Avery County, NC elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities
Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Avery County: 23 seats on 7 elected bodies. 7 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.
Board of County Commissioners
Avery County Board of Commissioners
| Office | Who holds it now | Next term |
|---|---|---|
| County Commissioner | Robert Burleson Republican source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| County Commissioner | Wood Hall (Woodie) Young, Jr. Republican source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| County Commissioner | Tim Phillips Republican source | |
| County Commissioner | Junior Benfield Republican source | |
| County Commissioner | Dennis Aldridge Republican source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
County officers
| Office | Who holds it now | Next term |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Superior Court | Teresa I. Benfield Republican source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| Register of Deeds | Erin Grindstaff English Republican source | |
| Sheriff | Mike Henley Republican source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
School Board
Avery County Board of Education
| Office | Who holds it now |
|---|---|
| Board of Education Member | Randy Singleton source |
| Board of Education Member | Patricia (Pat) Edwards source |
| Board of Education Member | Michelle Krege Burnop source |
| Board of Education Member | Linda Webb source |
| Board of Education Member | David Wright source |
Cities and towns
Special districts
Avery Soil and Water Conservation District
| Office | Who holds it now | Next term |
|---|---|---|
| Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor | Charles Ballard source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor | Bill Beuttell source | On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet |
| Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor | Jack W. Wiseman source |
How many local governments Avery County has
The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 8 local governments in Avery County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.
| Kind of government | Census count (2022) | Listed on this page |
|---|---|---|
| County government | 1 | 1 |
| Cities, towns, villages and townships | 6 | 1 |
| School districts (school boards) | 0 | 1 |
| Special districts (elected boards) | 1 | 1 |
About these counts
The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments (1 in Avery County), though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.
Who lives in Avery County
Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 6.1% · White 85.7% · Black 3.8% · Asian 0.4% · Other or more than one race 4% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)
About these figures
The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.
Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.
Jobs in Avery County
Every month, last two years
| Month | Rate | Unemployed | Employed | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 (preliminary) | 2.6% | 208 | 7,878 | 8,086 |
| August 2026 | 3.0% | 236 | 7,733 | 7,969 |
| July 2026 | 3.2% | 253 | 7,689 | 7,942 |
| June 2026 | 3.0% | 238 | 7,815 | 8,053 |
| May 2026 | 3.1% | 244 | 7,607 | 7,851 |
| April 2026 | 3.2% | 238 | 7,261 | 7,499 |
| March 2026 | 3.2% | 250 | 7,528 | 7,778 |
| February 2026 | 3.4% | 262 | 7,503 | 7,765 |
| January 2026 | 3.7% | 282 | 7,346 | 7,628 |
| December 2025 | 3.1% | 240 | 7,463 | 7,703 |
| November 2025 | 3.6% | 269 | 7,205 | 7,474 |
| October 2025 | not collected (2025 federal shutdown) | |||
| September 2025 | 3.4% | 264 | 7,573 | 7,837 |
| August 2025 | 3.8% | 297 | 7,516 | 7,813 |
| July 2025 | 3.9% | 311 | 7,678 | 7,989 |
| June 2025 | 3.8% | 301 | 7,707 | 8,008 |
| May 2025 | 3.9% | 301 | 7,461 | 7,762 |
| April 2025 | 4.1% | 306 | 7,123 | 7,429 |
| March 2025 | 4.3% | 332 | 7,451 | 7,783 |
| February 2025 | 5.0% | 380 | 7,173 | 7,553 |
| January 2025 | 5.5% | 405 | 6,979 | 7,384 |
| December 2024 | 5.6% | 413 | 7,028 | 7,441 |
| November 2024 | 7.2% | 529 | 6,789 | 7,318 |
| October 2024 | 9.0% | 688 | 6,927 | 7,615 |
Yearly averages
| Year | Rate | Unemployed | Employed | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (11 months) | 4.0% | 310 | 7,394 | 7,704 |
| 2024 | 4.3% | 324 | 7,241 | 7,565 |
| 2023 | 3.3% | 244 | 7,064 | 7,308 |
| 2022 | 3.6% | 261 | 6,901 | 7,162 |
| 2021 | 4.4% | 301 | 6,489 | 6,790 |
| 2020 | 6.8% | 448 | 6,157 | 6,605 |
| 2019 | 4.0% | 277 | 6,627 | 6,904 |
| 2018 | 4.1% | 283 | 6,700 | 6,983 |
| 2017 | 4.6% | 327 | 6,725 | 7,052 |
| 2016 | 5.4% | 377 | 6,613 | 6,990 |
Police in Avery County
Police staffing
Agencies counted (7), 2025
| Agency | Officers | Civilians | People served |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avery County Sheriff's Office | 34 | 24 | 14,819 |
| Beech Mountain Police Department | 10 | 5 | 656 |
| Banner Elk Police Department | 8 | 1 | 1,201 |
| Seven Devils Police Department | 7 | 0 | 316 |
| Newland Police Department | 5 | 0 | 737 |
| Sugar Mountain Police Department | 5 | 0 | 384 |
| Elk Park Police Department | 0 | 0 | 559 |
Earlier years
| Year | Officers | Per 1,000 | Civilians | Agencies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69 | 3.70 | 30 | 7 |
| 2024 | 70 | 3.79 | 29 | 7 |
| 2023 | 62 | 3.38 | 30 | 7 |
| 2022 | 59 | 3.12 | 29 | 7 |
| 2021 | 61 | 3.44 | 29 | 7 |
| 2020 | 61 | 3.38 | 30 | 7 |
| 2019 | 61 | 3.40 | 29 | 7 |
Quick answers
- Who is the Avery County Clerk of Superior Court?
- Teresa I. Benfield (Republican) is the Clerk of Superior Court of Avery County, North Carolina. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
- Who is the Avery County Register of Deeds?
- Erin Grindstaff English (Republican) is the Register of Deeds of Avery County, North Carolina.
- Who is the Avery County Sheriff?
- Mike Henley (Republican) is the Sheriff of Avery County, North Carolina. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
- Who are the Avery County commissioners?
- Robert Burleson (County Commissioner); Wood Hall (Woodie) Young, Jr. (County Commissioner); Tim Phillips (County Commissioner); Junior Benfield (County Commissioner); Dennis Aldridge (County Commissioner).
- Who is on the Avery County School Board?
- Randy Singleton (Board of Education Member); Patricia (Pat) Edwards (Board of Education Member); Michelle Krege Burnop (Board of Education Member); Linda Webb (Board of Education Member); David Wright (Board of Education Member).
- What is the population of Avery County?
- About 17,680 people, with a median age of 47.1; the median household income is $61,428 and 10.2% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
- What is the unemployment rate in Avery County?
- 2.6% in September 2026 (preliminary): 208 people unemployed in a labor force of 8,086, against 3.4% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
- How many local governments are there in Avery County?
- 8 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 6 municipal and 1 special district governments.
- What cities and towns are in Avery County?
- 1: Newland. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.
Avery County's 2026 ballot and results · Every North Carolina county · North Carolina's members of Congress
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