Barbara Bleiweis is running for a third term on the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District Board in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The nonpartisan race has two seats to fill. Jillian Nicole King, Long Tran, Makenzie Pearce and Michael Betterly are also running, according to BallotReady election data.

Asked why she is seeking reelection, Bleiweis said in our candidate questionnaire: "Im seeking my third term because I love being in public service; i lover the conservation work that we have accomplished and I know that so much more can be done in with another term under my belt. …"

Candidate information

Party affiliation: "Democrat," Bleiweis said in our questionnaire.

Education: "BS Marketing, University of Maryland, College Park, MD. 1978," Bleiweis said in our questionnaire.

Family: "Proud mom of two adult children and three cats. Since 1983, I have had more cats than kids and i think the kids still cost me more. …" Bleiweis said in our questionnaire.

Occupation: Asked about her work history, Bleiweis said in our questionnaire: "I am retired from private industry but work harder now than before in this public service role. My decades long resume of complex sales honed a team oriented, goal setting, outcome-driven, metric minded mode of operation. …"

Experience and public service

Bleiweis has served on the Mecklenburg SWCD Board of Supervisors since 2017 and is in her second elected term as chair, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture. She serves on the National Association of Conservation Districts' Public Lands and Water and Climate committees.

Asked about her offices, Bleiweis said in our questionnaire: "I am the current Chair for the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District, former President of the NC Association for Soil and Water Conservation (2025) Districts and the appointed in 2025 by Governor Stein as Chair of the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission."

She also serves as a board member of the North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation and has been a member of the Charlotte Water Advisory Committee since 2015, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

On the issues

Accomplishments: Asked what she is most proud of as chair, Bleiweis said in our questionnaire: "I am most proud of being the lead architect in establishing the Farmland Preservation and the Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance. This Plan and the ordinance, empowers local farmers and the systems they support to make a difference for everyone. … The AAB work defines what next steps our District must do to keep local agriculture alive and thriving."

Stormwater and development: Asked how the district should respond to stormwater and erosion pressures from rapid development, Bleiweis said in our questionnaire: "We need to expand capacity with headcount as well as funding for conservation practices. Decisions to build out our community to support the influx of new residents is something we do not control- and the best we can do at the moment is to make sure lawmakers are aware of the trade-offs of increase impervious surfaces ( roads, sidewalks)-and the impact on our streams, farms, and neighborhoods from run off. …"

She added that the district has introduced biochar from wood debris through a grant "as a means to increase water retention in soils, but also remove toxic substances from contaminated soils," Bleiweis said.

What sets her apart: Asked about critical differences between herself and other candidates, Bleiweis said in our questionnaire: "Experience, focus, energy and vision. An effective Supervisor, in my experience, requires active engagement with key organizations as well as the community. It is more than showing up at monthly meetings. …"

Voters choose up to two candidates from the five-person field.