County

County Commissioner, Macon County

District 02

Vote for: 2
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 4
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.

Residency district: every voter in the county votes for this seat (the district is where the member must live; State Board March 3, 2026 primary precinct results).

Candidates Compare by issue

Dylan Castle

Republican

Pastor, first responder and chaplain

The gist

Opposes data centers in Macon County
Opposes bringing back license-plate reader camera systems
Supports spacing out major county construction projects
Pledges more transparency and communication from the board
Opposes rushing to redraw commission districts

More about Dylan

View sources (1)

Opposes data centers in Macon County
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“If somebody wants to do it, go find a different community.”
Opposes bringing back license-plate reader camera systems
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“I would be very leery of bringing any type of system back, Axon or any of it,”
Supports spacing out major county construction projects
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“Castle urged commissioners to space out major construction rather than stack it.”
Pledges more transparency and communication from the board
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“Castle wants to improve transparency on the board of commissioners and better communicate issues to constituents.”
Opposes rushing to redraw commission districts
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“First of all, it's not something that needs to be rushed into,”

Kellie McConnell Burns

Republican

Banker

The gist

Opposes data centers in Macon County
Supports the quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot
Supports expanding homestead exemptions for homeowners
Proposes a 10-year capital plan for county buildings
Supports slowing license-plate camera use over privacy concerns

More about Kellie

View sources (1)

Opposes data centers in Macon County
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“I think Macon County is the last place that you would want to put a data center,”
Supports the quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“She supports the quarter-cent sales tax and wants to push long-term to shift the burden off homeowners.”
Supports expanding homestead exemptions for homeowners
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“Burns also sees expanding homestead exemptions and creating an alliance with other Western North Carolina boards of commissioners”
Proposes a 10-year capital plan for county buildings
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“Burns wants a 10-year capital plan covering aging county buildings and looming projects.”
Supports slowing license-plate camera use over privacy concerns
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“With so many legitimate concerns from our constituents about a potential Fourth Amendment violation, we have a responsibility to slow down,”

Terry Bell

Democratic

Retired educator and school administrator

The gist

Supports the quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot
Proposes East Franklin Elementary as next school building priority
Opposes data centers in Macon County
Opposes moving to five single-member commission districts
Supports leaving the Fontana Regional Library system

More about Terry

View sources (1)

Supports the quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“Bell is urging voters to approve the quarter-cent sales tax on this year's ballot”
Proposes East Franklin Elementary as next school building priority
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“said his next priority is East Franklin Elementary, with an original structure dating to 1952 that has significant problems”
Opposes data centers in Macon County
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“He is firmly opposed to data centers, citing water, noise, and light impacts on a tourism-dependent economy”
Opposes moving to five single-member commission districts
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“He opposes moving to five single-member districts, arguing at-large voting keeps commissioners accountable countywide.”
Supports leaving the Fontana Regional Library system
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“Bell would vote to leave the FRL system”

Janet Jacobs Greene

Democratic

Retired United Methodist minister

The gist

Supports strong regulation to keep data centers out
Proposes a group to sequence future county building projects
Supports grants to help developers build workforce housing
Supports strict limits on use of surveillance camera data
Proposes waiting for 2030 census data before redistricting

More about Janet

View sources (1)

Supports strong regulation to keep data centers out
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“They're necessary in our society, but not for our area,”
Proposes a group to sequence future county building projects
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“she would convene a group to sequence the projects, revive the economic development committee, and expand a thinned planning board”
Supports grants to help developers build workforce housing
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“grants to help developers absorb upfront costs for roads, water, and sewer, so teachers, nurses, and deputies can find homes”
Supports strict limits on use of surveillance camera data
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“On Flock cameras, she favors strict limits on how surveillance data is used and penalties for misuse.”
Proposes waiting for 2030 census data before redistricting
Macon commission candidates talk local issues: See where the five challenger candidates stand on data centers, Flock cameras, and more
News coverage · The Smoky Mountain News · Sep 16, 2026 · smokymountainnews.com
“On redistricting, she'd wait for 2030 census data and insists any new map strengthen the voices of Highlands and Nantahala.”

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.