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Karla Foster Leonard
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Karla Foster Leonard is a Republican candidate for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 election. She won the Rowan County Republican primary on March 3, 2026, receiving 6,444 votes to finish first among the Republican field.
Leonard's campaign is organized around three priorities: balanced growth aligning residential development with land-use plans; job creation by streamlining permitting to attract industries offering competitive wages; and education and workforce by strengthening partnerships between the county, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and Rowan-Salisbury Schools.
Background and education
Leonard is a lifelong resident of Rowan County and a granddaughter of a farmer. She graduated from North Rowan High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Appalachian State University.
Career
After college, Leonard worked as a Transition Specialist for Rowan County Youth Services. She later served as Coalition Director for the North Carolina Republican Party during the 2012 election cycle. She subsequently founded New Pointe Realty. She currently serves as Director of Business Advocacy at the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.
Leonard has chaired the Rowan County Housing Authority and the East Spencer Housing Authority. She currently chairs the Rowan County Planning Board, where she is in her second term.
Family
Leonard resides in Rockwell with her husband and stepson.
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 “Leonard”.
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 “Leonard”.