Shannan Harrison has announced her candidacy for the Lenoir County School Board seat in the upcoming 2024 election. To secure her spot on the ballot, Harrison embarked on a mission to gather the required 1508 signatures. Starting in December, she engaged her family, friends, and community members in her campaign efforts, quickly gaining momentum and support.

"I have been an active parent and volunteer in the Lenoir County schools for over 13 years. Through the years I have seen and heard the needs of our teachers, students and parents. We need another parent perspective to advocate for the best interest of all, and I felt like now was the time to bring change to the board," Harrison explained.

Harrison's decision to run stems from her desire to bring about positive change and advocate for the needs of teachers, students, and parents within the school district.

"In December, I hit the ground running. I started by sharing with family and friends my intentions and desire of getting on the ballot in November. I quickly gained support and assistance from my family and closest friends in collecting signatures. Soon, I had community members reaching out to me to sign my petition," Harrison stated.

Her outreach efforts extended to various community events, allowing her to connect with voters and share her vision for improving the local school system.

"I have attended many community events. Sharing my perspective as a parent with community members allowed them to see the passion I have for improving our schools and willingness I have to put in the necessary work. The process was very encouraging and I can tell that I will have the support of many in this election," Harrison noted.

Despite any challenges encountered during the signature-gathering process, Harrison remained steadfast in her commitment to represent the diverse interests of Lenoir County residents.

"Overall, collecting signatures was an enjoyable experience. The process allowed me to meet and connect with community members that I may have not met or connected with before. It was great meeting so many wonderful people across the county that I would be honored to represent. The process also gave me a jump-start on my campaign season," she remarked.

In a testament to her dedication and community support, Harrison submitted 1569 verified signatures, surpassing the required threshold.

"I was required to collect 1508 signatures by March 5, 2024 at noon. On Monday, February 19, I turned in my last batch of signatures bringing me to the total of 1569 verified signatures," Harrison confirmed.

Reflecting on the broad support garnered during her campaign, Harrison acknowledged the diverse demographics and geographic distribution of her supporters, including church members, public officials, educators, and business owners.

"Church members, fire departments, city and county officials, business owners, teachers and parents from all over our county have shown their support. During this process I have seen the dedication and support our community members have to offer," Harrison observed.

Looking ahead, Harrison identified key issues facing the Lenoir County School Board, emphasizing the importance of communication, presence in schools, and parental perspective.

Harrison will run as an unaffiliated candidate on the November 5, 2024 Election. Bruce Hill (D) and Merwyn Smith (D) are the incumbents vying for the At Large seats on the school board with Jonathan Britt (R) in the running as well.