[{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign Joseph G. Butler is the incumbent Carroll County Mayor, running as the Republican candidate for re election in the August 6, 2026 general election 1 . Career Butler has served as Carroll County Mayor, with his office based at the county courthouse","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJoseph G. Butler is the incumbent Carroll County Mayor, running as the Republican candidate for re-election in the August 6, 2026 general election [1].\n\n## Career\nButler has served as Carroll County Mayor, with his office based at the county courthouse complex in Huntingdon [1]. In 2023, he was selected for a class of Leadership Tennessee, a statewide leadership-development program [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] Carroll County, Tennessee, official government website, accessed July 2026: https://www.carrollcountytn.gov/\n[2] The McKenzie Banner, \"Leadership Tennessee Names Mayor Joseph Butler to Class,\" July 18, 2023.","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Joseph","fullname":"Joseph G. Butler","lastname":"Butler","middlename":"G.","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"0X5vpXpV2X"},{"bio_snippet":"Philip Nolan Butler is a Republican candidate for an at\u2011large seat on the Rockingham County Board of Education in 2026, previously running for the same seat in 2022.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nPhilip Nolan Butler is a Republican candidate for one of three at-large seats on the Rockingham County Board of Education in the 2026 election. He appeared on the county's official Republican primary ballot (March 3, 2026) for the at-large seats alongside Kimberley Thompson-Hairston, Synthya Penaloza, and Kimberly McMichael [1].\n\n## Office history\nButler previously sought the same at-large seat in 2022. He was one of four Republican candidates in the May 17, 2022 primary, along with Jim Fink, Kimberly Walker McMichael, and Paula Harvell Rakestraw, and appeared on the November 8, 2022 general-election ballot as one of three Republican nominees for the three at-large positions, alongside McMichael and Rakestraw [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Sample Ballot \u2013 Republican Party Primary, Rockingham County, North Carolina, March 3, 2026](https://files.municipalone.com/rockinghamcounty-nc/SampleBallot-R-Stoneville1390100834123025AM.pdf)\n[2] [Philip Butler (Rockingham County Board of Education At-Large, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Philip_Butler_(Rockingham_County_Board_of_Education_At-Large,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Philip","fullname":"Philip Nolan Butler","lastname":"Butler","middlename":"Nolan","suffix":null,"summary":"Philip Nolan Butler is a Republican candidate for an at\u2011large seat on the Rockingham County Board of Education in 2026, previously running for the same seat in 2022.","token":"52d0bfa106821c4c"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Rev.","fullname":"Rev. Dr. John Butler","lastname":"Butler","middlename":"Dr. John","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"5PdSxRURde"},{"bio_snippet":"Per the NC voter file: DEM voter in Buncombe County since 1998.","biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Ronald Blake Butler is a registered voter in Buncombe County, North Carolina, registered since 1998 (28 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Ronald Blake Butler's year of birth as 1968; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 10 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Ronald Blake Butler can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Ronald","fullname":"Ronald Blake Butler","lastname":"Butler","middlename":"Blake","suffix":null,"summary":"Per the NC voter file: DEM voter in Buncombe County since 1998.","token":"84e9459fd3e90aa6"},{"bio_snippet":"Sherry Edmonds Butler, a Republican incumbent commissioner since 2014, is running for re\u2011election to the Catawba County Board of Commissioners in 2026.","biography":"Sherry Edmonds Butler is a Republican incumbent serving on the Catawba County Board of Commissioners and is a candidate for re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election.  Butler has represented the county since 2014 and continues to hold leadership roles on several regional boards while emphasizing education, public health, and emergency services.\n\nA longtime Newton resident, Butler retired as executive director of The Green Room Community Theatre, Inc., and has been active in the Newton\u2011Conover Rotary Club, serving twice as its president.  She also served on the Catawba County Board of Education for many years, later becoming chair of the board of directors for the K\u201164 Education Board and a member of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners\u2019 Public Education Steering Committee.  Butler holds seats on the Catawba Valley Community College Board of Trustees and the Catawba County Social Services Board, where she serves as chair.\n\nIn her capacity as commissioner, Butler has overseen a range of county initiatives.  In May\u202f2021 she was selected for the inaugural Hunt State Policy Fellows Program, a statewide leadership cohort focused on education governance and policy\u2011making [1].  She has chaired the Catawba County Social Services Board, a role confirmed by the state Department of Health and Human Services staff list [3][5].  Butler also chairs the county\u2019s Social Services Board and serves on the county\u2019s Policy and Public Works Subcommittee.  In December\u202f2021 she participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 5,925\u2011square\u2011foot Emergency Medical Services base in Newton, illustrating her involvement in public\u2011safety infrastructure projects [2].\n\nButler\u2019s public service record includes appointments to the statewide Justus\u2011Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force and leadership of the Catawba County Social Services Board, which advises on department policies affecting health, child welfare, and economic services.  Her community\u2011service background, combined with her long tenure on the county commission, positions her as a seasoned local official seeking to continue her work on education, health, and emergency\u2011services issues.\n\nButler\u2019s campaign for 2026 is listed as a Republican candidacy for the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, though a formal campaign website has not been identified in the available sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Catawba County Government - Catawba County North Carolina](https://catawbacountync.gov/news/commissioner-butler-selected-to-inaugural-hunt-state-policy-fellows-program/)\n- [2] [Catawba County - Catawba County Government - Catawba County North Carolina](https://www.catawbacountync.gov/news/commissioners-break-ground-at-site-of-future-new-ems-base-in-newton/)\n- [3] [Catawba County Department of Social Services | NCDHHS](https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/catawba-county-department-social-services)\n- [5] [Catawba County - Catawba County Government - Catawba County North Carolina](https://www.catawbacountync.gov/news/social-services-celebrates-new-retiring-board-members/)\n- [6] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [7] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [9] [Catawba County Schools - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherrills_Ford_Elementary_School)\n- [10] [Catawba County Schools - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catawba_County_Schools)\n- [11] [Vote-USA | Sherry Edmonds Butler | Previous Candidate for Catawba County Board of Commissioners, Catawba County, North Carolina](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NC&Id=NCButlerSherryEdmonds)\n- [12] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Sherry","fullname":"Sherry Edmonds Butler","lastname":"Butler","middlename":"Edmonds","suffix":null,"summary":"Sherry Edmonds Butler, a Republican incumbent commissioner since 2014, is running for re\u2011election to the Catawba County Board of Commissioners in 2026.","token":"8d4b3ae01b59e11b"},{"bio_snippet":"Sheila Butt is the Republican incumbent Maury County mayor and a former Tennessee state representative for District 64, seeking re-election in 2026.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nSheila Butt is the incumbent mayor of Maury County, Tennessee, elected August 4, 2022, and sworn in August 30, 2022, succeeding Andy Ogles [1]. She is running for re-election in 2026, and the Maury County Republican Party endorsed her in the mayor's race [4][5]. She has said her priorities include controlling growth while preserving the county's character and ensuring new development bears its own infrastructure costs [2].\n\n## Background and education\nButt was born November 20, 1951, in Rockford, Illinois [1]. She earned a Bachelor of Science cum laude in English with a history minor from East Tennessee State University and completed a 1980 Women's Certificate Program at Bear Valley School of Biblical Studies [1].\n\n## Career\nButt co-founded and managed S&S Bovine Images and Tennessee Cattle Business, served as a lecturer at Freed-Hardeman University, and was managing partner of MacInk Printers, Inc. [1]. She describes herself as \"a former business owner\" [2].\n\n## Office history\nButt represented District 64 in the Tennessee House of Representatives from January 2011 to January 2019, covering Columbia, Mount Pleasant, and Spring Hill, and served as Republican Majority Floor Leader [1]. She has cited hotel/motel tax legislation for Columbia and her 2015 opposition to the federal \"Waters of the U.S.\" rule among her legislative accomplishments [2].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nIn June 2022, during the mayoral campaign, Butt was sued for defamation in Maury County Circuit Court by David Baker, a minister and former volunteer chaplain at the Maury County Jail, over text messages he alleged she sent to a Republican activist; the suit asserted she \"acted with actual malice with the intent of harming\" him [3]. As a state legislator, Butt drew criticism in 2015 for a social media post referencing the \"National Association for the Advancement of White People,\" which she later said she had intended as \"National Association for the Advancement of Western Peoples\" [1]. She also opposed rape and incest exceptions to abortion waiting periods, saying such cases are \"not verifiable,\" and in 2014 called for a state investigation into the Humane Society of the United States' fundraising practices [1].\n\n## Family\nButt is married to Stan R. Butt and has three sons [1]. One son, Kyle, directs Biblical research at Apologetics Press [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Sheila Butt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Butt) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Candidate announcement: Sheila Butt for Maury County Mayor](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/mainstreetmaury/candidate-announcement-sheila-butt-for-maury-county-mayor/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Former state lawmaker Sheila Butt sued for defamation (Tennessee Lookout)](https://tennesseelookout.com/briefs/former-state-lawmaker-sheila-butt-sued-for-defamation/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[4] [Candidates for office register with Maury County Election Commission](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/mainstreetmaury/candidates-for-office-register-with-maury-county-election-commission/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[5] [Maury County GOP endorses Sheila Butt in county mayor's race](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/mainstreetmaury/maury-county-gop-endorses-sheila-butt-in-county-mayors-race/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Sheila","fullname":"Sheila Butt","lastname":"Butt","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Sheila Butt is the Republican incumbent Maury County mayor and a former Tennessee state representative for District 64, seeking re-election in 2026.","token":"rbqhOUO6Fw"},{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign David Bari Buzzard ran as a Republican in the 2026 primary for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District, challenging incumbent David Rouzer. He lost the March 3, 2026 Republican primary to Rouzer. Background and education Buzzard is from Fayett","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nDavid Bari Buzzard ran as a Republican in the 2026 primary for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District, challenging incumbent David Rouzer. He lost the March 3, 2026 Republican primary to Rouzer.\n\n## Background and education\n\nBuzzard is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is a U.S. Army veteran. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.\n\n## Career\n\nBuzzard has worked as a veterans advocate and has been affiliated with HBOT4Heroes, an organization focused on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [David Buzzard \u2013 Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/David_Buzzard_(North_Carolina))","birthdate":null,"firstname":"David","fullname":"David Bari Buzzard","lastname":"Buzzard","middlename":"Bari","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"a3a33f798728a4d1"},{"bio_snippet":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Davidson County since 2018.","biography":"**Shirley Algiere Byerly ran in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for Davidson County Board of Commissioners (four seats, twelve Republican candidates) but did not finish among the top four vote-getters and will not appear on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot; Dexter M. Short, Dwight D. Cornelison, Matt Mizell, and Robbie Beasley won the Republican nominations [3].**\n\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Shirley Algiere Byerly is a registered voter in Davidson County, North Carolina, registered since 2018 (8 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Shirley Algiere Byerly's year of birth as 1959; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 11 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Shirley Algiere Byerly can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 2026 candidate filing lists: [March 3, 2026 primary candidate list](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/2026_primary_candidate_detail_list.pdf) and [November 3, 2026 general candidate list](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/2026_general_candidate_detail_list.pdf) (candidate appears in the primary list but not the general list)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Shirley","fullname":"Shirley Algiere Byerly","lastname":"Byerly","middlename":"Algiere","suffix":null,"summary":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Davidson County since 2018.","token":"f226a2cd3196af6d"},{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign Angie Byers is a Republican candidate for Madison County Register of Deeds in the August 6, 2026 general election. Office history Byers was elected Madison County Register of Deeds in 2016, defeating opponent Merriweather in that race 1 2 . Source","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nAngie Byers is a Republican candidate for Madison County Register of Deeds in the August 6, 2026 general election.\n\n## Office history\nByers was elected Madison County Register of Deeds in 2016, defeating opponent Merriweather in that race [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] The Jackson Sun, \"Byers, Merriweather face off in register race,\" July 13, 2016.\n[2] The Jackson Sun, \"Byers captures county register of deeds,\" August 4, 2016.","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Angie","fullname":"Angie Byers","lastname":"Byers","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"U6hr8Ytbic"},{"bio_snippet":"Cathy Thorne Bynum is the Republican candidate for North Carolina House District\u202f8 in the 2026 general election.","biography":"Cathy Thorne Bynum is the Republican nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District\u202f8 in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. The state\u2019s election officials list her on the ballot opposite incumbent Democrat Gloristine Brown, and the Republican primary for the seat was cancelled, allowing Bynum to advance automatically [1].\n\nThe North Carolina House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature. Members serve two\u2011year terms, represent roughly 80,000 residents each, and are responsible for introducing and voting on state laws, approving the state budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch. All 120 seats are up for election every two years, with elections coinciding with federal contests and other state offices [10].\n\nPublicly available records do not provide details on Bynum\u2019s education, professional background, or prior elected experience. Likewise, no campaign platform, policy positions, or endorsements have been published in the sources consulted. The Ballotpedia entry notes that campaign finance information is not yet available and that she has not completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey [1].\n\nBecause of the limited information, voters seeking more about Bynum\u2019s qualifications or positions should consult future filings, official campaign communications, or the North Carolina State Board of Elections candidate lists when they become available.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Cathy Bynum - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Cathy_Bynum)\n- [5] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [7] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [10] [2026 North Carolina House of Representatives election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_North_Carolina_House_of_Representatives_election)\n- [12] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [13] [Results from 2026 Candidate Filing - Carolina Forward](https://carolinaforward.org/blog/results-from-2026-candidate-filing/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Cathy","fullname":"Cathy Thorne Bynum","lastname":"Bynum","middlename":"Thorne","suffix":null,"summary":"Cathy Thorne Bynum is the Republican candidate for North Carolina House District\u202f8 in the 2026 general election.","token":"2890e6e26fa37c47"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"ANDY","fullname":"ANDY BYRD","lastname":"BYRD","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"mqfnyHMWl8"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Darron","fullname":"Darron Byrd","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"lKSACChMfc"},{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign Eric Lee Byrd, of the Moravian Falls community in Wilkes County, North Carolina, was one of six Republican candidates for Wilkes County Sheriff in the March 3, 2026 primary, running against incumbent Chris Shew, Sharon Call Diaz, David Carson, Jam","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nEric Lee Byrd, of the Moravian Falls community in Wilkes County, North Carolina, was one of six Republican candidates for Wilkes County Sheriff in the March 3, 2026 primary, running against incumbent Chris Shew, Sharon Call-Diaz, David Carson, Jamie Dowell, and David Gambill [1]. Shew won the primary with 1,136 votes; Byrd received 302 votes, finishing fifth of the six candidates, according to official North Carolina State Board of Elections results [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [9 file for commissioner, 6 for sheriff \u2013 Journal Patriot](https://www.journalpatriot.com/news/9-file-for-commissioner-6-for-sheriff/article_9f1e5455-b747-5539-a920-ec98611de642.html)\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 official precinct-level results, Wilkes County Sheriff Republican primary, March 3, 2026, accessed 2026-07-23: https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_precinct_sort/WILKES_PRECINCT_SORT.txt","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Eric","fullname":"Eric Lee Byrd","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":"Lee","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"638e0a6ae5c069fe"},{"bio_snippet":"Incumbent Republican Jefferson County commissioner for District 4, running for re-election; attended East Tennessee State University.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nGregory \"Greg\" Byrd is the incumbent Jefferson County Commissioner for District 4 and a Republican nominee for re-election in the August 6, 2026 county general election, which fills two District 4 seats.[1][2]\n\n## Background and education\nByrd attended East Tennessee State University.[3]\n\n## Office history\nByrd represents District 4 on the Jefferson County Commission and has served on county commission committees, including budget-related committees.[2]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Official Sample Ballot, Jefferson County TN, August 6, 2026](https://jeffersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JCTN_August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Jefferson County Commissions/Boards/Committees (April 2026)](https://jeffersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Alpha-Chart-April-2026.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Greg Byrd, Jefferson County Commission Tennessee (LinkedIn)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-byrd-0b6413b9/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","birthdate":null,"firstname":"GREGORY","fullname":"GREGORY BYRD","lastname":"BYRD","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Incumbent Republican Jefferson County commissioner for District 4, running for re-election; attended East Tennessee State University.","token":"j8fKGN2nc3"},{"bio_snippet":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Person County since 1988.","biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, John Robert Byrd SR is a registered voter in Person County, North Carolina, registered since 1988 (38 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows John Robert Byrd SR's year of birth as 1953; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 12 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of John Robert Byrd SR can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"John","fullname":"John Robert Byrd SR","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":"Robert","suffix":"SR","summary":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Person County since 1988.","token":"f3c644250d6f7423"},{"bio_snippet":"Independent incumbent on the Oneida Special School District board; seeking re-election and campaigning on investing in school staff.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKevin Byrd is an incumbent member of the Oneida Special School District Board of Education seeking re-election on August 6, 2026 [1][2]. Three of the five board seats are on the ballot; Byrd and fellow incumbent Mark Matthews (I) run alongside challengers Benji Jacobs (I) and Stuart Jones (R) [1].\n\n## Office history and record\nAt a June 2026 board meeting marked by community frustration over district staffing cuts, Byrd pressed the district on how affected employees had been notified and raised concerns about employees who had received separation letters [3]. He has said a strong school is built on investing in strong staff [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [2026 Scott County General Election - The Encyclopedia of Scott County](https://ihoneida.com/knowledge-base/2026-scott-county-general-election/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Board of Education - Oneida Special School District](https://oneidaschools.org/board-of-education) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Oneida School Board Meeting Gets Raucous - Scott County News](https://scnoneida.net/2026/06/09/oneida-school-board-meeting-gets-raucous/) - accessed 2026-07-23","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Kevin","fullname":"Kevin Byrd","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Independent incumbent on the Oneida Special School District board; seeking re-election and campaigning on investing in school staff.","token":"h2QGM2L7d4"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Kris","fullname":"Kris Byrd","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"tEzv92GWZA"},{"bio_snippet":"Republican Lisa Spence\u202fByrd is running for the Jones County Board of Education, highlighting safety, academic achievement, and career\u2011technical education.","biography":"Lisa Spence\u202fByrd is the Republican candidate for the Jones County Board of Education in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 election. The board governs the Jones County Public Schools system, setting policy, approving budgets, and overseeing the superintendent to ensure quality education for the county\u2019s students. \n\nByrd was born and raised in Jones County; her family has long been connected to the local schools, and her daughter graduated from Jones County High School in 2021. She and her husband Thomas own and operate Byrd\u2019s Trucking & Towing in Maysville, a small family\u2011run business that has been a fixture in the community for years. In addition to her entrepreneurial work, Byrd serves as treasurer for Maysville Fire & EMS, volunteering her time to support emergency services in the area [10]. \n\nHer public\u2011service career began in 2019 when, as a concerned parent, she started communicating with the Jones County Board of Education to advocate for students and families. She was elected to the board in 2022 and has served as a board member for the past three years, focusing on student safety, academic achievement, fiscal responsibility, and strong leadership. During her tenure the board placed school\u2011resource officers in every school, hired a superintendent noted for decisive leadership, and earned Gold Bell status as a whole board. These actions helped lift the district out of low\u2011performing status for the first time in seven years, saw the Career & Technical Education program rise to #5 statewide, and secured a clean audit\u2014an uncommon accomplishment for public schools [9]. \n\nByrd\u2019s platform emphasizes continued investment in safety measures, expanding career\u2011technical education opportunities, and ensuring transparent, honest governance. She champions the College\u2011to\u2011Career Promise program, which allows every Jones County student to earn a free associate\u2019s degree while in high school, and she pledges to protect and expand such pathways. Her campaign message, described as \u201cThrough a Mother\u2019s Eyes,\u201d stresses fairness and equity for all children, parents, and educators, and she promises to serve with honesty and transparency [10]. \n\nIf elected, Byrd intends to build on the board\u2019s recent successes, maintain the district\u2019s improved academic standing, and continue advocating for programs that give Jones County students the same opportunities as those in larger neighboring districts.\n\n## Sources\n- [9] [Meet your Jones County Candidates for the 2026 Election](https://wcti12.com/news/election/local-election/meet-your-jones-county-candidates-for-the-2026-election)\n- [10] [Lisa Byrd: Candidate for Jones County Board of Education \u2014 Neuse News](https://www.neusenews.com/index/2022/10/25/lisa-byrd-candidate-for-jones-county-board-of-education)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Lisa","fullname":"Lisa Spence Byrd","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":"Spence","suffix":null,"summary":"Republican Lisa Spence\u202fByrd is running for the Jones County Board of Education, highlighting safety, academic achievement, and career\u2011technical education.","token":"7f62013e4b32135f"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Mike","fullname":"Mike Byrd","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"yPFAHo3Hrx"},{"bio_snippet":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Guilford County since 1983.","biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Phillip Dwayne Byrd is a registered voter in Guilford County, North Carolina, registered since 1983 (43 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Phillip Dwayne Byrd's year of birth as 1963; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 11 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Phillip Dwayne Byrd can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Phillip","fullname":"Phillip Dwayne Byrd","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":"Dwayne","suffix":null,"summary":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Guilford County since 1983.","token":"eabb82cb3fd64272"}]