NC House District 105 · Challenger
Ken McCool
Democrat · Age 28
The basics
- Matthews Board of Commissioners (nonpartisan), 2020-02-24 to 2025-12. appointed Feb 2020 to fill Barbara Dement seat; elected 2021 and 2023. Mayor pro tem 2021-2023.
- Grew up in Matthews; Providence High School
- Runs Ken’s Sports Cards and Collectibles with his father
Career
- 2019Ran for Matthews commissioner at 21; 7th of 12, 2,290 votes (9.3%)
Source: Ballotpedia · retrieved 2026-10-22
- 2020-02Appointed commissioner, replacing Barbara Dement (resigned after campaign finance violation)
Source: WSOC · retrieved 2026-10-22
- 2021Elected to full term; mayor pro tem 2021-2023
Source: Hoodline, Oct 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- 2023Re-elected, 4th of 12 with 2,233 votes (unofficial)
Source: Charlotte Weekly · retrieved 2026-10-22
- 2025-06Announced NC House 105 run, citing transit sales tax plan
Source: WSOC, Jun 18 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- 2025-12Left town board; did not seek re-election
Source: Charlotte Weekly · retrieved 2026-10-22
Funding and PACs
Ken McCool for NC · STA-GC73SG-C-001
$126,945
itemized receipts
All receipts: $135,412 (1,081 receipts), including $8,466 in 797 small unitemized gifts.
| Donor type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Individual | $93,142 |
| Other candidate committees & PACs | $30,833 |
| Party committees | $11,436 |
Source: NC State Board of Elections, committee STA-GC73SG-C-001, 2025-01-01 to 2026 Q2 · retrieved 2026-10-22
Committees and PACs giving
- Nicole for NC · 2024 Democratic nominee committee · $13,600
- North Carolina Democratic Party · Party · $10,836
- The JUNO Fund · Federal PAC FEC C00877183 (purpose unverified) · $6,800
- Work for Democracy PAC · Advocacy PAC (unverified) · $6,000
- Now or Never NC · Advocacy PAC · $4,200
- Dem Women of Mecklenburg County · Party auxiliary · $600
- Elect Ken McCool · His former municipal committee · $233
Largest individual donors
- Elizabeth Simons · Atherton CA · $13,600
- Terry D. Davis · Dallas NC · $6,400
- Peter Francis · Marion MA · $5,000
- Robert Hesselbacher · Matthews NC · $4,750
- Ross Boucher · San Francisco CA · $4,000
- Teresa Welch · Corvallis OR · $3,500
- Peter Pappas · Charlotte NC (Crosland Southeast) · $2,000
- Julia Greenfield · Charlotte NC · $1,500
Prior record: what they say they did before
Claims about earlier office, checked against that body's minutes, budgets and local reporting. Board decisions are collective: "backed" means they were on the board and on record for it.
4 of 5 claims backed by the record. Context items are not scored.
- Public safetyBacked by record
Claim: Took Fire Station No. 3 from an idea to a fully funded project.
Record: Board unanimously approved ~$9M station Nov 2023; ~$6.65M from ARPA.
Source: WBTV, Jan 24 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- HousingBacked by record
Claim: Matthews among first to use ARPA for affordable housing; partnered with Habitat.
Record: Sep 2021 he and Whitley pushed to earmark $3M; board later set aside $1.5M and gave $500K to Greater Matthews Habitat.
Source: Charlotte Weekly Sep 2021; WSOC Jun 10 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Parks & transportationBacked by record
Claim: Asked voters to approve bonds for parks and green space.
Record: $35M bonds ($14M parks, $21M transportation) on Nov 2022 ballot; both passed with 57%.
Source: WFAE, Nov 9 2022 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- TransitBacked by record
Claim: Opposed the one-cent transit sales tax as written.
Record: Stated publicly Jun 2025; broke with party on P.A.V.E. Act.
Source: WSOC Jun 17 2025; Hoodline Oct 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- EconomyNot yet verified
Claim: Helped bring the Hendrick Advanced Manufacturing Campus to Matthews.
Record: 2023 proposal to rezone ~200 acres near CPCC Levine; his vote/role not yet found.
Source: Charlotte Weekly Apr 18 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- BiographyContext
Claim: Press: "first elected at 21".
Record: Lost 2019 race (7th of 12); appointed Feb 2020; then elected. Press error; flag to WSOC.
Source: WSOC Feb 24 2020 (appointment); Ballotpedia 2019 results · retrieved 2026-10-22
2026 campaign promises
Logged the day they were made and tracked through the term if elected. Verdicts come at the end of the term, with the evidence linked.
- Taxes & economy · logged 2026-10Logged
Make cost of living his top priority.
What we will check: Bills he sponsors and votes on housing, energy and tax costs for households.
Source: Hoodline, Oct 16 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Taxes & economy · logged 2026-10Logged
Hold Duke Energy accountable for rising energy costs.
What we will check: His votes on utility rate legislation and positions in Duke Energy rate cases.
Source: Hoodline; kenmccool.com · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Education & schools · logged 2026-10Logged
“Stop "stripping funding from our public schools."”
What we will check: His budget votes on public school funding versus Opportunity Scholarships.
Source: kenmccool.com · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Transit · logged 2025-06Logged
Fight for fair transit for Matthews, including rail service.
What we will check: Bills or amendments to the regional transit plan that add Matthews rail.
Source: WSOC, Jun 18 2025; Branch · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Transparency · logged 2026-10Logged
Run the state like Matthews, including passing budgets on time.
What we will check: Whether the 2027 budget passes by July 1, and his votes to get it there.
Source: WUNC/WFAE, Oct 15 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Housing · logged 2026-09Logged
“Push for affordable housing and "smart growth."”
What we will check: Housing bills he sponsors or co-sponsors and his votes on them.
Source: WFAE voter guide, Sep 22 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Transparency · logged 2026-10Too vague to check
“"Steady, accountable leadership that works for people, not for special interests."”
What we will check: Ask the campaign for specific commitments and log them.
Source: kenmccool.com · retrieved 2026-10-22
Spot an error? Every outcome is logged publicly. See how we score.