Toni Emehel

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Toni Emehel

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 3, 2026

Education

High school

Olympic High School

Associates

Midlands Technical College, 1992

Bachelor's

University of North Carolina, Charlotte, 1996

Graduate

Liberty University, 2014

Personal

Religion

Christian

Profession

Consultant

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Toni Emehel (Democratic Party) ran for election for an at-large seat of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina. She lost in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.

Biography

Toni Emehel earned a high school diploma from Olympic High School, an associate degree from Midlands Technical College in 1992, a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte in 1996, and a graduate degree from Liberty University in 2014. Her career experience includes working as a consultant. As of 2025, Emehel was affiliated with Next Level Plus, LLC.

Elections

2026

See also: Municipal elections in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (2026)

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners At-Large (3 seats)

Incumbent Leigh Altman (D), incumbent Arthur Griffin Jr. (D), and incumbent Yvette Townsend-Ingram (D) are running in the general election for Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners At-Large on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Leigh Altman (D)
	Submit photo	Arthur Griffin Jr. (D)
	Submit photo	Yvette Townsend-Ingram (D)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Democratic primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary for Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners At-Large (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners At-Large on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Leigh Altman	19.8	55,931
✔	Submit photo	Arthur Griffin Jr.	19.7	55,667
✔	Submit photo	Yvette Townsend-Ingram	15.9	44,885
		Nichel Dunlap	8.9	25,218
		Felicia Thompkins	7.8	22,045
		Sharif Hannan	7.1	19,972
	Submit photo	Leslie Allen	6.1	17,295
		Heather Morrow	5.6	15,895
		Olivia Scott	5.1	14,409
		Toni Emehel	3.9	11,033

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 282,350
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2025

See also: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina, elections (2025)

General election

General election for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education District 6

Anna London defeated Justin Shealy and Toni Emehel in the general election for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education District 6 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Anna London (Nonpartisan)	49.8	12,562
		Justin Shealy (Nonpartisan)	26.2	6,603
		Toni Emehel (Nonpartisan)	23.1	5,817
		Other/Write-in votes	0.9	231

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 25,213
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Emehel received the following endorsements.

• Frmr. Superior Court Judge W. Terry Sherrill
• Mecklenburg County Commissioner Vilma Leake (D)
• Everytown for Gun Safety
• The Charlotte Observer Editorial Board

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Toni Emehel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

2025

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

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Toni Emehel. I’ve dedicated my life to helping others overcome obstacles in their professional and personal lives so that they may achieve their goals and live lives of significance. As a CMS graduate, I was driven to pursue public service and position myself to amplify voices of the unheard. I hold an APS in Public Service, a BSc in Criminal Justice, and a MA in Executive Leadership. These studies have provided me with a deep understanding of human behaviors and societal dynamics, which are crucial for the stability and success of any institution.

As a wife, mother and grandparent, I've been fortunate to dedicate myself fully to my children’s education. This has allowed me to be deeply involved in their academic journeys as a CMS parent and gain invaluable insights. Observed deficiencies in the learning environment led me to tutor students in literacy, vocabulary and reading comprehension. I’ve actively collaborated with CMS, working to foster an engaging academic environment that supports student growth.

My extensive involvement on CMS campuses has given me a unique perspective on the changes occurring within the district. I believe our current system faces challenges that necessitate a fresh perspective and a distinct voice. I am prepared to be that voice—one that asks pertinent questions to find optimal solutions and dedicates the necessary time and focus to assist in refining policies to best serve the interests of students and families within the district.

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?

• Excellence is attained through active listening: I believe that excellence is truly attained through active listening. When we make a conscious effort to fully understand each other's perspectives and ideas, it lays the groundwork for better decision-making and innovation.
• Excellence finds its way through strategic collaboration: By working together intentionally and leveraging diverse strengths, members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School board can achieve outcomes that are far greater than what any one member could accomplish alone.
• Excellence is easily dismantled through ineffective communication: Clear, concise, and timely communication is crucial for preventing misunderstandings and ensuring that everyone is aligned on goals and progress.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about the effects of social policy on the educational experiences of students and their families. This includes how various social programs and legislative frameworks can either support or hinder a student's academic journey and overall well-being, as well as the impact on family engagement in education.

 

I am also passionate about access to diverse curriculum and delivery methods within learning environments. I believe it's crucial for students to be exposed to a wide range of perspectives and learning styles to foster critical thinking and prepare them for a diverse world.

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

Without a doubt, the answer is my mother. My mother gave me my first words. She has always been an incredible inspiration to me throughout my life.

One of the most significant lessons she instilled in me was the importance of parents being actively involved in their children's education, beyond just training them. Even now, as she gets closer to her 90th birthday, her dedication to learning and growth continues to motivate me, especially in my passion for championing public education.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I pride myself on being an active listener, which allows me to fully understand perspectives and needs, ensuring that I can respond thoughtfully and effectively. This goes hand-in-hand with my strong communication skills, enabling me to articulate ideas clearly, whether in written or verbal form, and to foster productive discussions. Furthermore, I consistently practice critical thinking to analyze situations thoroughly, identify key issues, and develop well-reasoned solutions. I believe these qualities would be a significant asset to any team.

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

The core responsibilities of a board member are multifaceted. I opine that the role demands a commitment to executing excellence through effective governance, diligent oversight of school operations, and strong advocacy for public education. This advocacy extends across local initiatives, engagement at the state level, and even influencing federal policies that impact our schools. I believe that it's a comprehensive role that requires dedication to ensuring the best outcomes for our students and community.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Reading this question reminded me of "The Song That Doesn't End," a Lamb Chop's sing-along that aired on PBS in the late 1980s. Now, I can’t get it out of my head!

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.

See also

2026 Elections

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Candidate

Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners At-Large

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