Matthew Fox
Republican
The gist
No documented position found.
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School board
Board of Education, Catawba County Schools
- Vote for
- 4
- Term
- 4 years
- Candidates
- 6
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
What this office does: A board of education member helps set policy, the budget and the superintendent's direction for Catawba County Schools.
Khristy Womack Smith
Democratic
The gist
No documented position found.
Kevin Hawley
Democratic
Works with special needs adults on independent living skills
The gist
- Opposes school vouchers for private schools
- Supports student access to supplies and mental health services
- Supports uniform career and technical programs countywide
- Opposes schools promoting political or religious ideology
More about Kevin
View sources (1)
Opposes school vouchers for private schools
My PlatformCampaign website · Hawley for School Board · hawleyforschoolboard.com
“School vouchers take away crucial resources from our public schools and funnel tax dollars into private institutions”
Supports student access to supplies and mental health services
My PlatformCampaign website · Hawley for School Board · hawleyforschoolboard.com
“Special focus should be on ensuring students have access to basic necessities, including school supplies and mental health services.”
Supports uniform career and technical programs countywide
My PlatformCampaign website · Hawley for School Board · hawleyforschoolboard.com
“CTE programs should be uniform across the school system.”
Opposes schools promoting political or religious ideology
My PlatformCampaign website · Hawley for School Board · hawleyforschoolboard.com
“should be focused on the educational benefits to the students and not espouse any political or religious ideology”
Greg Whitener
RepublicanIncumbent
Property management
The gist
- Supports expanding career and technical education programs
- Supports a merger to relieve crowded school districts
More about Greg
View sources (2)
Supports expanding career and technical education programs
What would Catawba County Board of Ed. candidates change about the school system?News coverage · Hickory Daily Record · Feb 25, 2026 · hickoryrecord.com
“the expansion of the CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs”
Supports a merger to relieve crowded school districts
How will Catawba County Schools handle growth? School board candidates answer questionNews coverage · Hickory Daily Record · Feb 24, 2026 · hickoryrecord.com
“If the three school systems don't merge it will continue to compound the issues with overcrowding in certain areas of the county”
Don Sigmon
RepublicanIncumbent
Pastor, Eastside Baptist Church
The gist
- Supports pursuing a merger of the county's three school systems
- Supports limiting Chromebooks and AI in favor of textbooks
- Supports boundary changes and modular classrooms for crowding
More about Don
View sources (3)
Supports pursuing a merger of the county's three school systems
Catawba County school board candidates speak on whether they support school systems mergingNews coverage · Hickory Daily Record · Feb 23, 2026 · hickoryrecord.com
“I believe the time has come for Catawba County Schools, Newton-Conover City Schools, and Hickory City Schools to sincerely pursue a merger.”
Supports limiting Chromebooks and AI in favor of textbooks
What would Catawba County Board of Ed. candidates change about the school system?News coverage · Hickory Daily Record · Feb 25, 2026 · hickoryrecord.com
“limit the overuse of Chromebooks and artificial intelligence and return to greater use of textbooks and traditional learning methods”
Supports boundary changes and modular classrooms for crowding
How will Catawba County Schools handle growth? School board candidates answer questionNews coverage · Hickory Daily Record · Feb 24, 2026 · hickoryrecord.com
“schools can adjust attendance boundaries, add modular classrooms, and implement staggered schedules”
Tim Settlemyre
RepublicanIncumbent
Data analyst
The gist
- Supports merging the county's three school systems
- Proposes requiring families to volunteer monthly at schools
- Supports funding school additions where growth requires them
More about Tim
View sources (3)
Supports merging the county's three school systems
Catawba County school board candidates speak on whether they support school systems mergingNews coverage · Hickory Daily Record · Feb 23, 2026 · hickoryrecord.com
“Yes, I feel a merger would open more opportunities for students across Catawba County.”
Proposes requiring families to volunteer monthly at schools
What would Catawba County Board of Ed. candidates change about the school system?News coverage · Hickory Daily Record · Feb 25, 2026 · hickoryrecord.com
“I would require families to volunteer at least one day per month at their child's school.”
Supports funding school additions where growth requires them
How will Catawba County Schools handle growth? School board candidates answer questionNews coverage · Hickory Daily Record · Feb 24, 2026 · hickoryrecord.com
“has requested funding to make additions where needed for growth”
Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 1 issue covered in this race.