Barbara Bleiweis

The Election Hub Questionnaire

Please share demographic information to help voters (your age, education, and where you live in NC now).
This year I celebrate my 69th year around the sun!  And yet, I still feel like a 20 year old-still learning, energized, and looking to change the world.  I grew up around the world,  I am Army brat ( never liked that term— preferring “Army dependent”.  Lived in Germany, Taiwan, Hawaii ( where I was born!), Fort Lee, Virginia, and finally dad retired in the Washington Metropolitan area where he worked for the US Army  in the Pentagon and also in Alexandria, VA for the US army security Assistance command.  I grew up in the Maryland// DC area, went to public high schools,  I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1978 ( yes— I am a boomer!) Got my first job selling computers to the Army and rode  the high tech wave for over 30 years, raised two great kids in McLean,VA , got them both through college (Clemson and Wake Forest).  I moved to Charlotte in 2013 and now live in South Charlotte. I joined the District (that’s what we call it!) in 2017 to fulfill an unexpired term of a Supervisor who resigned as he moved out of the state.  I joined because I was asked to join and I figured I would learn something new…...and became an accidental elected official back in 2018- after I became addicted to serving the public and supporting local farms. Being a Distrct Supervisor for Mecklenburg SWCD has been nothing I expected- and everything I could wish for.    I am seeking my third term - another 4 years, to continue delivering locally led, voluntary conservation programs.

Why are you running for this role, and why should voters pick you over your competitors? Please tell us about any previous experience in elected office that you have.

There is so much still to do.  I am seeking my 3rd term as a Board Supervisor for the Mecklenburg SWCD.  In my 8 years, I have been blessed to be embraced by the conservation community throughout our great state.   I was elected in 2025 to serve as President of the NC Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts - representing our 96 districts on the National level- sharing our culture of success with other states and territories.  I am the current Chair for the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission-  In appointed by Governor Josh Stein, in 2025 and will serve at his pleasure.   This role is an honor that  I take with humility and seriousness— as that role  I beyond ceremonial— manages and controls the budget for state wide soil and water conservation programs. I love what I do and there so much more I hope to accomplish. And to be clear— it’s not about me— I am part of a great team of folks who make conservation work fulfilling, challenging and fun.   In my 8 plus years of service, my team and  I have accomplished  a lot:  1) Farmland Preservation— that’s the big one.  I set out in 2018 to give local farms a voice to the county. This involved securing a commitment from the Board of County Commissioners to do just that— and they agreed- unanimously.  So— starting in 2018, we worked with the County manager’s office— and developed a Farmland preservation plan.  Then, the County unanimously approved a Voluntary agricultural District ordinance and created an Agriculture Advisory Board - appointing several local farmers to that Board to advise BOCC on agriculture issues impacting farms. Farmers markets and all manner of issues. 2) Budget and funding.  I have been fortunate to expand our current District budget by increasing local funding ( we are funded through stormwater fees— and NOT by tax dollars via  the General fund.  We operate as an independent government entity and are NOT part of the County.  This is often misunderstood.  I have pursued and secured $400K in grant funding that facilitated partnership outreach so that we can better understand how to serve the county and especially under represented communities.   Those grants provided insight into how our District should focus improvements.   As as a result,  our District has introduced Conservation For Everyone— an approach wherein we are in the early stages of translating materials into Spanish and other languages.   We are also exploring how to modify education tools to support non-verbal individuals.  Most recently, we played a lead role in assisting our state Division of Soil and Water Conservation to secure a $12M grant for a nature based solution- biochar- to be applied to agricultural land.  The grant - focussed initially on serving Western NC in the wake of Hurricane Helene, has far reach consequence for farms, but also for urban stormwater quality and remediating contaminated streams and soils. I am proud to have been major player writing the grant and shepherding it alongside my colleague in Raleigh to ensure this grant is successful and has the state wide impact intended. 3) In my role as a District Supervisor and public servant, I have been invited to be part of other impactful  teams. Since 2017,  I have been a member of the Charlotte Water Advisory Committee  and through that have been invited recently to participate  the 24 member,  City of Charlotte Data Center Task Force working alongside neighborhoods, environmental groups and businesses.  Our goal is to  recommend policies and approaches on data center development  to Charlotte City Council- to protect communities while at the same time, promoting data center accountability and service to all. I am also a Board member of Helping Hands Outreach Foundation, a not for profit founded in 2023, by former Charlotte Water leadership to assist Charlotte Water account holders faced with economic challenges and in need of financial assistance for water bills.  I led a committee in developing the pilot program to determine eligibility and help over 3000 resident facing hardship with their water bills.  I am actively working to expand eligibility criteria and raise funding for same. All this to say- I love what I do. I love helping other— and I am blessed to have this opportunity to continue good work.

Tell us about 1-2 professional accomplishments that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.
As indicated in my response above, I have expanded our District profile and ability to serve through grants and partnerships.  I serve Mecklenburg county residents though the District and also through other organizations.  I have  been fortunate to be appointed to several leadership programs over the year including the Charlotte Civic Leadership Academy - 4th cohort.  I was selected to be part of the inaugural cohort  (2020) for the National Conservation Foundation  where I expanded my knowledge of agriculture policy and practices. That leadership academy inspired greater understanding and opportunities to influence national policy as well as state legislation. I was also appointed to participate in Syngenta Leadership at its Best Academy where I worked along side agriculture commodity organizations and have an even greater respect for the power and important of US agriculture and what role our state and our county plays in that.   To me, this academies help me learn from others— and I aspire to always learn and improve.  Leadership is not about me— it’s all about how I can lift up and build up those I work with so that we can achieve a lot together.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an area of concern for many voters (e.g. government-run chatbots; AI-generated videos, text and images; data centers; license-plate readers; AI to hire and evaluate employees or teach students).  How should elected officials in your role or others regulate AI, if you believe they should?  How should elected officials in your role use AI?
This is an excellent and tough question to answer because AI is pervasive and plays a role in our lives whether we know it or not!  I see AI as a valuable tool.  I do NOT see it as a substitute for critical thinking or for building trusted relationships.   I still laugh that I “talk to Google every morning to ask about the weather!   Too much regulation is never a good thing.  At least, in my world which voluntary, locally led conservation— our belief is that we know what is best for our soil and water— and that Federal laws that attempt to control what we do locally- never really works.

What endorsements from any notable NC organizations or individuals have you received?
I have not sought endorsements at this time. For me, it may be a bit early.  However, I do believe that my achievements may speak for themselves.

How long have you lived in the region you are looking to represent in office?
I have lived in Mecklenburg county ( Charlotte) since 2013.  The Mecklenburg SWCD race requires candidates to live in the county.

Please tell us something unexpected about you that voters may be interested in knowing.

I was a high school basketball official for one 12 years.  I attended high school and college officiating camps.   I learned an incredible skills in managing a team, managing difficult people,  mentoring young officials— and keeping cool under pressure.  Officiating ball was one of the highlight of my life.  I highly recommend it.