{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nSarah Ferrell Temple is the Democratic candidate for Ward\u202f02 on the Hickory City Schools Board of Education in the 2026 general election held on November\u202f3,\u202f2026. The Board of Education is a seven-member body that governs the public schools in Hickory. Six members are elected from individual wards and one is elected at-large; each member serves a four-year term that begins on the first Monday of December following the election, and members are responsible for setting policy, approving budgets, and overseeing the district's superintendent and schools [1].\n\nTemple brings experience in local government through her service on the Catawba County Social Services Board, where she holds the position of Vice Chair. The board, which meets monthly, oversees a range of county social-service programs, including child protective services, adult services, and senior nutrition, and its members guide policy and resource allocation for these programs [2].\n\nIn her role as Vice Chair, Temple helps set the board's agenda, collaborates with the Chair and other members, and participates in decision-making that affects vulnerable populations throughout Catawba County [2].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Board of Education - Hickory City Schools](https://www.hickoryschools.net/about/board-of-education)\n- [2] [Catawba County Social Services Board](https://www.catawbacountync.gov/county-services/social-services/family-builder)","campaigns":[{"contest":"hickory_city_school_ward_02","county":"catawba","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Hickory City Schools Board Of Education Ward 02"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Sarah","fullname":"Sarah Ferrell Temple","lastname":"Temple","middlename":"Ferrell","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"hickory_city_school_ward_02","contest_title":"Hickory City Schools Board Of Education Ward 02","county":"catawba","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"catawba","office_key":"school_board","office_title":"School Board Member","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"catawba","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"hickory_city_school_ward_02","contest_title":"Hickory City Schools Board Of Education Ward 02","county":"catawba","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"catawba","office_key":"school_board","office_title":"School Board Member","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"school_board","office_title":"School Board Member","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Sarah Ferrell Temple is the Democratic candidate for Ward\u202f02 of the Hickory City Schools Board of Education and serves as Vice Chair of the Catawba County Social Services Board.","terms":[],"token":"395ad390a477afe5"}