Matthew Fox

2026 Elections - Candidate Committees

Matthew Fox's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education Member is his first entry into politics.

As of January 2, 2026, Matthew Fox’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Buket Urgen

Mathew was a former officer in the US Navy.

Matthew's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education Member is his first entry into politics.

As of January 2, 2026, Matthew Fox did not have a website or any information online.

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Student Wellbeing

Don Sigmon

Don Signmon earned an Associate Degree in Sacred Literature from Covington Theological Seminary. He has a wife and four children.

Don is a Pastor at Eastside Baptist Church in Newton, North Carolina.

Don Sigmon is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education, representing Catawba County. He was elected in 2023 and is serving his first term.

Don is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education, representing Catawba County. He was elected in 2023 and is serving his first term.

- Believes strong schools start with supporting our teachers and staff.

As of January 2, 2026, Don Sigmon did not have a website or any information online.

As of January 2, 2026, Don Sigmon’s website did not contain information on this issue.

School Board Home - Catawba County Schools

2022 PARTISAN RACES - Candidates listed below filed with their ...

Long, tense meetings and conflict of interest questions mark ...

Superintendent races draw five candidates

After GOP upset, what's next in NC superintendent race? | WFAE ...

Dave Kistler Post

Believes strong schools start with supporting our teachers and staff.

Endorsed by Laura Blackwell of Cabarrus County, Don Sigmon and Tim Settlemyre of Catawba, Angie Todd and Louis Rogers of Onslow, Melissa Mason of New Hanover, Robert Levy of Moore, and Keith Locklear of Bladen.

Greg Whitener

Greg is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. He was appointed to fill a vacant seat.

As of January 2, 2026, Greg Whitener’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Greg Whitener to fill seat on Catawba County school board

Greg is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. He was appointed to fill a vacant seat. Greg’s campaign is centered on the "SUCCESS" vision: Students Unified with Committed Communities and Educators Striving for Success. Greg identifies as a "Christian Common Sense Conservative" and references Proverbs 16:3 as a guiding principle.

As of January 2, 2026, Greg Whitener did not have a website or any information online.

Advocates for "unified support, vision, and fellowship" amongst teachers and faculty to grow successful educators for future generations.

- Advocates for "unified support, vision, and fellowship" amongst teachers and faculty to grow successful educators for future generations.

Jack R. Young

Jack is originally from Vale, North Carolina. He studied at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina State, and the University of Carolina at Charlotte. He lives with his wife, Jill, in Claremont.

As of January 2, 2026, Jack R. Young did not have a website or any information online.

Jill L. Young

Jill L. Young is originally from Moorefield, West Virginia, but currently lives in Claremont, North Carolina with her husband Jim.

Jill L. Young - Ballotpedia

Jill’s campaign for the Catawba County Board of Education is her first run for public office

As of January 2, 2026, Jill L. Young did not have a website or any information online.

Michelle Teague

Michelle Teague is currently a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Michelle Teague’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Linkedin

Michelle Teague is from Catawba County, She earned an associate's degree in business administration and management from Catawba Valley Community College and a bachelor's degree in secretarial science from Kings College. She is a co-founder of Mama Bears of Catawba County, a parents' rights group. Michelle lives with her husband, Mark, in Hickory and attends Lakeview Baptist Church as a church service volunteer.

She previously worked as technical recruiter and account manager for Globalpundits, a staffing and recruiting agency for engineering, IT, and technical consulting roles. She also worked for Verizon Wireless and Corning Cable Systems.

Catawba County Schools, North Carolina, elections - Ballotpedia

Catawba County school board changes book challenge policy ...

Michelle currently serves as a member of the Catawba County Board of Education. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Michelle Teague did not have a website or any information online.

Catawba County schools board of education votes on book bans ...

Supported a policy change that prioritized majority rule in handling book challenges in schools.

Supports book bans, which restrict access to books that discuss gender, race, or sexuality that some parents may deem inappropriate.

- Supported a policy change that prioritized majority rule in handling book challenges in schools.
- Supports book bans, which restrict access to books that discuss gender, race, or sexuality that some parents may deem inappropriate.

LinkedIn

Robert Lopez

Robert Lopez's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education member is his first time running for public office.

As of January 2, 2026, Robert Lopez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As of January 2, 2026, Robert Lopez did not have a website or any information online.

Tim Settlemyre

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Tom Dees

There is no professional background information available for Tom Dees based on the provided sources.

Tom Dees's campaign for Catawba County Board of Education Member is his first entry into politics.

As of January 2, 2026, Tom Dees’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Election 2020, Tom Dees, Catawba County commissioner candidate

Tom Dees lives in Claremont, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Carolina University. 

District 10 Newsletter-Volume 11 - NC GOP

Tom Dees works as the owner of Century Campaigns, a political consulting and fundraising firm. He has also worked as a substitute teacher with Hickory City Schools. In addition, Dees has professional experience in political communications, government affairs, and campaign operations across multiple states.

Tom Dees is currently running for the Catawba County Schools Board of Education. He previously ran for public office in 2020 as a candidate for the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, but did not win. 

As of January 2, 2026, Tom Dees did not have a website or any information online.

Supports expanding alternative and vocational education pathways, including trade-focused programs and apprenticeships, to ensure students have multiple post-graduation options beyond traditional college tracks

- Supports expanding alternative and vocational education pathways, including trade-focused programs and apprenticeships, to ensure students have multiple post-graduation options beyond traditional college tracks

Supports a values-based approach to curriculum, including removing books he views as inappropriate, restricting access to certain digital content, and reshaping sex education to emphasize pro-life and family-centered values

- Supports a values-based approach to curriculum, including removing books he views as inappropriate, restricting access to certain digital content, and reshaping sex education to emphasize pro-life and family-centered values

Emphasizes protecting students’ moral, emotional, and digital wellbeing through stricter cellphone policies, internet safety education, and limits on exposure to content he considers harmful

- Emphasizes protecting students’ moral, emotional, and digital wellbeing through stricter cellphone policies, internet safety education, and limits on exposure to content he considers harmful

William R. Barnabas

William previously ran for Catawba County Board of Education member in 2026 but did not win.

As of January 2, 2026, William R. Barnabas’s website did not contain information on this issue.

William R. Barnabas currently lives in Conover, North Carolina.

William R. Barnabas - Ballotpedia

William’s campaign for the Catawba County Board of Education is his first run for public office

As of January 2, 2026, William R. Barnabas did not have a website or any information online.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 