With over a decade of experience on the Board, Smith brings a wealth of qualifications to the table. He has served as a pastor for 16 years and is currently an Assistant District Elder, overseeing six churches. His involvement extends to the Lenoir County Parks & Recreation Commission and the State Employees' Advisory Board. An Army veteran, Smith emphasizes a strong sense of community and public service in his candidacy.

Lenoir County school board candidate Merwyn Smith seeks re-election

: personal

Merwyn K. Smith is involved with the Lenoir County Parks & Recreation Commission and the State Employees' Advisory Board.

2024 Election candidate list for Lenoir County — Neuse News

: professional

Merwyn currently serves as an Assistant District Elder, overseeing six churches, and has served as a pastor. He is an Army veteran.

Merwyn currently serves as an Assistant District Elder, overseeing six churches, and has served as a pastor. He is an Army veteran.

Merwyn K. Smith, an incumbent candidate for the Lenoir County Board of Education At-Large position, is running for re-election in the upcoming 2024 elections. Smith, who has served on the Board since 2012, cites a commitment to enhancing educational resources and fostering a positive perception of Lenoir County Public Schools as central to his campaign.

: political

Merwyn served on the Lenoir County Board of Education beginning in 2012.

Merwyn served on the Lenoir County Board of Education beginning in 2012.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Smith, who has served on the Board since 2012, cites a commitment to enhancing educational resources and fostering a positive perception of Lenoir County Public Schools as central to his campaign. “My initial motivation to run for office stemmed from a genuine concern for the education and well-being of the children in Lenoir County,” Smith said. “I want to ensure we have the best resources available to connect our students to a prosperous future.”

Wants to ensure students have the resources they need for a prosperous future.

- Wants to ensure students have the resources they need for a prosperous future.

School Facilities & Resources

As of January 5, 2026, Merwyn K. Smith did not have a website or any information online.

Access to Education

Discussing teacher turnover, Smith said: “Teacher turnover is a pressing issue because some are leaving the profession,” Smith noted. “I want to ensure we are doing what we can as a local Board to incentivize our teachers to stay.”

Wants the local board to use measures that encourage teachers to stay.

Believes the local board should use measures that encourage teachers to stay.

- Believes the local board should use measures that encourage teachers to stay.

Teachers

School Curriculum

Student Wellbeing

Merwyn K. Smith

As of January 5, 2026, Merwyn K. Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Merwyn is currently a member of the Lenoir County Board of Education. He has served on the board for 12 years.

Advocates for enhancing public perception of local schools through better communication and outreach about successes and initiatives in the school district.

Supports teacher retention, acknowledges the importance of school choice, and emphasizes attracting high-quality teachers to improve the learning environment.

For Candidate Merwyn K. Smith on Issue teachers: Aims to incentivize teacher retention to address the pressing issue of teacher turnover.

Advocates for enhancing public perception of local schools through improved communication and outreach to inform the community about school successes and initiatives.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

John Wiggins

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

Member of the board that governs your county's public school system