Please join Sweet Union Republican Women on June 24th at the Weddington Swim and Racquet Club. Our featured guests are Union County Commissioners Melissa Merrell, Chair and Brian Helms, Vice Chair. Social hour starts at 6:30 with the meeting starting at 7 pm.
Melissa Merrell
Commissioner Melissa Merrell was elected to office in November 2022, and elected by fellow Commissioners as vice chair in December 2022. Merrell previously served on the Union County Board of Education from 2014-2022. During her eight years of service on the Board of Education, Merrell served as chair of the Board for six years, and helped oversee a $454 million budget. She also served as a legislative liaison to state lawmakers representing Union County in the North Carolina General Assembly. Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson appointed her to the K-12 Education F.A.C.T.S. Task Force in 2021 to support students, parents and teachers across North Carolina.
Commissioner Merrell grew up in eastern North Carolina before earning a degree in Architecture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She worked in the private sector as a Project Manager to balance a national sales team with corporate demands, global budgets, construction schedules, and manufacturing. Merrell began volunteering in Union County Public Schools and in community organizations in 2005 after moving to Union County.
Commissioner Merrell and her husband Rob met in college and have been married 26 years. They are the proud parents of two adult sons, Trent and Taylor, who both graduated from Union County Public Schools. The Merrell’s are active members at First Baptist Church Indian Trail.
Commissioner Merrell believes Union County is one of the best places to raise a family. Her priorities include keeping taxes low, supporting great schools, and managing growth.
Brian Helms
Vice Chairman Brian Helms was elected to the Union County Board of Commissioners in November 2022. He is a lifelong resident of Union County and graduate of Piedmont High School. Helms is a husband and a father of two children, both of whom are currently enrolled in Union County Public Schools.
Commissioner Helms has been employed by a local manufacturing company for over 24 years. In addition to a strong background in project management, he manages a training program with nationwide reach. His responsibilities include developing budgets and assessing risk and ROI for company projects. Helms supports education at all levels and holds active Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM) and Corporate Trainer Certified (CTC) professional credentials. He attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His passion for education was partly inspired by his grandfather who taught Agriculture in UCPS.
Commissioner Helms believes in traditional conservative values, hard work and common-sense policy. He believes in limited government that works for the people and that is accountable to the people.
