
Clara Witherspoon
Non-Partisan | North Carolina
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Clara Witherspoon
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2023
Election
School Board
Race
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education, At-Large Seat
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
North Carolina Central University, Durham, BA, 1979
Liberty University, Lynchburg VA, MAR, 2006
The University of the Southwest, Hobb NM, MSEd, 2015
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
GPM Inc, Founder/President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
School Board District 4, 2022
Race
Previous Races
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Black Political Caucus of Charlotte Mecklenburg (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
OTHER INFORMATION
- Partisan Primary Election Voting History from North Carolina State Board of Elections for Clara Kennedy Witherspoon during time of residence in district and/or at current address:
- 2022 Primary election: Democratic
- 2020 Primary election: Democratic
- Voted in six Democratic Primary elections 2002 - 2018
- Voted in one Nonpartisan Primary election 2012
**Election Voting History is not considered during panel evaluations.**
- WFAE 90.7 Candidate Bios (7/21/2023)
- Founder of GPM Inc
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Disagree
There are new laws that now govern what is offered to students within the context of the school; regardless if I agree or disagree, no one is above the law.
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Agree
As a school board candidate, I believe that human life deserves legal protection.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
I believe that every US citizen deserves the right to the pursuit of happiness and financial stability.
School districts should be able to use taxpayer money for lobbying the state legislature.
Neutral
It appears that North Carolina allows taxpayers' money for lobbying as long it does not influence the outcome of an election.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
Every North Carolina Pre K-12th grade student should receive a free appropriate education. College tuition continues to rise, which presents a challenge for some North Carolina families to provide their students an opportunity for higher education,
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Agree
According to CMS district policy, there is a non-discrimination—policy based on religion in school. There is no restriction on prayer.
School districts should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Agree
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
"The school board is responsible for providing a school system, and establishing general policies with the needs of the community and the requirements of the state law and perform specific duties imposed by the statutes (board.com)."
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
It is important for the school district to adhere to Senate Bill 49 law, incorporating parent participation in curriculum and resources utilized for instruction.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Parents should have the right to address their concerns without restrictions, as long as the presentation is conducted in a professional respectful manner, and adheres to the time restraints for public speaking.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): Mathematics, Information Technology, Science, Political Activism, Personal Finances, Gender Identity, Physical Fitness, American History, Critical Race Theory, Language Arts, Art & Music, Vocational Learning, Sexuality, Foreign Language, Social Emotional Learning
Language Arts, Mathematics, American History, Science, Information Technology, Personal Finances, Vocational Learning, Physical Fitness, Arts and Music, Social Emotional Learning and Foreign Language
Which more closely matches your view of America's founding principles? A) Liberty and equality. B) Slavery and racism.
Liberty and Equality for All
What does "equity in education" mean to you?
Equity means providing the resources and staff needed to offer an equal education. Students and schools may need more resources to support a free and appropriate education.
Written parental consent (opt-in) must be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Strongly Agree
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Agree
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
School boards are accountable to parents and taxpayers.
Strongly Agree
Do you believe print and digital material available or presented to students should be easily accessible for public review, including those without children enrolled in school.
Yes
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My belief and faith in Christ are the foundation for how I govern my life and serve others. My core values are honesty, integrity, and accountability.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
I have always believed it was my husband's and my responsibility as parents to teach my now adult children about their anatomy. It is important to consider age appropriateness—and cognitive development.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- Physical and emotional health outcomes; contraceptive methods; consent; abstinence; sexual orientation and gender identity; human anatomy/the reproductive system; abortion methods and side effects; stages of pregnancy and fetal development; sex acts and pleasures of sex
Human anatomy/reproductive system, Consent Abstinence, and physical and emotional outcome
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Choose not to answer
I support allowing public middle and high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Disagree
It is important to abide by the NC law that requires students to participate in athletics based on their biological sex.
Biological males should be allowed in female locker rooms and bathrooms.
Disagree
No school official should be involved in the social or medical transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Strongly Agree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
YouTube interview with Channel 36 and an interview with WSOC-9 in 2022
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am running for office to serve the families and students of Mecklenburg County.
A candidate's personal moral values are relevant when considering a candidacy for elective office.
Strongly Agree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
Choose not to answer
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
The new Parent Rights laws protect parents' rights to opt out of vaccinations.
I support mask mandates.
Neutral
I support mask mandates if there is a health crisis; otherwise, masks should be optional.
All official open meetings should be live streamed, recorded, and have transcripts available online for public access.
Agree
All votes should be roll call votes and recorded in meeting minutes.
Agree
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