Mary Ellen Michelle Kustin

Current office and 2026 campaign

Mary Ellen Kustin is a Democratic candidate running for an at-large seat on the Henderson County Board of Education in North Carolina ⁷. She has filed for the 2026 election cycle, with filing deadlines closing earlier this year ⁴. Kustin resides in Hendersonville with her husband and two young children ⁷.

Her professional background includes a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and master’s degrees in sustainable development and conservation biology and public policy ⁷. She has previously served as a candidate for the same board in 2022 and 2024 ^{1 2}. In the current cycle, she has been endorsed by the Henderson County Democratic Party and introduced her platform alongside fellow candidate Doyle Brown during party events ¹¹. Kustin also participated in a forum hosted by Moms for Liberty, where candidates introduced themselves to voters ⁶.

Background and education

Mary Ellen Kustin resides in Hendersonville with her husband and two young children ⁷. She is a native of Texas ³. Regarding her religious affiliation, available sources do not provide specific details.

Kustin holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics, as well as two master's degrees in sustainable development, conservation biology, and public policy ⁷.

Career

Mary Ellen Kustin holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and two master’s degrees in sustainable development and conservation biology and public policy ⁷. She resides in Hendersonville with her husband and two young children ⁷.

Professionally, Kustin has served as the executive director of the United Way of Henderson County ¹². Her background includes work in sustainable development and conservation biology ⁷.

Office history

Mary Ellen Kustin ran for the Henderson County Schools Board of Education in an at-large race in 2022 ¹. She filed as a candidate for the same position again in 2024 ². In that cycle, she was identified as a frontrunner during the filing period and campaigned as a Democrat ⁴⁷.

Kustin is currently running for the Henderson County Board of Education Member seat in the 2026 election ⁶. She has participated in campaign events such as the Moms for America forum and Front Porch Conversations organized by the Henderson County Democratic Party ⁶¹⁰.

Business interests and wealth source

Mary Ellen Kustin holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and two master’s degrees in sustainable development, conservation biology, and public policy ⁷. She is married and resides in Hendersonville with her husband and two young children ⁷.

Kustin states that she and her husband are winners of culinary competitions for their chili brand, Pure Texan Chili, having won state championships in multiple states including Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, Wyoming, California, and Hawaii, as well as reaching the 2019 International Championship Finalist stage ³. The family business has reportedly sold products through online platforms such as a dedicated website and Facebook ³⁵.

Specific details regarding Kustin’s personal wealth sources, ownership stakes in businesses, or significant financial disclosure facts are not provided in the available records ⁸⁹.

Family

Kustin self-describes as living in Hendersonville with her husband and two young children ⁷. Her husband is identified as Doyle Brown ¹¹. There is no publicly available information indicating that her family members hold political office or are public figures.

Sources