Catawba County GOP primary challenger among educator group running
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Incumbent Setzer didn’t respond; challenger Koperski did.
- Koperski backs education funding; proposes $46,500 base pay.
- She opposes cutting income tax; supports medical marijuana and health access steps.
To help voters learn which candidates are on their ballot and where they stand on important policy issues, The News & Observer is publishing candidate questionnaires in all state and federal races in North Carolina on the March 3, 2026, ballot.
Below are the candidates running for NC House District 89 who responded to our questionnaire, in order by the date their responses were received. Some candidates did not provide a photo.
The incumbent for this district that includes Catawba and Iredell counties is Republican Rep. Mitchell Setzer. He is being challenged by Lisa Deaton Koperski. Setzer did not respond to the questionnaire.
Koperski is among a group of educators who switched their party affiliations from unaffiliated to Republican to run in primary elections. Her answers are below.
Lisa Deaton Koperski
Age as of March 3, 2026: 59
Political party: Republican
Campaign website: https://saylorcommunicatio.wixsite.com/nc-educators-ballot/meet-the-candidates/lisa-koperski-nc-house-89
Current occupation: Retired
Professional experience: 30+ years in the education field
Education: B.S., B.A. East Carolina University; M.A. Appalachian State
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Volunteer for DSS Patient Rights Committee
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? Public education funding. I would like to take a seat at the Education Committee table and show what works and more importantly what doesn’t work. By cutting the bloat and redirecting the funding where it needs to go for our students and teachers.
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? Base $46,500 with a 2% step increase each year.
As of January, North Carolina was the last state not to have passed a new, comprehensive budget. What would you do to help make sure a budget passes? Utilize the committee process to meet and discuss budget items. Negotiate and compromise in conference committees to bridge divides and work across partisan lines. Nurture personal relationships with fellow legislators to understand their priorities and build support. Mini-budgets with the guarantee of a full budget. Remind everyone we are elected to do our job.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? No, it leads to reduced state revenue and future deficiencies in public services like education, health care and infrastructure. The highest earners will be the greatest beneficiaries.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? No, school vouchers and failing charter schools are two great examples.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? House Bill 766 (would have) legalized medical marijuana. Yes, I support it.
What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? Cost, shortage of providers and transportation. Increase community health workers to help residents with Medicaid, specialized care and social services. Expand non-emergency medical transportation.
This story was originally published February 18, 2026 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Catawba County GOP primary challenger among educator group running."
