GOP Selects Valzonis to Serve on County Commission

For Immediate Release

 November 2, 2026

Stuart Valzonis Selected as New County Commissioner

The Cabarrus County Republican Party announces that Stuart Valzonis has been selected to serve as the next member of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, filling the vacancy created by Commissioner Larry Pittman's retirement and resignation.

“Stuart’s values are grounded in a clear belief: strong families build strong communities. His perspective reflects a commitment to ensuring that young families have access to affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, and the freedom to make decisions about their children’s education and future,” said Cabarrus County Republican Party Chair Jim Quick.

Stuart brings a comprehensive record of service to Cabarrus County and North Carolina. He served six years in the North Carolina National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from 2016 to 2017. His military experience strengthened his sense of duty, responsibility, and public service — principles that continue to guide his work today.

In his civilian career, Stuart has gained extensive experience in local government. As a municipal Planning Director, he has led planning operations, supervised staff, and administered land-use and development regulations in a growing community. His work spans land-use policy, development review, infrastructure planning, and collaboration with residents, elected officials, and partner agencies. He has overseen major initiatives, including comprehensive ordinance rewrites, modernized online permitting, and long-range planning.

Stuart’s professional background also includes serving as a planner for the City of Charlotte and the Town of Stallings, where he managed rezoning petitions, reviewed development plans, facilitated stakeholder meetings, and prepared research and reports for elected officials. He understands the value of both public input and municipal staff.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a Bachelor of Science in Geography (Urban Planning) from UNC Charlotte. He is a member of the American Planning Association and holds the APIC‑C credential.

“The Cabarrus County Republican Party recognizes Stuart’s commitment to responsible governance and individual liberty, and to the belief that local government should preserve the conditions that allow families and communities to prosper,” Quick said. The Executive Committee conducted a comprehensive interview, vetting and search process that resulted in more than 20 registered Republicans expressing interest in serving our County. Quick added, “Our committee completed two challenging political appointments in the middle of an historic midterm election. We began by acknowledging that appointments often endorse and favor an applicant's political activism. We were determined to take an unbiased, deep look to determine what we believed was best for the community and to consider the voices of Republican and unaffiliated voters. I am proud of the hard work and recommendations of my fellow committee members.”

The Cabarrus GOP greatly appreciates every applicant who took the time to complete our detailed application. We especially recognize those who participated in the final in-person interviews.  Each applicant brought their own skills, expertise, talents and volunteer service to the Party and our community.  Given the fiscal, political and infrastructure challenges facing our county and the quality of each applicant, the committee had a difficult decision to make. We acknowledge that our county's demographics are trending toward younger families. Our committee was proud to interview several diverse, younger professionals, and all three finalists exemplified a new generation of leaders willing to serve our County.  

Ultimately, the committee voted to appoint Mr. Valzonis based on his experience in planning, public service, and collaborative leadership. With approximately 5,000 new residents arriving each year, we recommend that our County Commission review Cabarrus County’s long-term strategic plan, renew our collaboration with all our municipalities, and continue working to lower costs while maintaining quality public safety for all residents.   

The Committee believes Mr. Valzonis will contribute meaningfully to the Board of Commissioners as Cabarrus County continues to grow.

During the interview process, Stuart was selected for his skills and experience in ensuring Cabarrus County remains a place where families feel safe, parents can raise their children according to their convictions, and future generations have the opportunity to build a good life. Stuart told the committee, “I’m honored to have been selected to serve on the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I look forward to serving our community and doing my part to keep Cabarrus County a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Stuart is married to Megan Valzonis, a U.S. Olympic women's field hockey athlete who most recently competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She earned a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2026 FIH Hockey Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. She currently serves as an Assistant Coach at Belmont Abbey College and is eyeing a return to high-performance training to represent America in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. They reside in Cabarrus County with their son.

Stuart will begin his service immediately upon being sworn in at the Commissioner’s Business later this month.