2026 North Carolina General Election

Allen Thomas Jr. - Ballotpedia

Allen Thomas earned his bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation services from East Carolina University and later completed graduate study in substance abuse and addiction counseling at Liberty University. He lives in Raeford, North Carolina, and has a child.

Allen Thomas Jr. is currently a member of the Hoke County Board of Commissioners. He was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He previously ran in the Democratic primary for North Carolina Senate in 2012 and for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 2020, but did not win.

Supports raising the minimum wage in North Carolina.

For Candidate Allen Thomas on Issue economy: Supports a foundation-up economic development plan, opposing trickle-down economics.

Supports a foundation-up economic development plan, opposing trickle-down economics.

Supports fully funding daycare assistance to end the waiting list for the program.

- Supports raising the minimum wage in North Carolina.
- Supports a foundation-up economic development plan, opposing trickle-down economics.
- Supports fully funding daycare assistance to end the waiting list for the program.

Economy

As of September 21, 2026, Allen Thomas did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Supports moving towards a cashless bail system for non-violent offenders.

Supports criminal justice reform emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment.

- Supports criminal justice reform emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment.

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Believes it is a sacred responsibility to take care of the planet.

Supports renewable energy and zero-net energy public buildings.

- Supports renewable energy and zero-net energy public buildings.

Energy & the Environment

Ethics & Conduct

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Allen Thomas

Buket Urgen

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

David Frump

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

Alejandra Gracias

Deborah McMillan-Evans is from Hoke County, North Carolina. She has an associate's degree in human services technology from Sandhills Community College, an associate's degree in early childhood from Fayetteville Technical Community College, and a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Ashford University. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is the pastor and founder of Kingdom of Glory Ministries, Inc.

Deborah is a businesswoman. She owns two daycares in Hoke County: Little Angels Childcare and Garden of Eden Childcare. She has been in business for over 25 years. She is also the pastor and founder of Kingdom of Glory Ministries, Inc.

Deborah is a local business owner of two daycares in Hoke County. She has been in business for over 25 years.

As of September 21, 2026, Deborah McMillan-Evans’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to address violence in Hoke County Schools.

Wants to implement "violence control" measures specifically within the Hoke County school system.

- Wants to implement "violence control" measures specifically within the Hoke County school system.

Deborah McMillan-Evans

Harry Southerland graduated from North Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University Law School.

From the Desk of the Chair

Supports attracting new businesses and supporting local entrepreneurs to create jobs and improve the economy.

Supports attracting new businesses and local entrepreneurs to "create jobs and improve our economy."

- Supports attracting new businesses and local entrepreneurs to "create jobs and improve our economy."

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

Supports a bill aimed at improving infrastructure in rural areas, enhancing roads and public transportation to facilitate access to jobs and services.

Supports a bill aimed at "enhancing roads and public transportation to facilitate access to jobs and services."

- Supports a bill aimed at "enhancing roads and public transportation to facilitate access to jobs and services."

Harry Southerland

What’s your education background?

BS in Marketing from Appalachian State University – Graduated in 2013

2 years of welding school from Sandhills Community College

Hoke County Commission Candidate Questionnaires | Longleaf Pine Realtors

Stephanie Carter completed two years of welding school at Sandhills Community College and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Appalachian State University.

Newcomer ousts incumbent Hoke County commissioner in ...

What’s your work experience?

My family started a farm when we moved to North Carolina in 2005. Working on the farm allowed me to save up and pay for my education. During college I worked as a personal assistant. After graduating with a marketing degree, I came back to our farm and launched my own venture in 2017 (Ithika Acres Creamery).

My family started a farm when we moved to North Carolina in 2005. Working on the farm allowed me to save up and pay for my education. During college I worked as a personal assistant. After graduating with a marketing degree, I came back to our farm and launched my own venture in 2017 (Ithika Acres Creamery). Between graduating and launching the creamery, I spent 2 years at Sandhills Community College going through welding school.

I also worked one season as a tax preparer in Moore County (as I wanted to know more about the tax system and ultimately how to prepare my own).

Some of the training in late October took place at Ithika Acres in Hoke County, a family-owned farm with goats, beef and dairy cattle, lambs, chickens, blueberries and peaches.

“We just love the program,” said Stephanie Carter, daughter of farm owners John and Allison Carter and manager of the creamery. “We do this completely voluntarily. We see it as a blessing to share with them what we do every day of our lives.”

NC State Extension Helps Turn Swords to Plowshares | NC State Extension

Stephanie manages Ithika Acres Creamery. She previously worked as a personal assistant and as a tax preparer in Moore County.

11/05/2024 official general election results - hoke

Stephanie Carter previously ran for Hoke County commissioner in 2024, but did not win.

What are some things you would like to accomplish if you are elected?

1) Helping plan the growth of our county in a way that benefits all citizens.

2) Improving Education in Hoke County.

3) Prioritizing spending of our financial resources in ways that take care of Hoke County citizens first and foremost.

4) Supporting small business growth. We need to encourage business growth in our community by offering incentives and tax breaks for new and growing businesses. We need to offer more opportunities for our residents to engage in activities here in our county instead of traveling to Cumberland or Moore to spend their time and money.

Hoke County commission candidates answer Q&A - The News-Journal

All these things and many more need to be addressed and fixed ASAP. We can’t undo what is done but we can plan now for change. I believe as commissioners we can better manage the funds we have and direct those monies toward projects and programs truly needed without adding unnecessary debt and burdens to the citizens of our county.

Supports incentives and tax breaks for new and growing small businesses.

Supports directing county funds to needed projects and programs without unnecessary debt or financial burdens on residents.

- Supports incentives and tax breaks for new and growing small businesses.
- Supports directing county funds to needed projects and programs without unnecessary debt or financial burdens on residents.

As a commissioner, how would you support education?

Before construction should be allowed to be continued, bringing new residents and children to Hoke County, we need to take care of our existing schools and teachers. Did you know Hoke County currently has numerous unfilled teaching positions? Those open slots force the current teachers to take on more children than they can professionally serve. With teachers stretched beyond limitations, they cannot do a good job.

Education is the key to success and the foundation for a successful future wherever you go. Increasing teacher bonuses and hiring more assistants should help to fix these gaps.

In addition, we have maxed out classrooms and schools. We need to be planning and allocating funds for land banking for schools. Schools that we needed yesterday not sometime in the future.

Wants Hoke County to address existing school and teacher needs before allowing continued construction.

Supports increasing teacher bonuses and hiring more classroom assistants.

Advocates allocating funds to reserve land for new schools.

- Wants Hoke County to address existing school and teacher needs before allowing continued construction.
- Supports increasing teacher bonuses and hiring more classroom assistants.
- Advocates allocating funds to reserve land for new schools.

What will you do to address growth and development in Hoke County?

The first and most important thing that needs to be done is to update the Land Use Plan. It is recommended to be done every 5 years. It has been close to 20 years since ours was last updated. So hundreds and hundreds (maybe thousands) of homes have not been included, land lost has not been taken into consideration. Land Use Plans are done by each county to guide them as they grow.

It should help provide guidance to help shape the community, allow citizens to voice opinions, help balance out private interests and provide a general plan that should then be revised as changes are made. If our master plan is this far behind, then how in the world are we being set up for success.

Until the Land Use Plan is updated, I would refuse to okay any new developments, PERIOD.

Proposes updating Hoke County's Land Use Plan to guide county growth.

Pledges to withhold approval of new developments until the Land Use Plan is updated.

- Proposes updating Hoke County's Land Use Plan to guide county growth.
- Pledges to withhold approval of new developments until the Land Use Plan is updated.

As a commissioner, how would you support public safety?

As a commissioner of Hoke County, I would make public safety a top priority when it comes to the annual budget and funding.

As a commissioner, how would you support public safety?

1) Making sure our local law enforcement has what they need to best take care of our citizens is an absolute must. We need to first feel safe and secure for us to thrive as a community.

As we all know, Hoke County is rapidly growing; we are adding thousands of houses in our area and our local fire departments with their volunteers and limited number of paid employees will be responsible for taking care of all these homes! We need to actively find ways to encourage more volunteers and help fundraise with them so that they can purchase needed equipment and supplies.

In addition to the new residents that the housing developments bring- pets will be coming too. Our current animal shelter is in desperate need of funding to pay their staff and hire more. With the influx of new residents, it is very likely that a completely new shelter or an additional one may need to be built to meet the needs of current and growing county.

Prioritizes public safety in the county's annual budget and funding decisions.

Supports ensuring local law enforcement has needed resources.

Advocates recruiting volunteer firefighters and fundraising for their equipment and supplies.

Supports additional animal-shelter funding and says Hoke County may need a new or additional shelter.

- Prioritizes public safety in the county's annual budget and funding decisions.
- Supports ensuring local law enforcement has needed resources.
- Advocates recruiting volunteer firefighters and fundraising for their equipment and supplies.
- Supports additional animal-shelter funding and says Hoke County may need a new or additional shelter.

What steps should the commission take to support local infrastructure needs?

Most any step would be a step in the right direction compared to what we have now! Once again, I’ll go back to the Land Use Program. Both soft and hard infrastructure needs should have been considered and planned out far before the okaying of tons of new housing developments. But alas, we are where we are. So, moving forward, lots of planning will need to done.

Both soft and hard infrastructure needs should have been considered and planned out far before the okaying of tons of new housing developments. But alas, we are where we are. So, moving forward, lots of planning will need to done. I will talk about soft infrastructure needs in several of the following questions. As for hard infrastructure i.e. waste water treatment centers, roads, water, and septic, we are going to need get some action in these areas ASAP.

Plans additional infrastructure planning as Hoke County grows.

Calls for prompt action on wastewater treatment, roads, water, and septic infrastructure.

- Plans additional infrastructure planning as Hoke County grows.
- Calls for prompt action on wastewater treatment, roads, water, and septic infrastructure.

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

Stephanie Carter

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

Chazzy Bailey

- 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.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.

Hoke County Commissioner

Candidates (5)
Choose 3

Compare candidates

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Ethics & Conduct

Hoke County Commissioner

Candidates (5).css-1e5j0e1{margin:0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.4;font-family:"HouschkaRoundedAlt";font-weight:400;color:#22034F;} Choose 3

Compare candidates

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Ethics & Conduct

Candidates (5)
Choose 3