2026 North Carolina General Election

Gary Shields's Macon County commissioner biography states: “I graduated from Waynesville Township High School in June 1966. In October 1966, I entered the United States Army. After completing my tenure in June 1969 and serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, I entered Gardner Webb College (University) in August 1969 and graduated in May 1973.” The same biography also states: “During the evenings, I completed my Master's Degree in School Administration from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte” and “I enrolled in evening classes attending Western Carolina University and earned a Master of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling.”

Macon County Commissioners

Gary Shields attended Gardner-Webb College and graduated in 1973.

Macon County Board of Commissioners Get to Know Your County ...

Gary Shields's Macon County commissioner biography states: “I was employed in the Kings Mountain School District for eight years as a teacher and school administrator.” It continues: “when I moved back home to Franklin in the Fall of 1981, I was employed in the Macon County School System as a teacher/counselor and school administrator.” The biography then states: “In June 2010, I retired after serving 37 years in education with 29 of those years serving in the Macon County School System and my last 21 years as principal of Franklin High School.”

Gary Shields retired after 37 years in education, including 29 years in the Macon County School System and 21 years as principal of Franklin High School.

Gary retired after 37 years in education, including 29 years in the Macon County School System and 21 years as principal of Franklin High School.

Gary Shields's official county biography states: “In November 2010, I earned, via the voters of Macon County, a seat on the Macon County Board of Education.” It also states: “My name is Gary Shields and having been elected as a Macon County Commissioner on November 4, 2014, I say ‘thank you’ for this opportunity to serve.” A Southwestern Community College post further states: “After retiring, he served four years as a member of the Macon County Board of Education. Shields has been a Macon County Commissioner since 2014.”

Gary was elected as a Macon County commissioner in 2014. He previously served four years on the Macon County Board of Education after being elected in 2010.

In a 2014 county-commissioner campaign interview, the article reported that the school system did not have a fund balance and that Shields wanted part of the county fund balance earmarked for school-system needs that could arise. Shields said: “We need to find that figure that we would feel comfortable with and see what we can do there to accommodate a system where there won’t be a continual movement or plea to the county for funds,” Shields said. “What that number is I don’t know at this time.” A targeted search for newer school-funding positions found later support for proceeding with the Franklin High School Project but no direct contradiction of this proposal.

Education, tax rates on ballot in Macon

On June 28, 2023, discussing an agreement between the Macon County Board of Commissioners and Macon County Board of Education on the Franklin High School Project, Commissioner Gary Shields said: “It’s very important that these boards agree to move on with the Franklin High School Project,” said Commissioner Gary Shields. “And also, we feel this agreement will be an asset to our grant proposal that we hope we get in the form of $50 or $60 million. We want to do everything we can for the evaluators to understand that both boards are in sync with this proposal.”

Macon leaders sign agreement on high school

Proposes setting aside a county reserve for school-system needs to reduce repeated funding requests to the county.

Supports moving forward with the Franklin High School Project and seeking $50 million or $60 million in grant funding.

- Proposes setting aside a county reserve for school-system needs to reduce repeated funding requests to the county.
- Supports moving forward with the Franklin High School Project and seeking $50 million or $60 million in grant funding.

School Facilities & Resources

In a May 4, 2022 interview about broadband access, the article stated that Shields believed Coronavirus Pandemic shutdowns brought the issue to the forefront for families. He said: “We’re entering into an area after the pandemic we all realized we’re going to miss trying to get the educational Zoom component into the homes,” he said.

Macon commissioner candidates discuss education, broadband

Said access to educational Zoom needs to reach homes following the Coronavirus pandemic.

- Said access to educational Zoom needs to reach homes following the Coronavirus pandemic.

Access to Education

As of September 2, 2026, Gary Shields did not have a website or any information online.

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Gary Shields

- Supports moving forward with the Franklin High School Project and seeking $50 million or $60 million in grant funding.

As of September 2, 2026, Gary Shields’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mauricio Mendez

Walter Ley

Kaleena Keener Messer is originally from Macon County, North Carolina. 

Kaleena works as the owner of a landscaping business

Kaleena's campaign for Macon County Board of Education member is her first run for public office. 

As of September 2, 2026, Kaleena Keener Messer’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Kaleena Keener Messer

Chazzy Bailey

Laseter supported the 2022 quarter-cent local sales-tax referendum, whose additional revenue would have remained in Macon County. She said: “I think it’s really important that people understand that that’s money we could be keeping here locally. We could use that for a new high school facility, which is much, much needed here.”

Macon to vote on new school board members, funding option for new high school

In her 2022 campaign, Laseter described the board's responsibility for teacher and student environments and called for long-term planning for classroom space and classroom resources: “It’s the responsibility of the board to provide an excellent teaching environment for teachers and an excellent learning environment for students. Whether that’s the classroom space, or with the things in the classroom, it’s important to me that we do our best to long-term planning and long-term thinking around those decisions.”

Supported the 2022 quarter-cent local sales-tax referendum to fund a new high school facility.

Calls for long-term planning for classroom space and resources that support teaching and learning.

- Supported the 2022 quarter-cent local sales-tax referendum to fund a new high school facility.
- Calls for long-term planning for classroom space and resources that support teaching and learning.

As of September 2, 2026, Stephanie Hyder Laseter did not have a website or any information online.

Stephanie Hyder Laseter

As of September 2, 2026, Stephanie Hyder Laseter’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- 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

Macon County Board of Education Member, District 2

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Student Wellbeing