Smoky Mountain News, Macon to vote on new school board members, funding option for new high school

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Danny is from Franklin, North Carolina and attended Franklin High School. He and his wife Kimberly have children. 

Danny works as the landscape maintenance operations manager for Clark and Company Landscape Services in Franklin. He served in the United States Air Force.

Danny Reitmeier ran for Macon County Board of Education in 2022, but did not win. 

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As of June 8, 2025, Danny Reitmeier did not have a website or any information online.

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Danny Reitmeier

The Southern Scoop: Candidate Profiles

Jim is a native of Macon County. He earned a bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration and finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is married and has 2 children. He is a member of First United Methodist Church in Franklin. He has served as president of Iotla School PTO, president of Franklin Little League Baseball Board, and on the boards of Macon County Youth Soccer Organization, Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, and Macon County Economic Development Commission.

Jim works as a bank manager and city president at United Community Bank. He previously worked at Macon Bank and Northwestern Bank.

Jim Breedlove is the chairman of the Macon County Board of Education. He was first elected to the board in 2008 and is serving his 4th term.

As of June 8, 2025, Jim Breedlove did not have a website or any information online.

Supports art and music opportunities in schools.

- Supports art and music opportunities in schools.
- Prioritizes expanding the pre-K program.

Western Carolina Journalist: Are Your Candidates . . . 

Supports offering early college classes and trade skills education.

- Supports offering early college classes and trade skills education.

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Jim Breedlove

John earned his bachelor's degree in education from Western Carolina University, and another bachelor's degree in philosophy from UNC Chapel Hill.

John DeVille has spent almost 29 years in the classroom and has been a public education advocate at the state and local level. He is a former Macon County Teacher of the Year.

John DeVille's campaign for the Macon County Board of Education is his first run for public office.

Promises conservative stewardship of taxpayer dollars, saying, "If we cannot adequately make the case that every dollar spent adds value...to educational life...that either needs to be spent somewhere else or not at all."

- Promises conservative stewardship of taxpayer dollars, saying, "If we cannot adequately make the case that every dollar spent adds value...to educational life...that either needs to be spent somewhere else or not at all."

Candidate website

Believes losing community schools was a significant loss and aims to "get rid of this wall," advocating for the reinstatement of community-based educational institutions.

Believes losing community schools was a significant loss that led to children falling behind educationally.

- Believes losing community schools was a significant loss that led to children falling behind educationally.

As of June 8, 2025, John DeVille’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes that listening to diverse perspectives is important for understanding and addressing community issues.

- Believes that listening to diverse perspectives is important for understanding and addressing community issues.

John DeVille

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

Macon County Board of Education Member, District 4

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