Diana Hales is a former Chatham County Commissioner and retired communications and outreach specialist for the NC state government. Her tenure with the state included roles at the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, NC PBS, and the Governor’s Office under the James B. Hunt Administration.

Chatham Education Foundation Welcomes Six New Board Members

Diana Hales is a retired communications and outreach specialist for North Carolina state government.

Chatham Education Foundation Welcomes Six New Board Members ...

That inevitable growth I saw coming is why I ran in 2014. I felt like the commissioners at the time weren’t seriously contemplating the future problems of the county. We had no zoning, no comprehensive planning and I felt there was no real strategy for the future. Karen Howard, Jim Crawford and I all ran in 2014 with the common vision of tackling these bigger-picture issues and establishing a common zoning policy. Luckily, we all won and that’s exactly what we did in the county.

Former Commissioner Diana Hales

Diana was elected as a Chatham County commissioner in 2014.

Former Commissioner Diana Hales reflects on her eight years ...

2026 North Carolina General Election

If elected, I would: First, increase teacher supplement pay to retain our teachers. Second, fund the much-needed technology upgrade so teachers have the instructional delivery tools they need. Third, build an adequate school bus maintenance facility. The existing facility is substandard and so small mechanics must work outside all year. There should not be a budgetary choice between teacher pay OR a bus garage, but that is how this Commission operates.

Diana Hales

Plans to fund technology upgrades for teachers' instructional tools.

Plans to build an adequate facility for school bus maintenance.

- Plans to fund technology upgrades for teachers' instructional tools.
- Plans to build an adequate facility for school bus maintenance.

School Facilities & Resources

9. The INDY’s mission is to help build a just community in the Triangle. How would your election to office help further that goal?

I believe that government should, as stated in the Preamble to the Constitution, “promote the general welfare” of all citizens. That means providing equal access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, as well as environmental protections for clean water and air.

Believes government should provide equal access to education.

- Believes government should provide equal access to education.

Access to Education

Plans to increase supplemental pay for teachers to help retain them.

- Plans to increase supplemental pay for teachers to help retain them.

Teachers

As of January 5, 2026, Diana Hales did not have a website or any information online.

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

As of January 5, 2026, Diana Hales’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Occupation and employer: Retired, NC state government, Center for Geographic Information & Analysis

Spouse: Cheyney M. Hales

Occupation & employer: Retired, NC state government, Department of Cultural Resources

Years in Chatham: 28

Diana Hales is married to Cheyney M. Hales.

This is the first time I am seeking office. Now retired, I had the good fortune to work in public service for 20 years, including the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School of Business, UNC-TV, and the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis in state government. Every position focused on team work, building consensus, and promoting policies that benefit citizens by providing services and access to information. My career relied on the power of research, the ability to communicate, and sharing of information.

Diana Hales retired after 20 years of public service, including work at the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School of Business, UNC-TV, and the Center for Geographic Information and Analysis in state government.

Chatham County, NC Page 19Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes August 19, 2024
Diana Hales
Good evening. I am speaking today as a former Chatham County Commissioner. I
retired in December 2022 after serving 8 years as the District 3 representative.
I was
elected to serve the entire population of Chatham County, not just my district.

Meeting Minutes (Board of Commissioners)

Diana previously served as a Chatham County Commissioner representing District 3 and retired in December 2022 after serving eight years.

Proposed funding technology upgrades so teachers have tools for instruction.

Proposed building an adequate school bus maintenance facility.

Proposed increasing supplemental pay for teachers to help retain them.

Diana Hales is from Siler City, North Carolina. She is married to her husband, Cheyney Hales.

Diana previously served as a Chatham County commissioner from 2014 to 2022.

Supports funding for technology upgrades in schools.

Wants to build a new bus maintenance facility.

Believes in maintaining the number of school board districts to avoid breaking tied votes and reducing election costs.

Supports prioritizing funding for public schools over charter schools.

Supports the removal of the Confederate monument in Pittsboro, believing it is "essential and necessary...to make sure Chatham is a place for all residents."

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

Member of the board that governs your county's public school system