Melynda Slay

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Melynda Slay

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Augusta State University

Graduate

Augusta State University

Personal

Religion

Methodist

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Melynda Slay ran for election for an at-large seat of the Johnston County Schools Board of Education in North Carolina. She lost in the primary on March 3, 2020.

Slay completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Slay grew up in Augusta, Georgia. She attended the College of Charleston and earned her B.S. in computer science from Augusta State University. She earned her MBA from Augusta State University. Her professional experience includes working as a software developer for Karz Systems, International Paper, and Infor Global, and as the owner and operator of HRC Dental, Inc.

Elections

2020

See also: Johnston County Schools, North Carolina, elections (2020)

General election

General election for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (4 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Ronald Johnson (Nonpartisan)	16.6	53,011
✔	Submit photo	Lyn Andrews (Nonpartisan)	15.1	48,086
✔	Submit photo	Kay Carroll (Nonpartisan)	13.5	43,002
✔	Submit photo	Mike Wooten (Nonpartisan)	13.1	41,821
	Submit photo	Terry Tippett (Nonpartisan)	12.6	40,174
		Teresa Grant (Nonpartisan)	11.2	35,790
		Chuck Williams (Nonpartisan)	9.6	30,606
		Rick Mercier (Nonpartisan)	7.6	24,265
		Other/Write-in votes	0.6	1,903

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 318,658
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large (4 seats)

The following candidates ran in the primary for Johnston County Schools Board of Education At-large on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Ronald Johnson (Nonpartisan)	13.4	16,263
✔	Submit photo	Lyn Andrews (Nonpartisan)	10.8	13,124
✔	Submit photo	Kay Carroll (Nonpartisan)	10.0	12,174
✔	Submit photo	Mike Wooten (Nonpartisan)	8.8	10,702
✔		Chuck Williams (Nonpartisan)	8.0	9,717
✔	Submit photo	Terry Tippett (Nonpartisan)	6.8	8,264
✔		Teresa Grant (Nonpartisan)	6.7	8,131
✔		Rick Mercier (Nonpartisan)	5.6	6,866
	Submit photo	Mark Lane (Nonpartisan)	5.6	6,767
	Submit photo	Ava Atkinson Gaines (Nonpartisan)	4.7	5,710
	Submit photo	Carolyn Cash (Nonpartisan)	3.8	4,642
		Kenon Crumble (Nonpartisan)	3.6	4,350
	Submit photo	Kelly O'Hanlon-Peedin (Nonpartisan)	3.4	4,184
		Melynda Slay (Nonpartisan)	3.1	3,760
	Submit photo	Michelle Antoine (Nonpartisan)	3.1	3,732
	Submit photo	Yvonne Marlowe (Nonpartisan)	2.8	3,414

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 121,800
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Melynda Slay completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Slay's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a long-time school volunteer who believes actions speak louder than words. I have been married for 22+ years to a man I met in elementary school, and later graduated from high school with. I have a BS in Computer Science and an MBA. I worked as a software developer for various companies before my husband and I opened HRC Dental, Inc. in 2002. I believe we show our children that education is important by getting involved. I have sat on the advisory councils for 3 different schools. I have served as room mom, team mom, proctor, PTA VP, Booster Club officer, concession operator, chaperone ... whatever is needed. I would like a seat on the Johnston County BOE so I could do even more.

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?

• I believe we need transparency! We need open communications and more parent, community and corporate involvement in our schools. We need to make sure students, teachers and schools are our priority.
• We need to make sure teachers feel supported and are given the tools and supplies needed to run their classrooms. We need to start rewarding good teachers to stay rather than giving bonuses to superintendents to leave. We need to provide a safe, supportive environment without bullying, intimidation or sexual harassment for both students and staff.
• We need financial responsibility and board members who know how to operate within a budget while focusing on priorities. Whether it's an apprenticeship program, tech school degree or 4 year degree ... we need to make sure our students are motivated and prepared for a successful future.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The students in our county are our future employees and employers. They are our future neighbors and leaders. The success of our schools helps determine the success of our community. We ALL need to work together to make sure we are doing all we can to support our schools and build the future of our students and community. We can put Johnston County Schools back at the top again if we all work together while focusing on priorities ... students, teachers, schools!!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My Mother-in-Law was amazing. She was a SC Elementary School Principal of the year. She did so much for so many!! She made the world a better place. My father in-law is equally as impressive. He has been awarded numerous honors for his volunteer efforts. His military and professional efforts have also been impressive. He is always honest, observant and fair ... which is one of the many reasons he was chosen to Judge Best in Show at the Westminister Dog Show in Feb. 2020. I really am blessed with an amazing family!! My children have so many great role models to choose from!!

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

My parents divorced when I was VERY young. My mother struggled as a single parent of 3 daughters while working a minimum wage job. She decided to take classes at a local tech school ... welding, electrical classes, maintenance classes ... She eventually became Kimberly Clark's first female maintenance employee in the state of SC. That my not seem historical to some ... but for my family, it was HUGE!!

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I ran a game room/laundromat while I was in high school. The ower moved to Florida and allowed me to operate it until I moved away to go to college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Where the Red Fern Grows ... It's a book about love, dedication, family, hard work ... and animals. I Love my dogs!!

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The primary role of the school board member is to ensure the wishes of communities are reflected in the management and operation of schools. Trustees must be willing to listen to their communities about what they need and want from their schools.

Who are your constituents?

The voters in my community

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

I will listen!! I will be transparent!! I will make sure students, teachers and schools are our priorities!! I will stick to a budget, welcome ideas and open communications!! I will do my best to ensure a safe, supportive environment for students and staff ... without bullying, intimidation or sexual harrassment!! I will always try to do what is RIGHT!!

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.

See also

2020 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

Coronavirus Weekly Updates Documenting America's Path to Recovery The Heart of the Primaries The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

• Search Google News for this topic