INSURANCE NEWSNET, Candidates seek to govern county

Lee is from Mitchell County. He attended Mayland Community College. He is married to his wife. 

Lee previously worked in the health insurance business industry. 

Ballotpedia, Lee Ellis (Mitchell County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2024)

Lee Ellis' campaign for Mitchell County Commissioner is his first run for public office. 

As of June 7, 2025, Lee Ellis did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Opposes county budget increases over the past 4 years saying it is not sustainable, and said he "will make every effort to at least maintain the overall budget as long as possible...Our children deserve the same opportunities we have enjoyed."

- Opposes county budget increases over the past 4 years saying it is not sustainable, and said he "will make every effort to at least maintain the overall budget as long as possible...Our children deserve the same opportunities we have enjoyed."

Economy

Supports using available resources to fund all school levels.

Believes the county education system will face worker shortages.

- Supports using available resources to fund all school levels.
- Believes the county education system will face worker shortages.

Education

Considers drug abuse the county's top issue, saying "We have an obligation to work on drug abuse on many levels."

- Considers drug abuse the county's top issue, saying "We have an obligation to work on drug abuse on many levels."

Public Safety

Housing & Urban Development

Wants the county to employ a full-time Level Three building inspector, as he believes that will contribute to economic growth.

- Wants the county to employ a full-time Level Three building inspector, as he believes that will contribute to economic growth.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Lee Ellis

Bill and his wife Susan live in Mitchell County and have a son. He volunteers teaching reading and spelling at Greenlee Elementary School and leads hikes for the Jason Project. He is the treasurer of his Home Owners Association and the Grassy Creek Mens Golf League.

Bill works as the assistant chief at the Spruce Pine Fire Department. He previously working as an assistant fire chief at Sarasota County Fire Department. 

Bill Hoag's campaign for Mitchell County Commissioner is his first run for public office. 

Prioritizes "conservative budgeting" practices.

- Prioritizes "conservative budgeting" practices.

Advocates for policies to support local education.

- Advocates for policies to support local education.

As of August 27, 2024, Bill Hoag’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Aims to provide median-income housing options.

- Aims to provide median-income housing options.

Bill Hoag

LinkedIn

Dale received a bachelor's degree from Mars Hill University and a master's degree from Appalachian State University.

Dale is currently retired. He previously worked in reading remediation in Mitchell County Schools.

Ballot Pedia

Dale Blevins' campaign for County Commissioner in Mitchell County is his first run for public office.

Insurance News Net

Supports "The Mitchell Senior Center, the AMY Library system, educational programs for our children, Mitchell County Transportation, and many other great programs."

- Supports "The Mitchell Senior Center, the AMY Library system, educational programs for our children, Mitchell County Transportation, and many other great programs."

Said, "The first priority is knowing what to expect when Property Tax Re-evaluation time rolls around."

Believes investment in infrastructure, internet access, and a strong tax base is the solution to a "downward economic spiral."

- Said, "The first priority is knowing what to expect when Property Tax Re-evaluation time rolls around."
- Believes investment in infrastructure, internet access, and a strong tax base is the solution to a "downward economic spiral."

Wants to educate citizens on the importance of local funding for schools and keep schools up to the yearly cost of living.

Believes increasing access to educational training by lowering tuition costs and expanding opportunities will allow for higher level businesses to locate within the County.

- Wants to educate citizens on the importance of local funding for schools and keep schools up to the yearly cost of living.
- Believes increasing access to educational training by lowering tuition costs and expanding opportunities will allow for higher level businesses to locate within the County.

As of June 7, 2025, Dale Blevins did not have a website or any information online.

Believes strong infrastructure is necessary for rural development.

Plans to seek out grants to "revitalize sewer, gas, and water systems."

- Believes strong infrastructure is necessary for rural development.
- Plans to seek out grants to "revitalize sewer, gas, and water systems."

Dale Blevins

Candidate Profiles: Commissioners candidates boast variety of backgrounds, ideas

Facebook

Harley lives in Mitchell County, NC with her husband. She graduated from the 2024 Advanced Leadership Corp program at the University of North Carolina School of Government.

Harley is the co-owner and operator of Southern Ridge Cafe in Bakersville with her husband John. 

County Commission

Harley Masters currently serves as a Mitchell County commissioner. She was elected in 2020 and is serving her first term.

Advocated transparency on the county's priorities with the community.

Supported the construction of a new recreation center and sheriff's office.

- Advocated transparency on the county's priorities with the community.
- Supported the construction of a new recreation center and sheriff's office.

Said, "Our challenge as a county is to provide quality needed services in a sustainable way using good financial planning."

- Said, "Our challenge as a county is to provide quality needed services in a sustainable way using good financial planning."

As of June 7, 2025, Harley Masters did not have a website or any information online.

Opposes gun control and supports law enforcement.

- Opposes gun control and supports law enforcement.

Harley Masters

As of June 29, 2024, Jan Hamilton did not have a website or publicly available contact information in order for us to send them our questionnaire.

As of June 7, 2025, Jan Hamilton did not have a website.

Jan Hamilton

Ron McKinney campaign post from the Mitchell County Democratic Party

Ron is from Mitchell County. He is a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at Bakersville Baptist Church.

Ron previously worked as an educator in the Mitchell County School System and at Mayland Community College. He also worked as a Christmas tree farmer. He served in the U.S. Air Force. 

Ron McKinney's campaign for Mitchell County Commissioner is his first run for public office. 

As of June 7, 2025, Ron McKinney did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to address issues of property taxes, government transparency, and job opportunities for young people.

- Wants to address issues of property taxes, government transparency, and job opportunities for young people.

Wants to "protect the mountain way of life..."

- Wants to "protect the mountain way of life..."

Ron McKinney

- 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.