See where Dunning, Dale, Bradford, Barnhart, Sutton, LaRue, Jones and Gewirtzman stand on schools and the budget. Names follow official New Hanover County election filings.
Eight candidates for four seats on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Pat Bradford and Josie Barnhart (both Republican) are incumbents seeking re-election, per the district's official board page. Margie Gewirtzman took the fourth Democratic primary slot after candidate Rick Southerland withdrew, per Port City Daily.
School board member. The school board is the governing body of a public school district. It hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts the district budget, sets policies on curriculum, discipline, attendance boundaries and facilities, and approves contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Day-to-day operations belong to the superintendent; the board sets direction and holds the administration accountable.
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North Carolina › New Hanover County › New Hanover County Board of Education
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From other published sources
Amy Dunning is an elementary math teacher at a private school and a former Title I teacher, per Port City Daily. No campaign website was found for her school board run. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
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From other published sources
Wendy Dale works as a contracts specialist, per Port City Daily. No campaign website was found for her school board run. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
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From other published sources
Pat Bradford is the incumbent board member and chair of its Capital, Bond and Finance Committee, per Port City Daily and the district's official board page.
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From other published sources
Josie Barnhart is an incumbent board member first elected in 2022, per Port City Daily and the district's official board page.
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Chris Sutton is a maintenance technician who previously ran for the school board in 2022, per Port City Daily. No campaign website was found for his 2026 run. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
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From the campaign site
Brittnei LaRue is a financial professional who helps individuals and families make informed decisions about their finances, per her campaign site. She holds a bachelor's degree in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish and is a political newcomer running as a parent in the district.
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Jerry Jones, Jr. is a co-founder of The Roasted Bookery and an environmental chemist who has taught middle-school science, per Port City Daily. He previously ran for the school board in 2024. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
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From other published sources
Margie Gewirtzman is a mother of three who says on the campaign site that 18 years have been spent as an advocate in medical, educational and community settings for programs that serve children with disabilities, per the campaign site. Gewirtzman is running for the New Hanover County Board of Education.
Who is running for New Hanover County Board of Education in 2026?
8 candidates are tracked for New Hanover County Board of Education on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Amy Dunning, Wendy Dale, Pat Bradford, Josie Barnhart, Chris Sutton, Brittnei LaRue, Jerry Jones, Jr. and Margie Gewirtzman. Candidate information follows official New Hanover County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on schools and the budget.
When is the New Hanover County Board of Education election in North Carolina?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact New Hanover County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official New Hanover County and state election office filings, last verified October 16, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full New Hanover County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
16 tracked races in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.