Current Brunswick County School Board Chair Steven Barger defeated Shirley Babson, a longtime school board member who lost her 2016 and 2020 re-election bids. Babson said that she wanted to return to politics to fight 'woke' indoctrination in the schools.
Barger said he wants the General Assembly to pay teachers more.
“But I think even more than that, raises only benefit people on Friday when they get paid. But what keeps them there Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the following week in between those paychecks? I'm telling you, we need to advocate for more money for them. But I also want to advocate to improve that whole environment, those working conditions for them, because that's what's going to keep them there in between the paychecks,” Barger said.
In District 4, Barger will face challenger Democrat Janis Simmons in the fall.
However, school board Districts 1 and 2 have no Democratic opponents. That means Catherine Cooke, a former board member, and Vickie Smith, a newcomer, who both emerged victorious in their primary races all but have those seats clinched.
Cooke beat out recently deceased board member David Robinson and newcomer Dr. Rick Hessman. (Cooke declined an interview with WHQR during the campaign.)
Smith won over Dr. Lavar Marlow.
Vote tallies will be finalized at the county canvass on Friday, March 15. Find more of WHQR’s election reporting here.
Prior reporting
- Cape Fear region 2024 primary election results: Brunswick incumbents hold fast, upsets in Pender
- Two Republicans running in District 2 for Brunswick County school board after incumbent David Robinson passes away
- Lavar Marlow and Vickie Smith compete for a seat on Brunswick County's Board of Education District 1
- Steven Barger and Shirley Babson face off in the Republican primary for Brunswick County Board of Education, District 4
