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Patrick holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Wingate University and a master of business administration and management from Gardner-Webb University. He is a member of the Grace Community Church. 

Patrick works as a production manager at Kearfott Corporation. He previously worked as a production manager for Marion Machine LLC and Emitic, Inc. He also worked as an insurance agent for the North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance. 

McDowell County, Commissioners

Patrick Ellis currently serves as a McDowell County Commissioner. He was elected to this position in 2020 and is serving his first term. 

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

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Patrick Ellis

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Teri is from Pittsburgh, PA, and now lives in Marion. She studied at Meredith Manor and AB Tech Asheville North Carolina. 

Teri is a bookkeeper and financial assistant at Jewels That Dance.

Teri Stahara's campaign for the McDowell County Board of Commissioners is her first run for public office.

Candidate website

Supports increasing the size of the DSS building or creating a more usable space to help people become healthy, productive citizens.

- Supports increasing the size of the DSS building or creating a more usable space to help people become healthy, productive citizens.

Believes in fair compensation to strengthen the community. Supports policies that ensure equitable pay for workers to build a robust local economy.

Believes in fair compensation to strengthen the community, and supports policies that ensure equitable pay for workers to build a robust local economy.

- Believes in fair compensation to strengthen the community, and supports policies that ensure equitable pay for workers to build a robust local economy.

Opposes county funding for school libraries unless certain books are removed.

Supports full funding of school libraries. Other people have suggested ending county funding for school libraries unless certain books are removed.

Believes in increasing county funding for public schools to improve education for all students.

- Supports full funding of school libraries. Other people have suggested ending county funding for school libraries unless certain books are removed.
- Believes in increasing county funding for public schools to improve education for all students.

Believes fentanyl overdose deaths and firearm-related child homicides are critical public safety issues.

Believes mental health issues contribute to addiction, gun deaths, and homelessness.

- Believes fentanyl overdose deaths and firearm-related child homicides are critical public safety issues.
- Believes mental health issues contribute to addiction, gun deaths, and homelessness.

Believes "builder incentives and overriding zoning restrictions" are creative solutions for Housing & Urban Development.

Believes starter homes appreciate faster than mid- and top-tier homes and supports building more for new employees.

Believes that domestic abuse often leads to homelessness.

- Believes "builder incentives and overriding zoning restrictions" are creative solutions for Housing & Urban Development.
- Believes starter homes appreciate faster than mid- and top-tier homes and supports building more for new employees.
- Believes that domestic abuse often leads to homelessness.

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

Teri Stahara

Trisha is married to her husband, Jason, with whom she has eight children.

As of June 23, 2024, Trisha Garner did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Ballotpedia, Trisha Garner 

Trisha Garner's campaign for McDowell County Commissioner is her first run for public office. 

Promises to be transparent in her decisions if elected and wants her stances to be made public.

- Promises to be transparent in her decisions if elected and wants her stances to be made public.

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

Supports parental authority over the public school system of their children's education.

Opposes students partaking in athletic competition according to the gender they identify as, rather than their biological sex at birth.

Opposes using county tax funds for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for students, teachers, and school employees.

Opposes permitting DEI initiatives, policies, and slogans in any local public area.

- Supports parental authority over the public school system of their children's education.
- Opposes students partaking in athletic competition according to the gender they identify as, rather than their biological sex at birth.
- Opposes using county tax funds for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for students, teachers, and school employees.
- Opposes permitting DEI initiatives, policies, and slogans in any local public area.

Plans to raise local law enforcement funding.

- Opposes gun control.
- Opposes abortion.
- Plans to raise local law enforcement funding.

Trisha Garner

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

McDowell County Commissioner

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McDowell County Commissioner

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