serving Asheville and Buncombe County [1][2]. Per Mountain Xpress's candidate questionnaire, she brought \"more than five years\" of nonprofit leadership experience working with families facing barriers in education, housing, health care, food access, transit, and wages; this was her first campaign for public office [2]. She has served as Board President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Western NC and Board President of Stewart/Owen Dance [1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Jess Young McLean for Asheville City Council](https://www.votejessmclean.com/)\n- [2] [2026 Primary Voter Guide: Asheville City Council \u2013 Mountain Xpress](https://mountainx.com/news/politics-elections/2026-primary-voter-guide-asheville-city-council/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"asheville_city_council","county":"buncombe","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"City Of Asheville City Council"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Jessica","fullname":"Jessica Young Mclean","lastname":"Mclean","middlename":"Young","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"asheville_city_council","contest_title":"City Of Asheville City Council","county":"buncombe","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"buncombe","office_key":"city_council","office_title":"City Council Member","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"buncombe","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"asheville_city_council","contest_title":"City Of Asheville City Council","county":"buncombe","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"buncombe","office_key":"city_council","office_title":"City Council Member","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"city_council","office_title":"City Council Member","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"terms":[],"token":"b2a3b528dc20f43b"}