2026 North Carolina General Election

Juvenile Crime Prevention
Council
III Byrd – Appointee
VACANT
6/30/2024 VACANT
Juvenile Crime Prevention
Council
VII Floyd – Appointee
Edward Squires
6/30/2024 Approved by Board
Juvenile Crime Prevention
Council
EB Commissioner Appt.
Laverne Coleman
6/30/2024 Scott Floyd will Replace
Lavern Coleman

Columbus County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes, August 7, 2023

Edward A. Squires was appointed to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council by the Columbus County Board of Commissioners.

### N.C. House, District 46

Republican state Rep. Brenden Jones wants to keep his seat in District 46, which includes all of Columbus County and part of eastern Robeson County. Jones has served since 2011.

Edward Squires, a Whiteville Democrat and insurance provider, is challenging Jones. Squires lost his bid for a seat on the Columbus County Board of Commissioners in 2022.

Here’s who is running for Congress and the NC legislature in the Border Belt in 2024

Edward A. Squires works as an insurance provider.

Election officials step up security in rural southeastern North Carolina

Edward previously ran for a seat on the Columbus County Board of Commissioners in 2022 but did not win.

As of September 2, 2026, Edward A. Squires did not have a website or any information online.

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

## Whiteville City Schools Board of Education (District 4)

  * Greg Merritt. Merritt has served on the board for more than two decades.

  * Edward Squires. Squires told The News Reporter he wants schools to hire more male teachers and increase racial diversity among faculty and staff.

Columbus County Voter Guide 2024

Wants schools to hire more male teachers.

Wants schools to increase racial diversity among faculty and staff.

- Wants schools to hire more male teachers.
- Wants schools to increase racial diversity among faculty and staff.

Teachers

Access to Education

Edward A. Squires

As of September 2, 2026, Edward A. Squires’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Pavel Tantchev

Walter Ley

The seats are currently held by Anna Richardson, who represents District 1 and serves as board vice chair; David Flowers, who represents District 2; and Byron Fisher, the board's at-large member. The three were elected to the board in 2022.

Candidate filing begins for Whiteville school board races

R. Byron Fisher currently serves as the at-large member of the Whiteville City Schools Board of Education. He was elected in 2022.

Candidate filing begins for Whiteville school board races | News

As of September 2, 2026, R. Byron Fisher did not have a website or any information online.

R. Byron Fisher

As of September 2, 2026, R. Byron Fisher’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mauricio Mendez

- The Board of Education runs the public school system, and it is entirely independent from the rest of the city government. 
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and make decisions about the superintendent’s personnel recommendations.
- Members of the board must act as a unit based on majority rule. A member cannot make decisions or act independently.
- Board of Education members are elected to staggered four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Whiteville City Board of Education Member

Candidates (2)

Compare candidates

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

Access to Education