NEW HANOVER COUNTY — New Hanover County Board of Education member David Perry has announced his decision to switch from the Republican Party to the Libertarian Party.
“Unfortunately, the Republican Party has changed dramatically,” Perry said in a press release. “While most rank-and-file registered Republicans are good people, the party establishment seems only interested in accumulating wealth and power.”
Perry goes on to explain he would prefer there be no political parties, pointing to President George Washington’s urging against them in his 1776 Farewell Address. Still, the board member said he’s chosen to align himself with the Libertarian Party because it is the biggest alternative party for “independent minded candidates.” He noted he agrees with the party’s support of civil liberties, property rights and a limited essential role for government.
Perry was a Libertarian before when he ran for House District 19 in 2018 and switched to Republican by the time he ran again in 2020. In 2021, he filed a pro-se suit against the NHC school board and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office over its mask policy and potential violations with state Open Meetings Law and the First Amendment.
Perry was elected to the school board as a Republican in 2024 and sometimes has broken ranks with his colleagues. He specifically points to the board’s discussion on an AI camera pilot, which was never approved after Perry and Melissa Mason parted with Pat Bradford, Pete Wildeboer and Josie Barnhart to vote it down in March 2025.
“AI is a tool; it’s like a gun, it can be used for good or bad, can be used responsibly and it can be used irresponsibly,” Perry said. “I’m not opposed to AI at our schools in some context, but we have to take safeguards and guardrails there. To ensure that the liberty of our students, we need to proceed with caution.”
Perry did thank his Republican colleagues and voters who supported his bid for the school board, calling them all “patriots.”
“My problem is with the GOP leadership and not with you,” he said. “You can be assured that I will continue to serve the school board in the manner in which I promised I would.
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