Editors Note:  On March 3 the New Hanover County Republican Party at its 2025 Convention introduced a “Resolution of Disapproval” against Melissa Mason, Chair of the New Hanover County Board of Education.  Prior to the convention, we reached out to Ms. Mason and asked for her response.  We promised to publish her response UNEDITED side by side with the resolution.  She informed us that she would send her remarks to us after she made them from the floor of that gathering.  We present to you both the motion and Ms. Mason’s response.  We also want to note that the motion was originally entitled “Condemnation”, but  that word was replaced by action on the floor of the convention.  The motion was defeated.  We also received a response from Pat Bradford who also sits on the Board of Education.  Ms. Bradford's response to a portion of Ms. Mason's comments are also included.

Resolution of Disapproval of Melissa Mason

Whereas during her election campaign in 2022, Ms. Mason made numerous promises to uphold conservative ideals and work toward policies that prioritize the safety and well-being of our community, especially our children;

Whereas since assuming her position, Ms. Mason has been alarmingly contradictory to those commitments.  Most notably, Ms. Mason has taken steps to place hardline liberals, individuals who have polarized values and agendas, in their positions, into roles that directly affect the future of our children;

Whereas these actions undermine the County party’s mission and  puts our community’s youngest and most vulnerable members at significant risk; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Republican Party of New Hanover County, North Carolina:

1. strongly condemns the actions of Ms. Mason in her appointments as Chair of the New Hanover County Board of Education;
2. urges Ms. Mason to immediately reconsider her position as Chair and her appointment of Leftist Democrats to committee chairs;
3. urges Ms. Mason to submit a Letter of Understanding to the Republican Party of New Hanover County; and
4. directs the Executive Committee of the County Party to consider further actions of Discipline as may be needed.

Ms. Mason’s Response

For those of you who don’t know me I am Melissa Mason. I have been labeled by many as a conservative. 

Being a conservative has drawn many criticisms including this unfounded claim. I have consistently voted for the conservative ideals I campaigned on. 

I promised to:

• rid our schools of DEI
• rid our schools of obscene books
• and remove the previous Superintendent.

Once elected I voted to do each and every one of those things, despite extreme opposition and attempts by executive members of both the past and current GOP leadership to dissuade me.

In February 2023 I voted to support the motion to protect girls in sports, which passed.       

In September 2023, I brought the motion to remove Stamped from the district. I had no support from my colleagues on the board, but we managed to pass a motion to remove it temporarily.

In December 2023 I brought the motion to dissolve the EDI committee and it passed. 

Last Tuesday , I voted to align the district with the President’s mandate to remove DEI from our schools. 

In August 2023 I was the ONLY one to vote NOT to renew the previous Superintendent’s contract. The rest of the board did not stand with me until almost a year later July 2024 when we voted to terminate his contract .                                                                                                      

As for board committee assignments, these committees’ only power according to policy 2230 is to make recommendations to the board. They make no decisions. To suggest they were malicious or corrupt is absurd. The board and how it votes is what affects the future of our children. That is determined by the majority, and we have it.

I have honored my campaign promises, my votes have been consistent with national GOP’s platform, and I’ve done it in the face of ruthless opposition from within our own ranks in New Hanover County. This motion is an attempt to coerce me to violate state law and call into question my values but my record is clear. 

I will not resign, I owe no apologies."

- Melissa Mason

Ms. Bradford's Response

Correcting the record, video proof is attached. 

RE this quote from Ms. Mason

 “In September 2023, I made a motion to remove Stamped from the district. I had no support from my colleagues on the board, but we managed to pass a motion to remove it temporarily."

 Deliberation begins just as the closed session ends. The chair, Pete reopens the public hearing  starting at 4 hours, 07 minutes  

Pete reads the rules, I make the first motion @ 4 hours 09 minutes into the meeting. Josie seconds it. 

There is some discussion. 

Then, I am asked to make a motion to amend and remove the portion of my motion to delete the the part of my motion to retain it in the opinion section of the high school libraries, b/c the schools have no opinion section. Josie seconds the motion to remove that part. 

There is then lengthy, challenging discussion, in rounds. Each board member has their turns discussing multiple times.

There is a vote on the opinion section only motion amendment, it passes 5-2.

Then there is some confusion over move to close debate , by me to move the previous question, 2nd by Josie. 

Then a failed reject the motion by SK to call the question. 

Then a motion to move the previous question, which fails. 

THEN:  M. Mason offers an amendment to my motion to make it a permanent removal of the book from the district, which fails for lack of a second.

More talk

THEN, SK moves to an amend to my motion to uphold the super's decision until policy changes could change otherwise. Josie offers amendment to the amendment. SK says no. SK’s motion to uphold fails 4-3.

More talk

THEN MM moves to call the question, close debate fails 4-3.

More talk

THEN Pete calls the question, it fails 4-3. 

More talk

THEN MM calls the previous question, it passes 6-1 Hugh). 

FINALLY the vote on my original motion to remove the book temporarily from the curriculum  of the school district, retaining it in the HS libraries until such time we update our policy with the addition of a  balanced book. 

it passes 4-3. PTL.

NOTE following this: SK questions with some surprise on the recording, did MM vote yes for that?  

And there have been no lawsuits. The book is still removed.  I hope this clears things up. 

Second, this statement is false.

"As for board committee assignments, these committees’ only power according to policy 2230 is to make recommendations to the board."

If committees have no power, why does every legislative body have them?

After serving on the policy committee from my election in 2022 until this year, I know that a vote of the policy committee can keep/block policy changes from coming before the full board. Or

get them before the full board for a vote.

That is power. 

Serving on the legislative committee also from 2022 until this year, the plans that we made on what issues to focus on as the legislative committee that we as board membets took to Raleigh to lobby for - immediately brought millions of dollars into the school district.

That's power. 

I know in chairing the finance committee, b uilding a beautiful team, that the ideas, the frank discussions and the transparency we're bringing to the NHCS budget process will positively affect the district for decades to come in very tangible ways.

It's so powerful.

And I'll end with this, we have seen evidence that it was the Title IX Committee in 2021, under t he cover of covid that added the gender and gender identity education portion to the Stepping Stones curriculum for all sixth, seventh and eighth grades. 

I am still searching, but I have found no evidence that this came before the full board for a vote.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

The only reasons I voted to keep the Title IX committee open was to obtain a nswers to questions, as well as remove the Stepping Stones curruculum additions. My fellow board members know this. 

This was accomplished March 4, 2025 following my motion to uphold the recommendation of the superintendent (with a couple tweaks).

I see no reason, other than a few still unanswered questions to retain that board committee.  

-Pat Bradford