A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Caldwell County Election Department regarding the candidates running in the upcoming spring election. The request was made on February 5, 2025.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs at Hickory Sun, we sought information under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. ยง132-1. We requested a list of all candidates that are running for this upcoming election in an electronic format.
The specific details requested include each candidate’s first, middle, and last name; the office they are running for; jurisdiction of the office; and party affiliation. In addition, we asked for all contact information for each candidate, including their address, phone number, and email address.
As a media organization dedicated to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public, access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We await a response from the Caldwell County Election Department and will continue to provide updates as they become available.
