Clark Simon (Gastonia City Council Ward 5, North Carolina, candidate 2025)

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Clark Simon

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Gastonia City Council Ward 5

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

The Ohio State University, 2010

Personal

Profession

Nonprofit professional

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Clark Simon ran for election to the Gastonia City Council Ward 5 in North Carolina. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Simon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Clark Simon provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on August 12, 2025:

• High school: Open Door Christian School
• Bachelor's: The Ohio State University, 2010
• Gender: Male
• Profession: Nonprofit Professional
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Lower Taxes, Stop Runaway Growth, New Leadership that Cares
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

General election for Gastonia City Council Ward 5

Clark Simon and Jennifer M. Stepp ran in the general election for Gastonia City Council Ward 5 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Clark Simon (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Jennifer M. Stepp (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Simon in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Clark Simon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Simon's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a nonprofit executive with over 15 years experience working for and with various nonprofits to help them stretch their resources further and grow their reach in the communities in which they serve. I find that efficiency with spending helps to cut waste, improve outcomes, and grows confidence for everyone involved. That same mentality is what I hope to bring to elected office. I enjoy collaboration when the end goal is what is best for all...that is why is is call public service.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Lower Taxes and Fees Stop the annual utilities rate hikes and work to lower taxes. Gastonia needs to live within its means, just like our families do.
• Stop Runaway Growth and Traffic Gastonia is growing too fast, making traffic worse and stretching city services thin. We need smart planning for the future while protecting our past.
• New Leadership That Cares City Hall isn't working and we deserve better. I will bring new leadership, address citizen concerns, and deliver results - not excuses.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Taxes and Fees.

Unregulated Growth and the impacts that has on our infrastructure.
Listening more than talking to resolve citizen concerns.
Working in a collaborative way to get the job done.

Addressing the unhoused population in a dignified way.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe the first thing an elected official should do is to listen to the concerns of the citizens. Too often elected officials think they know what is best and vote as such with oftentimes the outcome making the problems worse. Elected officials need to address the concerns in a thoughtful and forward thinking manner that delivers results not excuses. Future growth of any city needs careful consideration so as to improve the lives of all that live here and that will live here.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I believe this book taught me to give more than you get when you can. It has shaped both my personal life and my professional career as a nonprofit executive. It costs nothing to be nice and that is one thing that will guide me on City Council.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Elected officials are public servants and as such they work for the public that elected them. There needs to be total transparency regarding city finances. When something doesn't go as planned, those in office should own up to their decisions.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Gastonia City Council Ward 5

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