Macon County Board of Commissioners
Get to Know Your County Commission
(828) 349-2020

Macon County Commissioners are elected for four year staggered terms.

Three seats (currently held by Antoine, Shearl and Shields) will be filled in November of 2026. Two seats (currently held by Young and Breeden) will be filled in November of 2028. Each year at the first meeting in December the Board elects the chairman and vice-chairman for the upcoming year. Commissioners serve on and appoint various boards and committees.

The Board of Commissioners hold one regular meeting a month. They meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Meetings are held in the Commissioners Boardroom on the third floor of the Macon County Courthouse, 5 West Main Street, Franklin, North Carolina. Click here for the meeting schedule.

Meetings are open to the public and a public comment period is scheduled for each regular meeting. Citizens must sign up for public comment and a sign-in sheet is placed in the Boardroom prior to the meeting. Comments are limited to five minutes.

Minutes are recorded in the Register of Deeds Office, a copy is on file in the Deputy Clerk’s Office and on the County’s website.

If you have any questions about the Commissioners' schedule, agenda or minutes contact
Tammy Keezer, Courthouse Annex, 5 West Main Street, Franklin, NC - (828) 349-2020 or email.

John Shearl, Representing District I
P.O. Box 82 • Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 342-6289
john.shearl@maconnc.org

John Shearl Was elected in November 2022.

I am married to Lila Munger Shearl. We have three sons Allen, Michael and Jared, two daughters-in-law Sarah Kimsey Shearl and Jenna Jasinski Shearl and four grandchildren Cameron, Weston, Ruby and Peyton.

I am a graduate of Franklin High School, a N.C. Licensed Contractor, and founder of Shearl Produce, Inc. in Otto, North Carolina. I am also, a retired Highlands Firefighter and Medical Responder, former Macon County Planning Board member, former Highlands High School baseball coach, and recipient of the Highlands High School "Service to the School Award."

I look forward to serving the people of Macon County. "In God We Trust."

Danny Antoine, Representing District II
danny.antoine@maconnc.org

Danny Antoine was elected in November 2022.

I was born in Brooklyn, New York, I moved overseas at the age of five after my parents divorce, then moved back to the US in 1990 and lived in Deltona, Florida. I graduated from Deltona High School in 1993 and attended two years at Seminole Community College and have a 6th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate.

In 1998, I came to Macon County and am the owner and head instructor of Danny Antoines Martial Arts Academy. My wife Mary and I have been married for 14 years and have 15 children and 11 grandchildren.

I currently serve on the CareNet and Kavod Family Non-Profit boards and am excited for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Macon County on the Board of County Commissioners.

Barry Breeden, Representing District III
(828) 342-6714
barry.breeden@maconnc.org

Barry Breeden I moved to Franklin, NC when I was 12 years old from Alexandria, VA and graduated from Franklin High School in 1999. After high school I went straight into the workforce, eventually hired as branch manager for two different secondary financial institutions before changing careers and enrolling in BLET at SCC. After completion of BLET I was employed at Swain County Sheriffs Office from 2010-2015 where I started as a patrol deputy and was quickly promoted to patrol sergeant. In 2015 I purchased Carolina Junction Power Equipment which I currently own and operate, as well as several other businesses.

My wife, Diedre, and I have been married 18 years and have three children. Macon County is our home, and it was because of this I wanted to serve as your county commissioner. I want to help set Macon County on a path for success for years to come, looking at how to drive economic growth, capitalize on our potential as a desirable tourist destination and let that benefit our citizens and our future. I will be someone who will listen with an open mind and diligently work to be a good leader finding ways for our community to thrive.

Gary Shields, Representing District II
62 Lauren Lane • Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 421-2900
gshields@maconnc.org

My name is Gary Shields and having been elected as a Macon County Commissioner on November 4, 2014, I say "thank you" for this opportunity to serve.

I graduated from Waynesville Township High School in June 1966. In October 1966, I entered the United States Army. After completing my tenure in June 1969 and serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, I entered Gardner Webb College (University) in August 1969 and graduated in May 1973. I was employed in the Kings Mountain School District for eight years as a teacher and school administrator.

During the evenings, I completed my Master's Degree in School Administration from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and when I moved back home to Franklin in the Fall of 1981, I was employed in the Macon County School System as a teacher/counselor and school administrator.

Again, I enrolled in evening classes attending Western Carolina University and earned a Master of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling.

In June 2010, I retired after serving 37 years in education with 29 of those years serving in the Macon County School System and my last 21 years as principal of Franklin High School. In November 2010, I earned, via the voters of Macon County, a seat on the Macon County Board of Education. I continue to serve the Franklin community by serving as a member of numerous boards: Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees, Angel Medical Center Foundation, KIDS PLACE, Franklin Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Development Commission.

Macon County has numerous civic organizations of high quality and I had the opportunity to join the "noon-day" Rotary where the Rotary motto is "Service Above Self". I believe and hope to continue to serve our county and "Civic Responsibility" is of the utmost importance.

Joshua Young, Representing District II
P.O. Box 303 • Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 421-0967
joshua.young@maconnc.org