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Wake County school board chair Tyler Swanson pleaded guilty on Wednesday on a charge of speeding in a school zone.
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On Jan. 9, Swanson was cited by Cary Police for going 47 mph in a 25 mph school zone on Evans Road near West Cary Middle School. He pleaded guilty Wednesday, Aug. 26, to a reduced charge of driving 40 mph in a 35 mph school zone, according to court documents.
“Today, I accepted full responsibility for my recent speeding ticket in a school zone,” Swanson said in a statement Wednesday. “No one is above the law, and I have been accountable for my actions. I am deeply grateful to Attorney John McWilliam for his highly skilled legal representation and wise counsel.”
Swanson completed 24 hours of community service and submitted character witness statements before successfully asking District Court Judge Blair Williams to grant a prayer for judgment.
A prayer for judgment, generally allowed by insurance companies once every three years, would not affect Swanson’s insurance rates but would appear on his driving record, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said.
Freeman said it is a common resolution for someone charged with an infraction who, like Swanson, has no history of speeding.
“Anyone who would come down with a clean driving record would be given the standard offer and opportunity,” Freeman said in an interview Wednesday with The News & Observer.
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Both Freeman and Swanson are Democrats.
Swanson is a former special education teacher at Enloe High School in Raleigh. He became the youngest person elected to the Wake County school board in 2022 when he defeated Michele Morrow to represent District 9, which includes much of Cary.
Swanson was 28 when he was first elected and 29 when he was sworn into office.
In December, Swanson, 32, became the youngest person to be elected chairperson of the Wake school board. Wake is North Carolina’s largest school system, educating 160,000 students.
Swanson is running for re-election in November against challengers Cheryl Alexis and Brian Olson.
Swanson has been a public supporter of installing cameras in school zones and on school bus stop-arms. His plea came on the third day of classes for Wake’s traditional-calendar schools.
“Now it is time for us to focus fully on the more important matter of the new 2026-2027 school year,” Swanson said in his statement. “As we enter a new school year, I encourage everyone to slow down and use extra caution in school zones across Wake County, or wherever they live. Our students, families, teachers, and staff are entitled to safety.
“I remain committed to serving our students and teachers and addressing the challenges facing Wake County Public Schools to make Wake County a school system that models excellence for the nation.”
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This story was originally published August 26, 2026 at 1:50 PM.