Chairman's Message: June 2019

Senate Bill 674 Passed the NC House June 25th! This Bill will institute Partisan Elections for Surry County's three School Districts (Surry County, Mount Airy, and Elkin). Don't let the word "Partisan" fool you. This is a great Bill for our County and our children. Current School Board Elections are confusing and held at different times in different School Districts.

Senate Bill 674 gives Surry County a Primary and a General Election for all School Board seats just like exists for other offices such as Sheriff, Legislature, County Commissioner, etc. Parents and voters will now have a chance to have full transparency about candidates and chose for themselves who wins Primaries and goes to the Fall Elections.

This is a win for voters, taxpayers, and our children despite the false rhetoric from opponents who favored the old and confusing system we had before. I want to thank Commissioners Marion, Tucker, and Harris along with NC Senators Berger and Ballard and NC Representatives Stevens and Hall for their efforts to make this happen.

Finally, I want to thank the scores of Surry County teachers, parents, and citizens who stepped up to support this Bill. You will be hearing more about this in the future.