2026 North Carolina General Election

He and his wife, Debby, were married in 1975 and have one son, Caleb.

Author Bio | Veritas Heritage Press

Earl M. Blackburn is married to Debby, and they have one son.

Author Bio — Veritas Heritage Press

Earl M. Blackburn 

Pastor Emeritus, retired after forty-five years of pastoral ministry. The author of several books including Jesus Loves the Church and So Should You and 50 World-Changing Events in Christian History. He resides in Elkin, North Carolina, and is engaged in a writing ministry in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Upon completion of his theological education, Earl Blackburn labored as a church-planting missionary in Utah for seven years. In his forty-five plus years of pastoral ministry, he has traveled extensively, preaching in pastors' conferences, and teaching theological modules in the United States, Canada, Europe, southern Africa, and Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar/Burma, Singapore).

Blackburn authored Jesus Loves the Church and So Should You (SGCB-2010), John Chrysostom (EP-2012), edited and contributed to Covenant Theology: A Baptist Distinctive (SGCB-2012), and wrote 50 World-Changing Events in Christian History (Christian Focus-2018). Plus, he has contributed to the book Denominations or Associations (Calvary Press-2001) and Going Beyond the Five Points (VP-2015), and has written for numerous periodicals, including Founder's Journal (USA), Reformation Today (United Kingdom), Preachers & Preaching (South Africa), and The Gospel Highway (Malaysia).

Earl M. Blackburn is a pastor emeritus. He previously worked as a church-planting missionary in Utah and has authored several books.

Earl is a pastor emeritus. He previously worked as a church-planting missionary in Utah and has authored several books.

The staff directory page lists Earl Blackburn as a "Board Member" and provides an email and phone number, but it does not include service dates/term, election year, or other elected-office details on this page.

Staff Directory | Elkin City Schools

Earl currently serves on the Elkin City Schools board.

As of September 2, 2026, Earl M. Blackburn did not have a website or any information online.

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

Access to Education

Earl M. Blackburn

As of September 2, 2026, Earl M. Blackburn’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

A graduate of Buffalo State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Mrs. Bellia is a long-time resident of Elkin, having moved to the community in 1992. She is also the proud parent of two Elkin High School graduates.

Board Member – Jillann Bellia – Elkin City Schools

A graduate of Buffalo State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Mrs. Bellia is a long-time resident of Elkin, having moved to the community in 1992. She is also the proud parent of two Elkin High School graduates. Throughout her career, she was known for her commitment to student achievement, her passion for the arts, and her ability to build strong connections with students, staff, and families.

Jill Bellia earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Buffalo State College. She has two children.

Jillann Bellia was sworn in as a member of the Elkin City Schools Board of Education on July 1, 2024, following her unanimous appointment by the board. A recently retired educator, Mrs. Bellia brings over 20 years of experience in North Carolina public education, including 16.5 years of dedicated service within Elkin City Schools.

Chairman Harris informed the audience that it was time for the Special Recognition portion of the agenda. The Board recognized the following individuals: Adam Beshears, Elkin Elementary and Middle School Art teacher; Emily
Rycroft, Elkin Elementary School Assistant Principal; Jill Bellia,
Elkin Elementary School Art Teacher; and, Jude Lloyd, Elkin High
School Wrestling Team.

Surry County Board of Commissioners — 2018 Combined BOCC Minutes (PDF)

Jill Bellia is a recently retired educator who worked in North Carolina public education for over 20 years, including 16.5 years with Elkin City Schools. She previously worked as an art teacher at Elkin Elementary School.

Jill is a recently retired educator who worked in North Carolina public education for over 20 years, including 16.5 years with Elkin City Schools. She previously worked as an art teacher at Elkin Elementary School.

Also on the ballot for Elkin in November will be three seats on the Elkin City Schools Board of Education. Incumbent Chairwoman Jennifer Kleinheksel (R), representing the West District, is running unopposed. Incumbents Jill Bellia and Earl Blackburn, both Republicans, are running in the City District race. Mary Johnson, running as an unaffiliated candidate, is also joining the race in the City District.

Contested race for Elkin town board

Jill currently serves as a member of the Elkin City Schools Board of Education. She was appointed by the board and sworn in on July 1, 2024.

Elkin School Board selects new board member - The Elkin Tribune

As of September 2, 2026, Jill Bellia did not have a website or any information online.

Mrs. Bellia brings a classroom-informed perspective to the board and is committed to strengthening communication between educators, the board, and the community. Her goal is to support student success, promote high morale across the district, and ensure that decisions made at the board level reflect the needs and realities of today’s classrooms.

Committed to strengthening communication between educators, the board, and the community, while ensuring board decisions reflect classroom needs.

- Committed to strengthening communication between educators, the board, and the community, while ensuring board decisions reflect classroom needs.

Jill Bellia

As of September 2, 2026, Jill Bellia’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As of September 2, 2026, Mary Johnson did not have a website or any information online.

Throughout her campaign, Johnson has focused on several key issues, including:

- Increasing funding for local schools
- Supporting teacher development and retention
- Enhancing student resources and extracurricular activities
- Promoting community involvement in schools

Mary Johnson (Elkin City Schools Board of Education City District, North Carolina, candidate 2026)

Prioritizes increasing funding for local schools.

Prioritizes enhanced student resources and extracurricular activities.

- Prioritizes increasing funding for local schools.
- Prioritizes enhanced student resources and extracurricular activities.

Prioritizes teacher development and retention.

- Prioritizes teacher development and retention.

Mary Johnson

As of September 2, 2026, Mary Johnson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system, and it is entirely independent from the rest of the city government. 
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and make decisions about the superintendent’s personnel recommendations.
- Members of the board must act as a unit based on majority rule. A member cannot make decisions or act independently.
- Board of Education members are elected to staggered four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Elkin City Board of Education Member, City District

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Elkin City Board of Education Member, City District

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