ABOUT US
The Jackson County Civic Alliance is a non-partisan initiative dedicated to promoting responsible, ethical, and effective local leadership.
We believe effective local government requires working constructively with individuals of different political affiliations, perspectives, and backgrounds to solve real community issues.
This initiative exists to establish clear standards for leadership and provide the community with transparency around where candidates stand.
Core Principles
These principles define the standard for leadership we expect in Jackson County.
ENDORSEMENTS
Endorse these Principles
Endorsements
The individuals listed below live in or own property in Jackson County and have publicly endorsed the principles of the Jackson County Civic Alliance. All submissions are reviewed prior to being publicly listed to ensure accuracy and integrity.
CANDIDATES
As a candidate for public office in Jackson County, I commit to the following principles of responsible, community-focused leadership:
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Local Governance Only:
I will focus on issues directly impacting Jackson County and will not use my position to advance national political agendas or ideological movements unrelated to local governance. -
Independence from Outside Influence:
I will not coordinate with or take direction from out-of-county political organizations, national political groups, or ideological movements seeking to influence local decisions. -
Religious Neutrality in Governance:
I will not use public office to promote, advance, or impose religious beliefs in government decisions, policies, or operations. Government must serve all residents equally. -
Evidence-Based Decision Making:
I will base decisions on verifiable facts, data, and local input—not misinformation or partisan talking points. -
Respectful Leadership:
I will engage respectfully with colleagues and constituents and work to reduce unnecessary division within our community. -
Transparency & Accountability:
I will communicate openly and remain accountable to the residents of Jackson County. -
Cross-Community Collaboration:
I will work constructively with individuals of differing political affiliations, perspectives, and backgrounds.
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
The Jackson County Civic Alliance seeks to provide voters with accurate and timely information regarding where candidates stand on our Candidate Commitment.
Our process is as follows:
- Every declared candidate for a covered office will be invited to review and respond to the Candidate Commitment.
- Invitations will be sent using the best available contact information, which may include email, postal mail, telephone, or other publicly available methods.
- Candidates who do not respond to the initial invitation may receive one or more follow-up communications when practical.
- A candidate will be listed as "No Response" if no completed commitment is received within 14 days of our initial contact or by 14 days before the applicable election, whichever occurs first.
- If a response is received after a candidate has been listed as "No Response", the website will be updated as soon as reasonably practicable.
The Jackson County Civic Alliance believes accountability should be fair, objective, and based on verified facts.
If an individual who has endorsed the Alliance's principles believes that a candidate or elected official who signed the Candidate Commitment has materially violated one or more of its provisions, they may submit a report by emailing jccawnc@gmail.com
When a report is received, the Alliance will generally follow this process:
- Review the report. Determine whether sufficient information has been provided.
- Verify the relevant facts. Use reliable public information and other appropriate sources.
- Contact the candidate or elected official. Provide notice of the reported concern and an opportunity to respond, clarify the circumstances or, when appropriate, correct the issue.
- Evaluate all available information. Determine whether a material violation has occurred.
- Update the website when appropriate. Revise the individual's status and provide any relevant explanation.
The Jackson County Civic Alliance reserves the right to decline to pursue reports that are unsupported, speculative, outside the scope of the Candidate Commitment, or otherwise cannot be reasonably verified.
Purpose of this process
The purpose of this process is to encourage accountability and constructive dialogue, not to publicly criticize candidates or elected officials without first providing a fair opportunity to respond.