Community banker Pat Horton is taking aim at the seat held by Cabarrus Commissioner Liz Poole

Veteran business leader and banker Pat Horton will run for the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners.

The regional president for Uwharrie Bank’s retail banking division is steeped in the Cabarrus community, having been a mainstay at First Charter, which was acquired by Fifth Third in 2008.

This is Horton’s first run for elected office. Her campaign treasurer is Ken Yelton, another veteran of Cabarrus business and an executive at Uwharrie as well.

Horton is targeting the commission seat held by Liz Poole, who is up for re-election.

She’ll be supporting Commission Chair Steve Morris, the owner of the Gem Theater in Kannapolis and a former chair of the Cabarrus Chamber.

Horton has no plans to retire from Uwharrie. “The bank approved me to be a candidate by the board of directors and they want me to continue working,” Horton says.

She says she is passionate about issues surrounding mental health, early childhood education, managed growth, a strong school system and workforce development.