Shawn Freeman - Burke County Commission

Full name: Christopher Shawn Freeman (Shawn)

Age: 54

Education: Bachelor of Science Organizational Leadership Criminal Justice Administration; Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian

Current employer and job title: Retired Police Chief; Criminal Justice Instructor (Specialized Firearms and Hazardous Materials); NC Private Protective Services Firearms Instructor

How long have you lived in the district you want to serve?

My whole life, with the exception of working at Bald Head Island and Beech Mountain. I have always maintained my address here in Burke County.

What are your top three priorities you want to address if elected?

I’m running for County Commissioner to bring your voice back to the table. My top priorities are simple: transparency, listening to the people, and spending tax dollars wisely. Our community belongs to you, which means change should be driven by your ideas and for your benefit. I believe in total transparency because you deserve to know where your hard-earned money is going. I will ensure we use our county budget as a tool for progress — guided by your feedback and focused on the best interests of Burke County.

Burke recently fell to a Tier 1 county. What can be done to drive economic growth and bring us back up to a Tier 2 county?

Burke County deserves to be a place where families thrive, not just survive. Currently, state rankings show us falling behind in employment, income, and growth — but we can change that trajectory. My plan is to aggressively recruit businesses that bring skilled, high-paying jobs back to our community. We need to raise the median income so that no one is forced to move away due to financial stress. Let’s build a county where our children can build their futures right here at home.

If elected, what will you do to continue assisting the people of Burke County with recovery from Hurricane Helene?

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we’ve learned a hard lesson about preparedness. But more importantly, we’ve learned that when the cameras leave, the hardship remains. Many of our neighbors are still struggling, even if you don’t see it on the news. We need a ‘boots-on-the-ground’ approach to leadership. That means getting out of the office, talking to families, and hearing their stories firsthand. By gathering this direct input, we can present a clear, undeniable case to Congress and state officials to ensure Burke County gets every dollar and resource necessary to rebuild.