2026 North Carolina General Election

I grew up on the South Toe River with a community of people who shaped me to be who I am, and I can tell you there is nothing more sacred to me than this place I call home. Serving my community is a passion I share with so many people who have settled here.

Candidates 2026 — Yancey County Democrats

Regionally and locally, she has or is serving on boards for High Country Workforce Development, Mountain Community Health Partnership, Parkway Playhouse, Yancey County Literacy Council, Traditional Voices Group, The Yancey Fund (an affiliate of The Community Foundation of WNC), co-chair of the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival board as well as co-chair of the Festival’s Program Committee and School Outreach Coordinator, and vice-chair of The Listening Project. She volunteers with Hospice and local schools.

AMY Regional Director Briggs Named N.C.'s PLDA Library Director of the Year

I now live in the Jacks Creek community of Yancey County with my husband and young son. I also have a daughter in college at UNC Chapel Hill and an adult son, along with his young family, who live here as well.

Amber Westall Briggs grew up on the South Toe River. She volunteers with Hospice and local schools. She lives in the Jacks Creek community with her husband and son.

AMY Regional Director Briggs Named NC's PLDA Library ... - WKYK

## Amber Westall Briggs for Commissioner

I’m Amber Westall Briggs, a former library director and current community development manager serving families of young children in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. For the past 16 years in my work with nonprofits and public libraries, I have facilitated projects and collaborated with other agencies, organizations, and government institutions across our region and at the state level.

Amber Westall Briggs, director of the Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System, recently received the prestigious N.C. Library Director of the Year Award for 2024, the highest statewide honor for a Public Library Director.

Amber Westall Briggs currently works as a community development manager serving families of young children in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. She previously served as director of the Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System.

Amber currently works as a community development manager serving families of young children in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. She previously served as director of the Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System.

WHY WE'RE RUNNING

Landon Beaver, Amber Westall Briggs, and Carol Golightly are running together for County Commissioner to support local businesses, address the child care shortage, bring transparency back to county government, and protect taxpayers through practical, common-sense decision-making.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Beaver · Briggs · Golightly for Yancey County Commissioner · 2026

COMMON SENSE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Make county government practical and focused
Protect taxpayers from unnecessary increases
Balance immediate needs with long-term stability

Pledges to protect taxpayers from unnecessary increases.

- Supports local businesses.
- Pledges to protect taxpayers from unnecessary increases.

Economy

“On behalf of our library employees, board members, and patrons, I’m elated about the opportunity for our library system to join NC Cardinal,” said Amber Westall-Briggs, director of the AMY Regional Library system. “The support we’ve received and continue to receive from Cardinal staff and neighboring library systems is unmatched, and I am so grateful federal grant funds support libraries in expanding access for their users through NC Cardinal.”

State Library welcomes Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library to NC Cardinal

Briggs stated, “The library world is constantly changing as the new identity of the public library shifts from a repository of books to a full-fledged community center. I have welcomed challenges, they excite me, and I want to know how we can better support our communities, and I believe we can do it with passion and a dedication to developing alliances which impact all citizens, particularly those who are disenfranchised or economically challenged.”

Briggs spoke about the displays that the library puts up year-round. She said these displays represent the mission of the library. "We serve all members of the public, and we particularly serve marginalized groups of people, and when we do that, we recognize everyone," Briggs said.

Yancey County library discussions continue

"Here's the trick: Libraries don't discriminate," Briggs said. "We do not discriminate. I want to specify that because it's so important."

She said librarians should be respected and trusted to make these displays because they have been trained to do so and select materials that are "appropriate for all (library) patrons."

On Aug. 2, Briggs released a public statement addressing Yancey’s commissioners.

"This past year has been a tremendous gain from a financial perspective because for the first time in 20+ years, regional library systems were given a recurring increase in state aid," Briggs wrote. "We are so well equipped to serve our communities, and that was made possible by directors across the state who serve on those committees, me included, and our representatives at the state level listened to and awarded funding. Why withdraw now? Why pay for what the State already provides?"

Yancey County library Pride controversy

When asked for comment in response to Austin’s statement, Briggs said, “It is factual that regional services will be lost.”

Supported joining NC Cardinal to expand library users' access.

Plans to address the child care shortage.

Advocates for public libraries serving as community centers and building alliances to support underserved residents.

Supports nondiscriminatory library service for all patrons, including marginalized groups.

Supports trained librarians' discretion to select library displays and materials appropriate for patrons.

Opposes withdrawing from the regional library system, citing state aid and the loss of regional services.

- Supported joining NC Cardinal to expand library users' access.
- Plans to address the child care shortage.
- Advocates for public libraries serving as community centers and building alliances to support underserved residents.
- Supports nondiscriminatory library service for all patrons, including marginalized groups.
- Supports trained librarians' discretion to select library displays and materials appropriate for patrons.
- Opposes withdrawing from the regional library system, citing state aid and the loss of regional services.

Public Services

As of September 2, 2026, Amber Westall Briggs’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Amber Westall Briggs

- Said changes to library collection development and access to materials amount to censorship.

Amber Westall Briggs lived in Raleigh during her young adulthood. She volunteers with Hospice and local schools. She and her husband, Shane, have three children.

Amber Westall Briggs is the director of the AMY Regional Library system.

- Plans to address the child care shortage.
- Plans to make county decisions public and keep residents informed about spending.

Mauricio Mendez

Walter Ley

Professionally, I’ve spent more than a decade in corporate communications, working with business leaders to communicate more effectively with their employees, customers, investors, and the public. This has included managing multimillion-dollar budgets and advising clients including Fortune 100 companies and leading tech platforms. My career has given me deep experience in leadership, budgeting, contracting, partnership development, and crisis management. I hope to take these skills I’ve developed in the corporate world and put them to work for the benefit of the people of Yancey County.

2026 Candidates

Carol has spent more than a decade working in corporate communications.

Carol Golightly has spent more than a decade working in corporate communications.

WHY WE'RE RUNNING

Landon Beaver, Amber Westall Briggs, and Carol Golightly are running together for County Commissioner to support local businesses, address the child care shortage, bring transparency back to county government, and protect taxpayers through practical, common-sense decision-making.

Pledges to protect taxpayers from unnecessary tax increases.

- Pledges to protect taxpayers from unnecessary tax increases.
- Supports local businesses.

Calls for addressing the child-care shortage.

- Calls for addressing the child-care shortage.

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

Carol Golightly

Pavel Tantchev

David is a store owner at Barn Charm. He previously served as the mayor of Burnsville from 2001 to 2005. He also worked as a family business manager.

David Grindstaff | BallotReady

Staff Directory • David Grindstaff

David Grindstaff is a store owner at Barn Charm. He previously served as the mayor of Burnsville from 2001 to 2005. He also worked as a family business manager.

David is currently a Yancey County Commissioner. He previously served as the mayor of Burnsville from 2001 to 2005.

Yancey County, North Carolina, elections, 2022 - Ballotpedia

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

LinkedIn

David Grindstaff

Plans to protect taxpayers through practical decision-making.

Plans to "protect taxpayers through practical decision-making."

- Plans to "protect taxpayers through practical decision-making."

- Plans to address the child care shortage.

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

Landon Beaver

- Supports local businesses.
- Plans to protect taxpayers through practical decision-making.

Chazzy Bailey

He is an entrepreneur, North Carolina licensed contractor, photographer and artist, outdoorsman, lifelong athlete, and independent candidate for Yancey County Commissioner.

Nute earned a degree in Communication Arts and Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, with emphasis in copyright law, psychology, and art history.

About

Hurricane Helene made that clear.

Nute and his partner, Brandy Honeycutt, suffered significant personal and business losses during the storm. At the same time, Nute became directly involved in response and recovery work—helping restore access, checking on residents, moving supplies, documenting damage, working through septic and infrastructure problems, preparing estimates, assisting with inspections, and staying involved in long-term rebuilding.

Nute Nicholson earned a degree in communication arts and design from Virginia Commonwealth University, with an emphasis on copyright law, psychology, and art history. His partner is Brandy Honeycutt.

Nute earned a degree in Communication Arts and Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, with emphasis in copyright law, psychology, and art history.

His professional photography career later took him into national and international work with demanding clients, creative teams, and substantial production budgets.

That mindset eventually carried into construction, property rehabilitation, land management, wastewater, logging, arboriculture, and site development.

Nute has built businesses, created housing, employed local people, rebuilt neglected properties, and learned firsthand how decisions about land, infrastructure, housing, and development affect working people.

Nute Nicholson is an entrepreneur, a North Carolina-licensed contractor, and a photographer and artist. He has worked in professional photography and in construction, property rehabilitation, land management, wastewater, logging, arboriculture, and site development.

Nute is an entrepreneur, a North Carolina-licensed contractor, and a photographer and artist. He has worked in professional photography and in construction, property rehabilitation, land management, wastewater, logging, arboriculture, and site development.

He believes the county should protect its natural assets, encourage businesses that fit the character of the area, create more housing, strengthen local industry, use recovery resources wisely, and make decisions with a long-term view.

Nute also believes we need to take a serious, detailed look at the tax burden being carried by Yancey County residents. That means going beyond simply talking about taxes and digging into the numbers—understanding exactly where county money is being spent, what those expenditures are producing, what is required, what is discretionary, and where better decisions or efficiencies may exist.

There may not be one easy answer to lowering the burden on property owners, but Nute believes the county has a responsibility to search for solutions. Every major expense should have a clear purpose, a clear definition, and a measurable benefit to the people paying for it.

When public money is spent, the public deserves to know where it went, why it was spent, what it produced, and whether there was a better way to accomplish the same goal.

Every major expense should have a clear purpose, a clear definition, and a measurable benefit to the people paying for it.

When public money is spent, the public deserves to know where it went, why it was spent, what it produced, and whether there was a better way to accomplish the same goal.

He believes growth should strengthen Yancey, not strip value from it.

Development should fit Yancey — Yancey should not be forced to fit development.

He believes the county should protect its natural assets, encourage businesses that fit the character of the area, create more housing, strengthen local industry, use recovery resources wisely, and make decisions with a long-term view.

Calls for detailed reviews of county spending to identify efficiencies and seek ways to reduce property owners’ tax burden.

Supports encouraging businesses that fit Yancey County’s character and strengthening local industry.

- Calls for detailed reviews of county spending to identify efficiencies and seek ways to reduce property owners’ tax burden.
- Supports encouraging businesses that fit Yancey County’s character and strengthening local industry.

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

SMART GROWTH WITHOUT LOSING YANCEY’S IDENTITY
GROWTH IS COMING. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE GUIDE IT WISELY OR LET IT HAPPEN WITHOUT A PLAN. YANCEY NEEDS GROWTH THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL FAMILIES, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND THE CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

Yancey County For Nute Nicholson | Empower Yancey County—Join the Movement

TOURISM THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY
TOURISM CAN HELP YANCEY, BUT IT MUST BENEFIT LOCAL RESIDENTS, NOT PRICE THEM OUT OR LEAVE THEM BEHIND. WE NEED A BETTER BALANCE BETWEEN VISITORS, BUSINESSES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMMUNITY NEEDS.

Supports creating more housing as part of long-term county planning.

Advocates for planned growth that supports local families, local businesses, and community character.

Calls for balancing tourism with local residents’ housing, infrastructure, and community needs.

- Supports creating more housing as part of long-term county planning.
- Advocates for planned growth that supports local families, local businesses, and community character.
- Calls for balancing tourism with local residents’ housing, infrastructure, and community needs.

Supports protecting Yancey County’s natural assets as part of long-term development planning.

- Supports protecting Yancey County’s natural assets as part of long-term development planning.

Nute Nicholson

Facebook

Sandi Norton went to Mitchell High School. 

Sandi is a commissioner for the Yancey County Board of Commissioners. She works at the Yancey County Board of Commissioners.

Sandi Norton is currently a commissioner on the Yancey County Board of Commissioners. She was elected in 2022 and has served one term.

Yancey County – North Carolina Association of Registers of Deeds

Sandi is currently a commissioner on the Yancey County Board of Commissioners. She was elected in 2022 and has served one term.

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

Sandi Norton

Stacey McEntyre Greene is from the South Toe Community, North Carolina. She attended Lees‐McRae College. She has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and development from Lees‐McRae College. She attends her church.

Meet Our Team | NC Realtors | Dream Mountain Realty

Stacey McEntyre Greene has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and development from Lees‐McRae College. She attends church. She is a wife and mother. 

Stacey is a real estate broker. She works at Dream Mtn Realty, where she has been since 2006.

Yancey appoints 7 library board members in response to Pride display

Stacey is a real estate broker at Dream Mtn Realty. 

Stacey McEntyre Greene is currently a Yancey County Commissioner, representing Yancey County. She was elected in 2022 and has served one term.

Staff Directory • Stacey McEntyre-Greene

Stacey is currently a county commissioner. She was elected in 2022 and has served one term. 

As of September 2, 2026, Stacey McEntyre Greene did not have a website or any information online.

Stacey McEntyre Greene

- 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.

Yancey County Commissioner

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Yancey County Commissioner

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Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

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Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Candidates (7)
Choose 3