{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Jim Pedersen","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJames M. \"Jim\" Pedersen is a candidate for one of two at-large seats on the Moore County Board of Education, on the ballot in the March 3, 2026 nonpartisan primary ahead of the November 3, 2026 general election [1]. Per his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, his campaign calls for \"safe and orderly schools\" with \"best trained, best equipped and most capable\" school resource officers, eliminating \"wasteful spending,\" and a \"10 year funded construction plan\" for facilities [1]. He says he wants to focus on \"proficiency over graduation rates,\" reduce bureaucratic burdens on teachers, and expand vocational and career-technical education, along with low-cost housing for district employees and duty-free lunch breaks for teachers [1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Jim Pedersen (Moore County Schools, At-large, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jim_Pedersen_(Moore_County_Schools,_At-large,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026)) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"James","lastname":"Pedersen","middlename":"M","suffix":null,"token":"448993ece145a3ed"},"token":"qXsrRuYJwrvwy2WE"},{"candidatename":"Anthony B. McCauley","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"","person":{"biography":"Anthony B. McCauley is a candidate for an at\u2011large seat on the Moore County Board of Education in the 2026 nonpartisan election; he appeared on the March\u202f3,\u202f2026 primary ballot for the Moore County Schools, At\u2011large position\u202f[1]. The board is a nonpartisan governing body that oversees the county\u2019s public schools, and the at\u2011large seats are elected county\u2011wide rather than from a single district\u202f[1].\n\nMcCauley describes himself as a mental\u2011health professional and Certified School Social Worker. He has worked for the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections and previously served as a social worker for Moore County Schools\u202f[4]. He also founded and serves as CEO of the nonprofit Males of Distinction, a program that mentors at\u2011risk youth and provides wrap\u2011around services\u202f[4][10].\n\nHis career spans both education and corrections. After serving as an In\u2011School Mentor Coordinator with Moore Buddies, he launched Males of Distinction to address the school\u2011to\u2011prison pipeline\u202f[10]. He has also held positions as a Moore County Schools Social Worker and as an employee of the state corrections department, giving him a unique perspective on both sides of the pipeline\u202f[4].\n\nMcCauley\u2019s community work has earned public recognition. He was named an \u201cEveryday Hero\u201d by Spectrum News\u2011Raleigh for his mentorship of roughly 20 young people and his broader community impact\u202f[10][11]. In addition, he is the author of five books on personal development and education\u202f[11].\n\nHis campaign platform emphasizes parent\u2011school partnership, mental\u2011health support, and restorative\u2011justice practices. He pledges to improve communication channels between families and schools, create family resource centers, and ensure counselors and social workers are present in every school\u202f[4]. He also advocates for competitive teacher compensation, recruitment of diverse educators from HBCUs, expansion of Career & Technical Education, and the development of community\u2011based mentorship and internship programs\u202f[4].\n\nMcCauley filed his candidacy on December\u202f1,\u202f2022 at the Moore County Board of Elections and can be contacted via the email address listed on his Ballotpedia profile (MCCAULEYENTERPRISE@GMAIL.COM)\u202f[1] and by phone at 910\u2011286\u20113894\u202f[9]. His campaign website provides additional details and a portal for donations\u202f[4][12].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Anthony B. McCauley (Moore County Schools, At-large, ...](https://ballotpedia.org/Anthony_B._McCauley_(Moore_County_Schools,_At-large,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n- [4] [Anthony McCauley for Moore County School Board](https://www.mccauleyforboardofeducation.org/)\n- [6] [Meet Anthony McCauley, he just announced ...](https://www.facebook.com/raymond.langdon.71/posts/meet-anthony-mccauley-he-just-announced-hes-running-for-school-board-in-moore-co/25794732170124825/)\n- [9] [I am sharing this information per Mr. Anthony McCauley](https://www.facebook.com/rosehighlandsharpe/posts/i-am-sharing-this-information-per-mr-anthony-mccauley-he-will-be-running-for-one/10239705392437066/)\n- [10] [Anthony McCauley Archives - All Things Moore County](https://allthingsmoorecounty.com/pinehurst-nc-real-estate/anthony-mccauley/)\n- [11] [Everyday Hero Males of Disctinction](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-sandhills/everyday-hero/2019/06/17/everyday-hero-males-of-disctinction)\n- [12] [Donate to Anthony McCauley!](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/anthony-mccauley-1)","firstname":"Anthony","lastname":"Mccauley","middlename":"Bernard","suffix":null,"token":"793cd30a90db62f3"},"token":"wDclbFMNC9iIhUK2"},{"candidatename":"Olivia Oxendine","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nOlivia Holmes Oxendine is a candidate for one of two at-large seats on the Moore County Board of Education, on the ballot in the March 3, 2026 nonpartisan primary ahead of the November 3, 2026 general election [1]. Her campaign website states she has been endorsed by the Moore County Republican Party [2]. Per that site, her platform calls for following \"the laws that protect parents' rights,\" \"eliminat[ing] all forms of radical teaching: critical race theory and gender indoctrination,\" and complying with \"Title IX and the sections prohibiting boys from competing on girls' teams,\" along with maintaining \"rigorous standards and high expectations\" academically and expanding Career and Technical Education courses [2]. She is a registered Republican voter in Moore County since 2022, per the North Carolina voter file [3].\n\n## Background and education\nPer her campaign website, Oxendine is a native of Lumberton, NC, and holds a B.A. in English from UNC Pembroke, an M.A. in School Administration from Appalachian State University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UNC Greensboro, along with advanced study at Stanford University in gifted education and a credential from the Yale Child Study Center in child-centered school reform [2].\n\n## Career\nOxendine's campaign website describes more than five decades in public education: she began as an English teacher and went on to serve as an assistant principal, principal, state department director, and regional director in North Carolina, Illinois, and South Carolina [2]. She served as principal of the former Southern Pines Middle School, in Moore County, in the late 1980s, and later directed the state's dropout-prevention program and the NC DARE Program, per the same source [2]. For nearly 10 years she was the Sandhills Regional Director for K-12 English Language Arts; for nearly 20 years she held a faculty position at UNC Pembroke preparing graduate students to become principals, retiring from the university in 2024 and receiving the Order of the Longleaf Pine and UNC Pembroke's James Holshouser Award for Distinguished Public Service, her campaign website states [2].\n\n## Office history\nOxendine's campaign website says she was appointed to the North Carolina State Board of Education by then-Governor Pat McCrory in 2013 [2]. She ran as the Republican nominee for North Carolina House of Representatives District 47 in 2020, losing to Democratic incumbent Charles Graham, 52.4% to 47.6%, according to Ballotpedia's record of the certified results [4].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nPer her campaign website, Oxendine says she worked \"to incorporate conservative themes into social studies standards and to identify critical race theory across grades\" during her tenure on the State Board of Education, and serves as the board's liaison to the State Advisory Council on Indian Education [2].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Olivia Oxendine (Moore County Schools, At-large, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Olivia_Oxendine_(Moore_County_Schools,_At-large,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026)) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n- [2] [Olivia Oxendine for Moore County School Board \u2014 campaign website](https://sites.google.com/view/oliviaoxendine/about) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n- [3] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n- [4] [Olivia Oxendine - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Olivia_Oxendine) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Olivia","lastname":"Oxendine","middlename":"Holmes","suffix":null,"token":"d8d3d90c3827d1a9"},"token":"9GGKVfRI-YYJERK0"},{"candidatename":"Don Zawlocki","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"","person":{"biography":"Donald Ignatius Zawlocki is a candidate for the Moore County Board of Education Member\u2011At\u2011Large seat in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. He is running as a non\u2011partisan candidate for the county\u2019s governing body that sets policy, approves the budget, and oversees curriculum and personnel for the Moore County Schools system[1].\n\nThe Moore County Board of Education is responsible for establishing district policies, adopting the annual budget, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, and ensuring compliance with state education standards. Members serve four\u2011year terms and must act in the best interests of all students and taxpayers in the county[1].\n\nZawlocki is 67 years old and has completed graduate\u2011level education, according to a public background report[11]. He resides in the Aberdeen\u2011Pinehurst area of Moore County, with listed addresses at 111\u202fPinebrae\u202fLn, Aberdeen, NC and 260\u202fRobin\u202fLn, Pinehurst, NC[11].\n\nProfessionally, Zawlocki has been employed by Moore County Schools for several years. Payroll records show he held the title \u201cEducation Professional\u201d (or \u201cGeneral Education Professional\u201d) from at least 2016 through 2023, earning $25,759 in 2016 and continuing in similar roles in subsequent years[9]. These positions place him within the district\u2019s instructional staff, giving him direct experience with classroom and school operations.\n\nPolitically, Zawlocki previously sought election to the Moore County Schools Board representing District\u202fV. He qualified for the March\u202f5,\u202f2024 non\u2011partisan primary and appeared on the November\u202f5,\u202f2024 general\u2011election ballot alongside Robin Calcutt[1]. He did not complete Ballotpedia\u2019s Candidate Connection survey and no endorsements were recorded for that race[1].\n\nIn the 2026 cycle, Zawlocki is again seeking a seat on the Board, this time at\u2011large, which would represent all of Moore County rather than a single district. No official campaign website or public statements have been identified, and his campaign materials have not been posted on the sources reviewed. Voters can expect his background in district employment and prior candidacy to inform his perspective on education policy.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Don Zawlocki (Moore County Schools, District V, North Carolina, candidate 2024) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Zawlocki_(Moore_County_Schools,_District_V,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2024))\n- [9] [Donald Zawlocki - Education Professionals - Moore County Schools | OpenGovPay](https://opengovpay.com/nc/donald-zawlocki-i/28065979)\n- [10] [Donald Zawlocki in Aberdeen, North Carolina | Phone Number, Email, Address - Spokeo](https://www.spokeo.com/Donald-Zawlocki/North-Carolina/Aberdeen)\n- [11] [Find Donald Zawlocki's Background Report, Location & Phone Number](https://northcarolina.ourstates.org/donald-zawlocki)","firstname":"Donald","lastname":"Zawlocki","middlename":"Ignatius","suffix":null,"token":"5b60b65e1803b1fa"},"token":"9rThIw3NJmaUp1sK"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board","office":"county_school_board","officedescription":"A school board member serves on the elected body that governs a public school district. The board sets district policy and budget priorities and hires and evaluates the superintendent, while leaving day-to-day management to the administration.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment for a public school district \u2014 setting direction while leaving day-to-day management to the superintendent.\n- Budget literacy for operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the county commission (which appropriates) and the state.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 the board's highest-stakes recurring decision.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County School Board Member","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":2,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Moore County Board Of Education Member At-Large"}