John Staford (Statesville City Council Ward 5, North Carolina, candidate 2025)

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John Staford

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Statesville City Council Ward 5

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Personal

Religion

Christian

Profession

Property management

Contact

Campaign Facebook

John Staford ran for election to the Statesville City Council to represent Ward 5 in North Carolina. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Staford completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

John Staford provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 5, 2025:

• High school: Foothills High
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Christian
• Profession: Property Management
• Prior offices held:
  • Councilman Ward 5 Statesville (2017-2022)
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Your vote - Our future
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

General election for Statesville City Council Ward 5

Shelton L. Moore, Tip Nicholson, John Staford, and Alex Walker ran in the general election for Statesville City Council Ward 5 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Shelton L. Moore (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Tip Nicholson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	John Staford (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Alex Walker (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

To view Staford's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Staford in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

John Staford completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Staford's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is John Staford. My wife and I moved from California to Statesville in 1998. We were able to move anywhere in this beautiful country, we chose Statesville and have never looked back. Deb and I have been married 39 years, and we attend Northview church of Christ. e have two adult children and four grandchildren. Our daughter just moved this year from Huntington Beach, CA to a 1905 home a few blocks from us. We have survived some health challenges, but God has blessed us beyond measure.

Our business was general contracting with a specialization in historic restoration as well as property management. Today we focus on property management and a small amount of speculative real estate.

I have served on several boards including Statesville Preservation Commission, Habitat for Humanity, and currently on the Steve Hill Collection sponsored by Preservation Statesville. Additionally I was honored to serve a previous term on City Council.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Know when to say "NO"!

  North Carolina is one of the top growth states in the nation; Iredell County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state. We are on the radar, and development is coming! We are going to grow; we have to grow. If we are not growing, we are dying. Gone are the days of any growth is good growth. Our citizens are worthy of the best not just whatever comes our way. WE MUST LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO!

  Council must protect our precious land, water, sewer, and labor resources; thereby, allocating them strictly to projects that create adequate tax base, high paying wages, and a sustainable vibrant future for our City.
• Share the Responsibility: The obligation to provide low income housing must be shared by all neighboring municipalities. Over the past decade, Statesville has built almost 70% of the low-income rental units in Iredell County. Statesville must not continue to bear the responsibility of providing the vast majority of low income housing for Iredell County. If Statesville becomes a magnet for low income housing in Iredell and surrounding counties, the long term consequences will be devastating in our ability to attract quality retail, high caliber economic development, and for our city to provide basic services.
• Revitalizing our waning neighborhoods: Reasonable minimum housing standards and enforcement are critical components of any safe, viable municipality. While previously on Council, we developed several policies to encourage infill and renovation of existing dwellings. One vital element of this neighborhood revitalization was code enforcement of surrounding properties. If the surrounding properties look derelict or dilapidated, these new properties are purchased by institutional buyers instead of homeowners who are looking to establish a home in our community. Neighborhoods need greater percentages of owner occupied dwellings. Every area of our City will benefit from a robust, systematic approach to code enforcement which is currently lacking.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

~ Dedicated to conservative fiscal administration of tax payer dollars.

~Attracting and obtaining substantial commercial tax base providing high wage jobs.

~Smart growth and development, strategic use of City resources. Know when to say "NO".

~Providing quality essential services throughout our City. This is the primary role of municipal government but so often overlooked.

~Revitalization and infill of our existing neighborhoods, encouraging home ownership throughout our City.

~Preserving our historic inventory for future generations.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

We adopt the budget and set the City tax rate. We create laws, codes, and ordinances. We approve or deny developments.

But most important, and what I believe most lacking, we offer VISION. We are to set the framework, plans, and implementation for what the desires are for the citizens of our City - 5, 10, 25, and 50 years into our future.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I have had several wonderful mentors in my life. In later years I noticed there was one common denominator in each, and that was they all held to a deep faith. I know this was a huge contributing factor in bringing me to the Lord. I thank God for putting them in my life.
I cannot close this question without mentioning my wife. Deb is my foundation, my soulmate, and best friend. Another blessing from God.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Faith, Honesty, Trust & Commitment

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

~All elected officials are entrusted to do the will of the constituents who elect them. Unfortunately this obligation often becomes distorted once inside the "bubble". I must do what is best for our citizens and most important advocate for THEIR WILL.

~Act as a liaison to attract desired investments via business, State and Federal governments, as well as partnering with surrounding
municipal and county entities.

~Day to day responsibilities are to help businesses and citizens navigate issues that arise within City, County, and State government agencies.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As a public servant, I hope to help to leave a City that is safe, financially secure, health,y and vibrant. A place where our children want to grow-up and stay to live out their adult lives, raising their own children here.
As a builder/renovator, I hope to leave several architectural structures that future generations enjoy and preserve.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

John F. Kennedy assassination, 4.5 years

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Taking out the garbage, I still have it today.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Bible, It is Truth.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Antboy, because I love moving objects greater than my own body weight from one place to another.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

In 2020 my wife was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, it was a most frightening, helpless moment. My wife turned it over to the Lord from the onset. We were blessed with wonderful, knowledgeable, kind caregivers throughout the process. I spent hours researching, but finally learned, once again from her, let His will be done. Praise the Lord her 5 year anniversary is this October.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Incentives have become an innate part of industry procurement. These negotiations are decided long before the public is made aware. Statesville is now blessed to be in the position to demand higher wages as a condition for applicants to receive said incentives.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

There is a huge learning curve for any freshman on council - procedures, policy, protocol, deciphering information, etc.

Without experience, one maybe inclined to follow the direction of the majority or "rubberstamp" the recommendation of staff.

It is not beneficial to the public to have an "echo chamber". A healthy board introduces ideas, experience, expertise, and discussion on decisions that effect the current and future citizens of our city.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Being able to add ;-)

A good understanding of micro and macro economics. Business management - governments must move towards operating like a business and understand there is a bottom line and a need for accountability when mistakes are made.

Each meeting, the Council will have several decisions brought before them. Many are "no-brainers" while others will require much thought and research. Zoning and re-zoning are some of the most difficult. There are two sides, and both will have valid and credible views.

Additionally, I believe it is beneficial to have a diversity of skills and knowledge within the board. Each individual should bring and apply their own unique set of skills.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

City councils are extremely critical positions due to the impact on how their decisions affect our daily life. This is where the decisions are made that truly shape the future of the communities where we live, work and hopefully thrive.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Iredell County GOP, Jeff McNeely - NC House Representative District 84, Steve Johnson - Statesville City Council, Jap Johnson - Statesville City Council, Iredell County Republican Men's Club, Iredell Republican Patriot Men, Russell (Rusty) Chapman, Jim & Toby Staples, Laury Brown, Don & Peggy Koepnick, Howard Bryan, Thomas Nicholas, Kip Smith, Trent Smith....

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

I will never forget when a father spoke to our Council after his daughter was killed in a drive-by shooting. It was a heart breaking moment to hear him relive his tragedy, one that should never be endured.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

~Accepting the Lord.

~Marrying my wife.

~There were many accomplishments when I previously served on Council, but creating a program of renovation and promoting infill in our City was critical. When I came on Council, the population was about 25,000 (the same it had been for years), but the City boundaries had grown significantly. This told me our "core" was rotting. This program must continue be a priority to protect investment and growth in inner city neighborhoods.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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