The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners during a regular meeting earlier this month unanimously approved the adoption of a resolution to create primary elections for the Mitchell County Board of Education, paving the way for partisan races for seats on the board.
North Carolina law mandates that all board of education elections in the state be non-partisan unless a local bill says otherwise. Since Mitchell has been subject to the law, board of education candidates couldn’t previously disclose their party affiliation to voters.
That changes with the passing of the resolution and Mitchell will join more than a dozen other North Carolina counties to have partisan school board elections including Alleghany, Anson, Duplin, Graham and Swain.
“In partisan elections, voters are likely to be more informed on a candidate’s political views and candidates of similar political views are less likely to dilute each other’s support when primaries are utilized,” the resolution reads.
Commissioner Harley Masters read the resolution aloud at the meeting and asked for board comments.
Commissioner Brandon Pittman chimed in with his support.
“As a parent, a voter and a school teacher, when I show up to vote I want to know where those candidates’ values lie on major issues facing our kids,” Pittman said. “I can’t think of a better way to judge that than party affiliation.”
Pittman added that primaries carry the extra benefit of “vetting out” candidates for school board by having them go through an extra step.
Pittman’s sentiments were the only board comments. Clayton Roberts seconded Pittman’s motion which unanimously carried with Jeff Harding and Masters also casting “yes” votes. Board Chair Steve Pitman was absent from the meeting due to a family engagement.