2026 North Carolina General Election

2026 North Carolina Primary Election

Democrat

Libertarian

Nonpartisan

Republican

New Hanover County school board chairman will not seek re-election

LinkedIn

Amy Dunning earned her master's degree in education from Elon University, and a doctorate in educational studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

Amy is an educator with over 15 years of experience teaching students, supporting practicing teachers, and preparing future educators. 

Amy currently works as a STEM educator in Wilmington. Previously, she was an assistant professor of mathematics education at the University of Illinois Springfield, a graduate research assistant at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a teacher at Rockingham County Schools.

Amy previously served as a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education.

Amy's campaign for New Hanover County Board of Education is her first run for public office.


As of January 2, 2026, Amy Dunning’s website did not contain information on this issue.

School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

Supports high-quality instruction, elevating student thinking, and effective communication while collaborating with diverse stakeholders to shape policies that reflect the needs of students, families, and educators.

Supports high-quality instruction, elevating student thinking, and effective communication while collaborating with diverse stakeholders.

- Supports high-quality instruction, elevating student thinking, and effective communication while collaborating with diverse stakeholders.

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

Facebook

Amy Dunning

Amy Dunning currently works as a STEM educator in Wilmington. Previously, she was an assistant professor of mathematics education at the University of Illinois Springfield, a graduate research assistant at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a teacher at Rockingham County Schools.

Amy Dunning's campaign for New Hanover County Board of Education is her first run for public office.


Rafael Perez

Buket Urgen

Chris Sutton previously ran for New Hanover County Board of Education in 2022 and did not win.

Chris Sutton (New Hanover County Board of Education, North ...

Chris Sutton previously ran for New Hanover County Board of Education in 2022, but did not win.

As of January 2, 2026, Chris Sutton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports securing funding to expand Pre-K programs.

Supports securing funding to expand pre-K programs.

Supports the growth of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and the expansion of non-college career pathways.

Supports the growth of career and technical education (CTE) programs and the expansion of non-college career pathways.

Supports developing district-wide small business and entrepreneurship support to help students explore, launch, and grow their ideas.

- Supports securing funding to expand pre-K programs.
- Supports the growth of career and technical education (CTE) programs and the expansion of non-college career pathways.
- Supports developing district-wide small business and entrepreneurship support to help students explore, launch, and grow their ideas.

Wants to improve teacher benefits, including bereavement leave, maternity leave, and paid time off.

- Wants to improve teacher benefits, including bereavement leave, maternity leave, and paid time off.

Wants to increase technology-based enrichment, including exposure to emerging tools like artificial intelligence (AI), while teaching students how to use technology responsibly.

- Wants to increase technology-based enrichment, including exposure to emerging tools like artificial intelligence (AI), while teaching students how to use technology responsibly.

Supports earlier interventions for at-risk students.

Supports strong community partnerships for student support.

Supports reducing youth crime "through prevention, accountability, and coordinated community action."

- Supports earlier interventions for at-risk students.
- Supports strong community partnerships for student support.
- Supports reducing youth crime "through prevention, accountability, and coordinated community action."

Chris Sutton

Josie is a board member on the New Hanover County Board of Education. She works at the New Hanover County Board of Education, where she helps set school policies, works with teachers and administrators, and listens to families. She previously taught middle school in Texas at a low-income school, where she led a karate-based alternative to PE program to teach self-control, respect, and discipline.

2022 Primary Election: Josie Barnhart eyes seat on NHCS board ...

Josie Barnhart previously taught at a middle school in Texas.

Josie Barnhart is currently a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. She is vice chair of the New Hanover County Board of Education.

Josie Barnhart (New Hanover County Board of Education, North ...

Josie Barnhart

NHC school board candidate forum: Fact-checking and analysis ...

Josie is currently a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. 

Believes in reviewing funding allocations to ensure money is directed to classrooms and student resources, prioritizing academic growth and appropriate staffing.

- Believes in reviewing funding allocations to ensure money is directed to classrooms and student resources, prioritizing academic growth and appropriate staffing.

For Candidate Josie Barnhart on Issue education-access:  
Supports parental rights and involvement in the school system, advocating for transparency in curriculum access and allowing parents to make medical decisions for their children.

Supports parental rights, including access to curriculum access, allowing parents to make medical decisions for their children, and requiring schools share information about their children.

- Supports parental rights, including access to curriculum access, allowing parents to make medical decisions for their children, and requiring schools share information about their children.

Supports readdressing funding to improve salaries for support staff and believes appropriate staffing is essential for student support.

For Candidate Josie Barnhart on Issue teachers: Advocates for restoring communication and respect while prioritizing academic performance and closing the learning gap between students.

Advocates for restoring communication and respect while prioritizing academic performance and closing the learning gap between students.

- Supports readdressing funding to improve salaries for support staff and believes appropriate staffing is essential for student support.
- Advocates for restoring communication and respect while prioritizing academic performance and closing the learning gap between students.

For Candidate Josie Barnhart on Issue school-curriculum: Believes current concerns of bias in teaching and curriculum are not being addressed and that parents should have the ability to identify when the school system oversteps boundaries.

Believes concerns of bias in teaching and curriculum are not being addressed and that parents should have the ability to identify when the school system oversteps boundaries.

- Believes concerns of bias in teaching and curriculum are not being addressed and that parents should have the ability to identify when the school system oversteps boundaries.

For Candidate Josie Barnhart on Issue student-wellbeing: Supports having mentors and adult volunteers in addition to school resource officers to help keep schools safe.

Supports having mentors and adult volunteers in addition to school resource officers to help keep schools safe.

For Candidate Josie Barnhart on Issue student-wellbeing: Supports increasing School Resource Officers, implementing less tolerance for violent offenses, and establishing targeted mentorship programs for at-risk students.

Supports increasing School Resource Officers, implementing less tolerance for violent offenses, and establishing targeted mentorship programs for at-risk students.

- Supports having mentors and adult volunteers in addition to school resource officers to help keep schools safe.
- Supports increasing School Resource Officers, implementing less tolerance for violent offenses, and establishing targeted mentorship programs for at-risk students.

Instagram

Josie previously taught at a middle school in Texas.

Josie Barnhart is currently a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. 

Melissa earned a master's degree in deaf education from Canisius College. She lives with her husband, Scott, and has two children, and attends LifePoint church.

Melissa currently works as an American Sign Language teacher at Cape Fear Community College. She previously worked as a speech therapist at the Rochester School for the Deaf.

Melissa is currently a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education. She was first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024.

Melissa Mason - Ballotpedia

Melissa currently serves as a New Hanover County Board of Education member. She was first elected in 2022, and is serving her first term.

In a narrow vote, New Hanover County school board walks away ...

As school board member, voted against participation in an artificial intelligence security pilot program.

- As school board member, voted against participation in an artificial intelligence security pilot program.

Supports programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools.

- Supports programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools.

As of January 2, 2026, Melissa Mason’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to "[r]emove all obscene material from the schools, and age-inappropriate sexual content from all curricula."

- Opposes education on race and racism.
- Plans to "[r]emove all obscene material from the schools, and age-inappropriate sexual content from all curricula."

Supports requiring schools to inform parents if a student uses mental or sexual health services.

- Supports requiring schools to inform parents if a student uses mental or sexual health services.

Melissa Mason

Pat is from Wilmington, North Carolina. She attended Appalachian State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Appalachian State University. She lives with her children and grandchildren in Wilmington. She attends Global River Church.

Campaign finances: School board candidate donates $1,500 in ...

Pat is from Wilmington. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Appalachian State University. She lives with her children and grandchildren in Wilmington and attends Global River Church.

Pat is a magazine publisher and small business owner. She owns Wrightsville Beach Magazine. She previously founded and published Lumina News, a weekly newspaper, from 2002 to 2015. After graduating from Appalachian State University, she taught children and adults in a variety of curriculums as a K–12 educator.

Pat is the owner of Wrightsville Beach Magazine. She previously founded and published Lumina News, a weekly newspaper, and worked as a teacher.

Pat Bradford is currently a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Pat Bradford currently serves as a member of the New Hanover County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Supports transparency and long-term planning in school budgeting, ensuring tax dollars are spent wisely on safe, modern learning environments.

- Supports transparency and long-term planning in school budgeting, ensuring tax dollars are spent wisely on safe, modern learning environments.

For Candidate Pat Bradford on Issue access to education: Prefers neighborhood schools to promote community ties and believes all children should receive equal education regardless of race or socioeconomic status. Plans to investigate disparities in school funding.

Prefers neighborhood schools to promote community ties and believes all children should receive equal education regardless of race or socioeconomic status.

- Prefers neighborhood schools to promote community ties and believes all children should receive equal education regardless of race or socioeconomic status.

For Candidate Pat Bradford on Issue teachers: Advocates for better pay and working conditions for teachers and support staff, criticizing the school board for prioritizing other funding over recommended salary increases for these roles.

Advocates for better pay and working conditions for teachers and support staff, criticizing the school board for prioritizing other funding over recommended salary increases for these roles.

- Advocates for better pay and working conditions for teachers and support staff, criticizing the school board for prioritizing other funding over recommended salary increases for these roles.

For Candidate Pat Bradford on Issue school-curriculum: Believes in teaching unity rather than a narrative of oppressors versus the oppressed.

Believes in teaching "unity instead of oppressors vs. oppressed."

For Candidate Pat Bradford on Issue school-curriculum:  
Advocates for a curriculum that focuses on foundational skills such as reading, writing, and math, while emphasizing American history and reducing emphasis on emotional topics.

Advocates for a curriculum that focuses on foundational skills such as reading, writing, and math, while emphasizing American history and reducing emphasis on feelings.

- Believes in teaching "unity instead of oppressors vs. oppressed."
- Advocates for a curriculum that focuses on foundational skills such as reading, writing, and math, while emphasizing American history and reducing emphasis on feelings.

For Candidate Pat Bradford on Issue student-wellbeing: Believes schools must be safe, disciplined environments where learning comes first.

Believes schools must be safe, disciplined environments where learning comes first.

Supports School Resource Officers and policies that ensure bullying and violence are not tolerated.

Officers and policies that ensure bullying and violence are not tolerated.

- Believes schools must be safe, disciplined environments where learning comes first.
- Officers and policies that ensure bullying and violence are not tolerated.

Pat Bradford

- 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

New Hanover County Board of Education Member, Republican Primary

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School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

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Student Wellbeing

New Hanover County Board of Education Member, Republican Primary

Election results

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Compare candidates

School Facilities & Resources

Access to Education

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

Candidates (5)
Choose 4