District announces changes in Soil and Water Board
Chapman, Sink file for seats in Nov. 3 election
The Alexander Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board has recently had a few changes. Soil & Water Conservation District Boards consist of appointed and elected members who help guide the natural resource conservation district programs for the SWCD Office.
Local farmer Myles Payne, who held one of the two appointed Board positions, recently decided to resign from the Board. Payne had served 22 years on the board. The SWCD Board recommended incumbent elected member Eugene White move into the Payne’s vacant appointed position, and the Board recommended JD Sink to fill the remainder of Eugene White’s elected term which runs through the end of this year.
The North Carolina Soil & Water Commission approved both recommendations at their May 2026 meeting.
JD Sink will be in his first election bid this November and incumbent elected member Bryant Chapman is up for re-election then as well.
The remainder of the SWCD Board includes Kathy Bunton (appointed) and Colby Herman (elected in 2024 for a four year term).
Chapman and Sink running for seats Nov. 3
Bryant Chapman, 31, and J.D. Sink, 50, filed to run for the two open seats on Friday, June 12.
Chapman and his wife, Michaela, of the Little River Community, have two children: Wren, 7, and Jade, 4. They raise beef cattle and feed crops, are in pork production, and operate a sawmill as well.
Mr. Chapman stated that this is his second time running for the board. He was elected in 2022 after having served the remainder of Bill Chapman’s term, who was his late grandfather. “I believe God has entrusted us to care for His land, resources, and animals. As a result of that, and a career in agriculture, I’m passionate about that responsibility and doing what we can to be good stewards of what He entrusted us with,” Bryant Chapman said.
Sink, of the Hiddenite Community, taught Agriculture for 27 years at Alexander Central High School.
“I have devoted my life to conserving and using the soil and water to grow crops,” Sink stated. He is Owner of Stony Point Nursery and Farms, 200 acres of field grown ornamental and shade trees, 200 acres of row crops, beef cattle, hay, co-owner of Old Mountain Berry Patch LLC producing Blackberries. Sink and his wife of 29 years, Debbie, have four children: Risa, Kyle, Austin, and Mason. They also have two grandchildren.
The filing period runs through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6. The filing fee is $5.00. For more information, call the Board of Elections at 828-632-2990.
