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County Commissioner, Cabarrus County

Vote for
3
Term
4 years
Candidates
7
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A county commissioner is one of the members of the board that adopts the county budget, sets the property tax rate and oversees county government.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • James N. BaileyRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Kristel SwayzeRepublican

    • Supports growth paying for the demands it creates

  • Dan ReddingDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Ingrid NurseDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Thomas HillLibertarian

    • Pledges to avoid sloppy contracts and quiet debt

  • Phil HenryDemocratic

    • Supports requiring proof of benefit for tax-raising policies

  • Ian PatrickRepublican

    • Supports low taxes and an efficient county government
    • Supports a fund reserving business-grant revenue for tax cuts

Education

  • James N. BaileyRepublican

    • Supports the highest possible teacher supplement, not merit-based

  • Kristel SwayzeRepublican

    • Supports competitive teacher supplements and long-range school planning

  • Dan ReddingDemocratic

    • Supports county funding for teachers where the state falls short

  • Ingrid NurseDemocratic

    • Supports competitive teacher pay

  • Thomas HillLibertarian

    • Supports naming school projects, costs and overruns in public

  • Phil HenryDemocratic

    • Supports the school bond referendum on the November ballot

  • Ian PatrickRepublican

    • Opposes school budget perks like office cable TV

Housing

  • James N. BaileyRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Kristel SwayzeRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Dan ReddingDemocratic

    • Supports more varied housing, from townhomes to senior housing

  • Ingrid NurseDemocratic

    • Supports expanding housing options as living costs rise

  • Thomas HillLibertarian

    • Supports property rights and density only where infrastructure exists

  • Phil HenryDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Ian PatrickRepublican

    • Supports slowing home approvals until infrastructure catches up

Economy & jobs

  • James N. BaileyRepublican

    • Supports economic incentive grants to recruit businesses

  • Kristel SwayzeRepublican

    • Supports continued county funding of economic development recruiting

  • Dan ReddingDemocratic

    • Supports business incentives with clawbacks and performance milestones

  • Ingrid NurseDemocratic

    • Supports responsible business recruitment to grow the tax base

  • Thomas HillLibertarian

    • Opposes business subsidies and long tax abatements

  • Phil HenryDemocratic

    • Supports judging business incentives by their return to residents

  • Ian PatrickRepublican

    • Opposes government picking business winners and losers

Roads & infrastructure

  • James N. BaileyRepublican

    • Supports expanding water, sewer, school and road capacity

  • Kristel SwayzeRepublican

    • Supports expanding the Rocky River wastewater treatment plant

  • Dan ReddingDemocratic

    • Supports expanding water and sewer infrastructure for growth

  • Ingrid NurseDemocratic

    • Supports expanding sewer capacity, with growth paying for growth

  • Thomas HillLibertarian

    • Supports new development paying more of its infrastructure costs

  • Phil HenryDemocratic

    • Supports infrastructure analysis before approving growth

  • Ian PatrickRepublican

    No documented position found.

Environment & parks

  • James N. BaileyRepublican

    • Supports slow extension of water and sewer into rural areas

  • Kristel SwayzeRepublican

    • Pledges to protect farmland and the county's agricultural community

  • Dan ReddingDemocratic

    • Supports infill development to spare rural land

  • Ingrid NurseDemocratic

    • Supports preserving open space while planning for growth

  • Thomas HillLibertarian

    No documented position found.

  • Phil HenryDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Ian PatrickRepublican

    No documented position found.

Government & transparency

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.