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One of three candidates hoping to unseat Cherokee County District 4 Commissioner Dan Eichenbaum in the March 3 Republican primary has dropped out and is backing one of the other two candidates.
In a Facebook post on Jan. 2, Tom O’Leske – an accountant, Army Reserve veteran and former Florida detention officer – said he was dropping out and backing Barry Killian.
“Because I don’t want to divide support and risk changing the outcome in the wrong direction, l’ve decided to step aside and support Barry Killian for District 4 commissioner,” O’Leske wrote in his post.
O’Leske dropping out leaves Killian, a retail manager who has worked at Walmart and Dollar General, and Sue Lynn Ledford, a registered nurse and executive director of Four Square Community Action Inc., to challenge three-term incumbent Dan Eichenbaum, an ophthalmologist.
District 4 includes Culberson, Hothouse and Ranger among its largest communities.
“When no one initially challenged the field, many of you reached out and encouraged me to step up so our community would have a choice and a voice,” O’Leske said. “That encouragement meant a lot to me, and it’s why I entered the race.
“Since then, I spent time with Barry Killian talking about what people in our community are asking for and how we can bring people together around the issues that matter most in Cherokee County. Because I don’t want to divide support and risk changing the outcome in the wrong direction, l’ve decided to step aside and support Barry Killian for District 4 commissioner.
“This decision is about unity and doing what’s right for the community, not about politics or ego. I’m grateful to everyone who supported me, offered advice and shared their concerns with me. I’ll continue to stay engaged and help make your voices heard.
“I encourage everyone who wants to see real change to come together, rally behind Barry Killian, support his campaign, and unite so we can move Cherokee County forward in a positive direction,” he wrote.
Killian shared O’Leske’s post on his Facebook page along with the comment, “Tom, by working together the people of our county can move forward for all citizens. I humbly appreciate your vision and support.”
Remaining challengers
Neither Eichenbaum nor Ledford have responded to O’Leske’s decision as of Monday. Killian established a Facebook page, Barry Killian for District 4 Cherokee County, in which he spells out his priorities.
“Cherokee County works best when we work together,” he wrote. “Our county commissioners, school board, incorporated towns and non-incorporated communities each have distinct roles – but our success depends on cooperation, communication and a shared commitment to the people we serve. When leaders collaborate instead of compete, we get better outcomes.”
Outcomes include smarter use of taxpayer dollars, stronger schools and safer communities, clear priorities and long-term planning and decisions made with the whole county in mind.
“Our children’s education, our infrastructure, and our quality of life don’t stop at jurisdictional lines,” he wrote. “Neither should our teamwork – whether in our towns or across our non-incorporated areas. Let’s expect – and support – a culture of unity where elected officials listen to one another, respect their responsibilities and work toward common goals. Cherokee County deserves leadership that pulls in the same direction.”
Ledford has also posted thoughts on her candidacy and the support of her husband on Facebook.
“As we enter 2026, Ronnie and I are optimistic about the opportunities ahead. We have consistently emphasized the importance of feedback from Cherokee County residents during my county commissioner campaign, and their input has been instrumental in shaping our perspectives,” she said.
“Concerns about schools, housing, accountability, the economy and preserving our natural resources have been top of mind. We remain open to hearing your thoughts and ideas.”
When one follower asked for one thing she’d like to focus on, Ledford responded, “The county needs a new strategic plan with clear goals for education, safety and smart economic growth.”
For details, visit sueledfordforcommissioner.my.canva.site.
The incumbent
The 2024 election cycle was tough on board of commissioners incumbents, with both members on the ballot – Jan Griggs and Randy Phillips – losing to challengers. In 2026, Eichenbaum and four-term Commissioner Cal Stiles are both seasoned incumbents who have held off tough challenges during previous elections.
Eichenbaum has not posted anything about his candidacy in social media so far. Most of his online information dates back to 2012, when he ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress.
In previous campaign material, Eichenbaum described himself as a Republican who advocates for limited government, personal responsibility, fiscal restraint and the protection of private property rights. He was chair of the board of commissioners in 2025, when he did more than simply run the meetings.
Eichenbaum came under fire for his stance on privatizing U.S. National Forest property, especially along the shores of Hiwassee Lake. He penned a list of grievances aimed at the federal government that included privatization as well as opening up forest land to clearcut logging. The list of grievances received unanimous support from the board.
Eichenbaum has opposed a plan by Cherokee County Schools to consolidate Murphy Middle School and Martins Creek, Murphy and Peachtree elementary schools into a single campus. He has favored a new Murphy High School to be built beside the Schools of Innovation in Peachtree.