Phyllis Deitrell Michaux

Phyllis Deitrell Michaux is a Democratic candidate seeking a seat on the Catawba County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 general election. She previously appeared on the ballot for the same two‑seat commission in the November 5, 2024 election, running alongside Geno Baker for the Democratic nomination and competing against Republican candidates Austin Allran and Barbara Gale Beatty ¹.

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners serves as the elected governing body for the county, responsible for setting policy, approving the annual budget, and overseeing a range of county services such as public safety, infrastructure, and social programs ¹. Commissioners work with county staff and community stakeholders to address local needs and ensure fiscal responsibility.

Michaux is a North Carolina native who lives in Hickory. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, and operations from American InterContinental University, a master’s degree in strategic leadership from Mountain State University, and a second master’s degree in liberal arts and sciences from Lenoir‑Rhyne University ¹¹.

Professionally, Michaux works as a research analyst and lead supervisor in the manufacturing sector, where she also coordinates community‑outreach programs. Earlier in her career she served as an Eligibility Specialist for the Catawba County Department of Social Services, gaining direct experience with county‑level service delivery and client assistance ¹¹.

Her political experience includes an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Hickory Public Schools Board of Education in 2021, followed by her 2024 campaign for the county commission, where she was listed on the general‑election ballot as a Democratic candidate ¹¹¹.

Michaux’s campaign platform emphasizes integrity, transparency, and inclusive service delivery. She advocates for programs that support combat veterans’ mental‑health needs and emergency shelters, and she promotes community‑engagement initiatives to give diverse cultural groups and small businesses a stronger voice in county decisions. On economic issues, she backs sustainable growth paired with environmental protection, and she calls for balanced education funding to address teacher shortages and enrollment declines. Public‑safety priorities include a more effective local drug‑addiction services program, while her housing agenda focuses on affordable‑housing development, transitional housing for the homeless, and partnerships with lenders willing to work with low‑credit borrowers who have stable employment. Michaux also stresses the importance of responsive government that builds trust and confidence among all residents ¹¹.

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