NC Senate District 1: Candidate Comparison
Melissa Zehner (Democrat)
- emphasizes affordable and accessible rural healthcare,
- strong public schools,
- lower costs for working families, and
- fair representation.
Her campaign presents these priorities as practical investments intended to improve opportunity throughout northeastern North Carolina.
Jerry Tillett (Republican)
Describes himself as
-a Christian conservative,
- q businessman, and
- q public servant
He says his priorities center on God, family, country, community, limited government, and protection of local industries.
His actual record
March 2013 - the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission issued Tillett a public reprimand concerning misuse of judicial authority.
The Commission stated that his conduct brought the judiciary into disrepute and threatened public confidence in its integrity and impartiality.
2016 - The North Carolina Supreme Court ordered a separate State Bar complaint dismissed because the State Bar lacked jurisdiction to discipline a sitting judge for conduct in office.
That jurisdictional decision did not overturn the Judicial Standards Commission reprimand.
Why we support Melissa Zehner:
We believe her focus on healthcare access, public education, affordability, and accountable representation offers the stronger path toward improving life for every community in Senate District 1.
Comments by the Chair
Melissa Zehner has been a public school teacher, giving her time to both help our future citizens know by example the sacrifice and blessings of giving. Melissa, works hard to give our children tools they will need to be productive citizens.
Melissa understands why every child needs and deserves the opportunity to excel, and Melissa is working hard to help us understand and feel why the lack of attention and resources by our community leaders for our children only dims the light of everyone's future. Melissa is right in the heart of our lived experience.
Melissa's has the desire, knowledge, and smarts, to make everyone's future a little better, and her humor, in spite of the uphill battle the campaign faces against a well funded incumbent, is amazing. Look at her social media postings. You will see why she deserves to be your next State Senator!
I am proud of Melissa's sacrifice to try and make all our lives better.
Jerry Tillett lists himself as a conservative Christian. I do not know his heart, and God is his judge, not me. Saying that, I don't believe his actions are remotely saintly, and they are mostly in the best interests of his immediate circle of friends and family.
Jerry's website highlights his association with some of the most powerful members of our communities. That is "cool", and would be useful, if he was out in our communities actually rolling up his sleeves (other that for PR opportunities) to learn what he could do to improve our lives. I don't see Jerry doing that. I won't go into his more infamous actions as they are easy to find with a little searching. Again, I do not have perfect knowledge, but if his "judgeship" and judgement have been questionable, why vote for him? Why blindly vote any one parties entire ticket? This is not your best option.
Please take a look at Melissa Zehner. She will be a great senator working for you!
Official sources:
North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission
North Carolina Supreme Court decision
Nonpartisan voter resources:
League of Women Voters of Northeastern North Carolina
League guide to North Carolina’s three 2026 constitutional amendments