One Cumberland County Board of Education member has not refiled for election, and all other incumbent candidates have drawn challengers that include a former Hope Mills mayor, according to state filings.
Three at-large seats held by board members Jacquelyn Brown, Judy Musgrave and Greg West are not on the ballot.
Candidate filings for the seats ended last Friday, with board hopefuls set to appear on the ballot in the Nov. 5 general election.
Longtime board member Carrie Sutton did not refile for her District 3 seat, and former Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner is one of two challenging incumbent Donna Vann for her District 4 seat.
On Monday, Sutton, who’s served 16 years on the board, thanked the residents of District 3 for allowing her to serve.
“I feel like it’s time, almost like what President Joe Biden did,” Sutton said. “I wanted to move forward, and it’s time to pass the torch. It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve in District 3. The children have always been my passion.”
Sutton said she’s proud of the changes she’s seen in District 3 and the Westover schools area.
“One of the reasons why I ran 16 years ago was because I felt attention had been taken from this area and schools,” she said. “I feel good about passing the torch to whoever takes over now in District 3. My prayer is they take the torch and go even further and higher in making sure this district can be everything it can be. It’s a wonderful area. I don’t want this district or area to go back for our students.”
Sutton, who is president of the NC Caucus of Black School Board Members, said she has listened to concerns from parents and employees and still intends to remain active in education.
“I’m still part of the community and will still advocate for education in another capacity,” she said. “I encourage all people and parents to be more concerned and more involved and look at who’s representing your child and educating your child.”
Here’s a look at who's filed for Sutton's seat and all other filings:
District 1
In District 1, which includes the E.E. Smith High School area, incumbent Alicia Chisolm of Fayetteville will face Kathi Gibson and Mary Hales, both of Fayetteville.
Chisolm was first elected to the board in 2008 and has served as its chair.
Chilsom is a military spouse who previously worked on post as a civilian employee in the personnel department, according to an August 2015 Fayetteville Observer article.
According to her LinkedIN profile, Gibson is a retired school superintendent who’s worked in schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Los Angeles and the Philippines.
She is currently a retirement specialist for ValuTeachers Inc., an educational consultant at KKonsult International and part-time college professor at Gardner-Webb University.
According to a campaign site for Hales, she retired as a principal from Cumberland County Schools, where she spent 30 years, and has also served on the Cumberland County Council of the North Carolina Parent-Teacher Association and as president of the Cumberland County Association of Principals and Assistant Principals.
District 2
In District 2, which includes the Seventy-First and Westover high school area, incumbent Deanna Jones of Fayetteville will face John Lee of Fayetteville.
Jones, who currently serves as the board’s chair, was first appointed to her seat in 2020 after the death of board member Porcha McMillan.
She is an Army veteran with 27 years of service and has served as president of the Cumberland County District PTA and vice president of the Seventy-First High School PTA, according to a May 2020 Fayetteville Observer article.
Information about Lee was not readily available as of press time.
District 3
Fayetteville residents Delores Bell, Tom Hatch Jr. and Michael “Bryan” Moore will face off for Sutton's District 3 seat, which includes Terry Sanford and Westover high schools.
Hatch is a Cumberland County native and retired school administrator who’s been a principal at Reid Ross Classical and Terry Sanford high schools, according to a campaign post shared on his Twitter page.
Moore is a local real estate agent, according to an ERA Real Estate page.
According to his Facebook page, he is a parent of two public school students and is running to increase school funding, improve education and “restore respect” in schools.
A LinkedIn profile for Bell shows that she’s been an instructional assistant for Cumberland County Schools.
District 4
In District 4, which includes Douglas Byrd and Seventy-First high school areas, incumbent Donna Blackmon Vann of Fayetteville will face former Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner and Rebecca Pedigo of Fayetteville.
Vann is a retired educator who spent more than 30 years in Cumberland County Schools and is a former principal at Glendale Acres Elementary School, according to an October 2014 candidate profile.
She was first appointed to the District 4 seat in 2014, ran unopposed in 2016 and won the 2020 general election and has been vice chair and chair of the Board of Education.
Warner was first elected as a Home Mills town commissioner in 2007 and served as mayor from 2011 to 2023, until she was defeated by current Mayor Jessie Bellflowers.
She’s also worked in the Cumberland County Schools for 40 years as a teacher, coach and principal and is a small business owner of a baby boutique and furniture store, according to a 2023 candidate profile.
Pedigo is a youth development coordinator for Cumberland County Schools.
According to her LinkedIn page, she has more than 10 years of experience teaching children and supporting adults with mental illness and developmental disabilities.
District 5
In District 5, which includes the Pine Forest and Cape Fear high school areas, incumbent Susan Williams of Fayetteville will face Tracy Pelt of Fayetteville.
Williams has served on the Board of Education since December 2012 and ran unopposed in 2016 and 2020.
She is retired as a teacher after spending more than 30 years in Cumberland County Schools, according to her LinkedIn page, and is currently executive director of the Miss North Carolina Organization.
Pelt is the founder of Above Reproach Ministries and author of “Prophets: Ordained by God,” according to her LinkedIn page.
Her campaign page states she has a vision to be involved in “making education about sound, basic instruction for all children and ensuring that parents have the right to choose the way their children receive that education."
District 6
In District 6, which includes the South View, Gray's Creek and Jack Britt high school areas, incumbent Nathan Warfel of Fayetteville will face Terra B. Jordan of Parkton.
Warfel was first elected 2020 and is currently the Board’s vice chair.
He is an assistant public defender, according to a June 2021 Fayetteville Observer article.
A LinkedIn page for Jordan shows she’s been a teacher for the Department of Defense Education Activity.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
