Pat Bradford
Candidate for Board of Education, New Hanover County Schools
Background
- Occupation
- New Hanover County Board of Education member; retired publisher
New Hanover County Board of Education member since 2022 and chair of its Finance, Capital and Bond Committee. She is the retired publisher and co-founder of Wrightsville Beach Magazine and founder of Lumina News.
Documented positions
Taxes & budget
Supports the $320.5 million school bond
ReportRepublican Pat Bradford is running for reelection to the New Hanover County School BoardCandidate questionnaire · WHQR Public Media (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk questionnaire) · Sep 21, 2026 · whqr.org
“I would rather pass a responsible $320.5 million bond that voters can afford than a larger one that fails.”
Education
Proposes lifting the state cap on special-education funding
ReportRepublican Pat Bradford is running for reelection to the New Hanover County School BoardCandidate questionnaire · WHQR Public Media (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk questionnaire) · Sep 21, 2026 · whqr.org
“Fix how the state funds our exceptional children. North Carolina caps Exceptional Children funding at 13 percent of a district's enrollment.”
Supports less classroom screen time and firm AI guardrails
ReportRepublican Pat Bradford is running for reelection to the New Hanover County School BoardCandidate questionnaire · WHQR Public Media (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk questionnaire) · Sep 21, 2026 · whqr.org
“Less screen, more paper and more people.”
Supports settling book challenges once for the whole district
ReportRepublican Pat Bradford is running for reelection to the New Hanover County School BoardCandidate questionnaire · WHQR Public Media (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk questionnaire) · Sep 21, 2026 · whqr.org
“A challenge should be settled once for the district and I think that is the right call for three reasons.”
Government & transparency
Voted for the 10-year facilities sustainability plan
She wants published data and community input at affected schools before any closure vote.
ReportRepublican Pat Bradford is running for reelection to the New Hanover County School BoardCandidate questionnaire · WHQR Public Media (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk questionnaire) · Sep 21, 2026 · whqr.org
“Yes. I voted for it … we can take the facts to the taxpayers and let them see what we see.”
Other issues in this race
Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Pat Bradford on them.
- Roads & infrastructureNo documented position found.
All sources (3)
- 2026 General Election Candidate Listing (New Hanover County offices and districts)
Election filing · North Carolina State Board of Elections · s3.amazonaws.com
- 2026 General Election Candidate Listing
Election filing · North Carolina State Board of Elections · s3.amazonaws.com
- Republican Pat Bradford is running for reelection to the New Hanover County School Board
Candidate questionnaire · WHQR Public Media (WECT, Port City Daily, WHQR and The Seahawk questionnaire) · Sep 21, 2026 · whqr.org
Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.