Candidates

A mom, former public defender, judge, and the first Black woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court Cheri Beasley has spent her life fighting to uphold the law and keep communities safe. As U.S. Senator, she’ll fight to lower costs, create good-paying jobs and expand access to affordable, quality health care in every part of North Carolina. Among her priority issues are Women’s Rights, the Climate Crisis, Voting Rights, and fixing our Immigration system. Her opponent, Republican Ted Budd, has been directly endorsed by Donald Trump and the list of Budd's priority issues on his campaign website is pretty scary.

Pam grew up like many of us, straddling the line between poverty and making ends meet. She has known both joy and heartbreak. And maybe because of her experiences with both, Pam devotes herself to helping better the lives of others. She’s a registered nurse, mother of two children, wife of 28+ years, fierce crusader for people’s rights, and a passionate advocate in suicide prevention. “The people in our district deserve a voice that can truly speak for everyone living here. We need someone who’ll stand up and fight for things that’ll impact all of us.” Pam’s website gives a very complete listing of her positions on many issues. This is in stark contrast to her opponent’s website, which contains extremely sparse information about issues.

Keith is a graduate of Lincolnton HS and is the newly appointed Director of the Hesed House of Hope, the only homeless shelter in Lincoln County. His Board of Education priorities are Excellence in education through utmost support for students, teachers, and administrators, Equality of educational opportunity for all students of all backgrounds.

Linda is a graduate of Lincolnton HS, who has taught and been a school counselor at several Lincoln County schools. Linda’s excellent experience uniquely qualifies her to be a school board member who seeks to unify Lincoln County to provide the best education possible for all students at every level in every school. She looks forward to working together to serve the future of Lincoln County.

Marty is a lifelong resident of Lincolnton and a graduate of Lincolnton High School. Serving as a teacher, counselor, coach and administrator at Lincolnton High, Battleground Elementary and Lincolnton Jr. High schools. Marty also served as Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools for 15 years.
Serving on Lincolnton City Council since December 2012, as a part of the city’s leadership team and with collaboration of the citizens of Lincolnton there has been substantial revitalization of downtown. With this partnership we have accomplished the following with no tax rate increase.

• Implemented public/private partnerships to spur economic growth
• Expanded our recreation program by adding First Federal Park, aPark, a kayak launch, and a new dog park
• Modernized garbage and recycling pickup to improve efficiency
• Improved salaries so we can attract and retain quality employees to serve our citizens
• Protected city taxpayers from future tax increases through supporting annexation
• *Improved vehicles and training incentives for police and firefighters to enhance safety
• Stabilized water and electric rates

Mary Frances White, a native of Lincoln County, residing in the City of Lincolnton and a business owner in Lincolnton since 1987 and a current member of the Lincolnton City Council. Mary Frances, owner and operator of Ebony & White Funeral Service for 30 years. Also, a member of the Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, as well as serving in leadership offices and served on numerous committees at the local, state and national levels. Mary Frances White has vast experience serving the community including:

• Lunch Buddy in Lincoln County Schools
• Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse & Child Advocacy Board of Directors
• Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce
• Rotary Club of Lincolnton
• Trustee for Foundation Board of Education
Lincolnton Housing Authority Board
• Lincoln Medical Center Board of Directors
• First Citizens Bank Board, Charlotte Area Business League
• Member of Zion Hill Baptist Church.

Prior to being elected as mayor, Mayor Hatley served two terms on the Lincoln County Board of Education. In Mayor Hatley's term Lincolnton has made major strides forward in both residential growth as well as commercial growth. Our historical downtown has experienced a re-birth due in large part because of incentive grants and a climate that welcomes growth. Mayor Hatley is running unopposed and hope you will support our candidates.

A former District Court judge and Superior Court judge with over 25 years of combined legal and judicial experience. As well as a seasoned trial attorney and former jurist. For over ten years, Judge Thompson has prosecuted petitions of abuse, neglect, and nonsupport of children. Her practice has always included representing victims of domestic violence and their children. In her role as a District Court judge, Judge Thompson successfully advocated changing our court dockets so that domestic violence cases could be heard separate from the general civil court. This change gave families more time to handle their issues without unnecessary delays.
A state-certified mediator for Superior Court cases and cases involving complex family financial disputes. As a part of giving back to the community, Judge Thompson also serves as a volunteer Teen Court Judge and youth mentor to help first-time youth offenders accept responsibility for their conduct and learn about the court system.
Judge Thompson's experience in handling complex litigation and continued professional growth in the practice of law have prepared me to serve as an Appellate Court Judge.

A native of Raleigh, NC, Lucy Inman earned her law degree from UNC School of Law in 1990. Her first job after law school was working as a law clerk for North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Exum. Judge Inman went on to practice civil litigation for 18 years, first in Los Angeles and then back home in Raleigh. Appointed to serve as a special superior court judge by Governor Beverly Perdue, Judge Inman served in that role for four years. Since her election to the Court of Appeals, Judge Inman has authored over 500 appellate decisions in a wide variety of cases, including criminal, civil, and constitutional disputes. She has presided in thousands of other cases. Judge Inman brings hard work and respect for all others to her personal and professional life every day.

A North Carolina native, Justice Sam J. Ervin, IV was awarded an A.B., magna cum laude, from Davidson College. After graduating from Davidson, he attended Harvard Law School, from which he received a J.D., cum laude, in 1981.
While in private practice, Justice Ervin handled a wide variety of civil, criminal, and administrative matters, including many appeals to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of North Carolina. In addition, Justice Ervin was extensively involved in the activities of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), having served as Chairman of that organization's Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues and Waste Disposal from 2002 until 2005; as Chairman of that organization's Committee on Electricity from 2004 until 2007; and as a member of its Task Force on Climate Policy from 2007 through 2008.

Justice Ervin was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals at the November 4, 2008, general election, and served on that body until he took office as a Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina on January 1, 2015, after being elected to that position at the November 4, 2014, general election.

Carolyn Thompson is a former District Court judge and Superior Court judge with over 25 years of combined legal and judicial experience.
For over ten years, Mrs. Thompson prosecuted petitions of abuse, neglect, and nonsupport of children. In her role as a District Court judge, Mrs. Thompson successfully advocated changing our court dockets so that domestic violence cases could be heard separate from the general civil court. This change gave families more time to handle their issues without unnecessary delays.
Experience in handling complex litigation and continued professional growth in the practice of law have prepared Mrs. Thompson to serve as an Appellate Court Judge.

Brad Salmon currently serves as a District Court Judge for District 11 covering Lee, Harnett and Johnston counties. He is a founding partner of The Salmon Law Firm where he focused on representing clients in various criminal, civil and administrative matters. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University and the Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. Brad and his wife Rebecca live in Sanford, North Carolina.

A native of Warren County Judge Adams attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she double majored in English and Economics after which Judge Adams attended North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Upon graduating from law school, Judge Adams joined the United States Navy as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) where she represented defendants who were charged with various criminal and military offenses or who were being administratively processed out of the military as well as providing legal advice to servicemembers on various matters involving contracts, family law, and real estate.
After her military service to my country and a brief time in private practice Judge Adams served as an Assistant District Attorney and later a joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender. In 2012, Judge Adams was elected to serve as a Resident Superior Court Judge for Cumberland County.

Judge Darren Jackson is a lifelong resident of eastern Wake County, father of three, small-town attorney, and small businessman. Judge Jackson earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from UNC-Chapel Hill (Class of 1993) and then earned his law degree from Duke University passing the Bar in 1996.
Judge Jackson started his law career in Zebulon with Gay & Stroud. When Donna Stroud left to serve on the bench in 2004, the firm became Gay & Jackson. Darren's small-town general practice focused on residential real estate and civil litigation.
In 2020, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Judge Jackson to the Court of Appeals, and now, he am now seeking a full 8-year term.