Choose a blog

Online petitions calling for Debra Goldman and Chris Malone to leave the Wake County school board

Two separate online petitions have been created urging that Debra Goldman and Chris Malone be removed or resign from the Wake County school board because of the allegations they had a romantic relationship.

This petition says that both should be removed because their actions "call their character and capability of acting in the best interest of the students of Wake County." The General Assembly would need to pass a law to allow for any school board members in Wake to be recalled.

This other petition
accuses the duo of violating the school board code of ethics, including the section saying board members should "take no private action that will compromise the Board or administration." The petition asks them to voluntarily resign.

1351515663 Online petitions calling for Debra Goldman and Chris Malone to leave the Wake County school board The News and Observer Copyright 2011 The News and Observer . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Yevonne Brannon telling GSIW members they "can't back down now" on student assignment plan

The Great Schools in Wake Coalition is mobilizing to get the new Wake County student assignment plan to include the diversity-related assignments.

In an email message dated Sept. 12, GSIW chairwoman Yevonne Brannon tells people that her discussions with school board members was "not encouraging." Brannon writes about a "board member who wants what we want but is too weak to push for it and too afraid to step up to the plate, because he is worried about community push back."

Brannon writes that "another board member who doesn’t seem to 'agree' about how to fix diversity-how to have balanced schools.....he seems to believe kids can choose out. After some discussion he agreed to 'think it over.'"

1350491148 Yevonne Brannon telling GSIW members they "can't back down now" on student assignment plan The News and Observer Copyright 2011 The News and Observer . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Wake County school board members on responding to public comments at board meetings

Ann Campbell's "stakeholder" speech to the Wake County school board drew more than just the comments raised during the Jan. 10 board meeting.

In a Jan. 11 email message to the board and staff, board member Susan Evans writes about "the inappropriateness of rebuttal to public citizens input" that board member Deborah Prickett made after Campbell spoke. Prickett had noted at the board meeting how Campbell was a major campaign donor to the memberes of the new majority.

In his email reply, board chairman Kevin Hill writes he "will request that Board members do not react or respond to comments speakers make."

Wake County Democratic Party significantly outspent Wake County Republican Party in 2011 elections

The Wake County Democratic Party outspent the Wake County Republican Party by more than two to one last year to help win the pivotal school board battle.

While it's hard to say how much was specifically spent on the Wake County school board races, the campaign finance reports would suggest that the Democrats were more active in getting their candidates elected. For instance, Democrats had a target of $80,000 in their get-out-the-vote efforts for the October races.

According to their year-end report, the Wake County Democratic Party received $176,227.18 and spent $183,252.88. According to their year-end report, the Wake County Republican Party raised $81,965.98 and spent $83.089.33.

1328104865 Wake County Democratic Party significantly outspent Wake County Republican Party in 2011 elections The News and Observer Copyright 2011 The News and Observer . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

New Wake County school board member Jim Martin raised $37,076 in successful campaign run

New Wake County school board member Jim Martin raised more than $37,000 during his successful election bid, despite what it says in his filings.

Martin's year-end campaign report filed Monday shows him with a deficit of $13,443.70. But it looks like the report has a number of errors, including not including the amounts raised and spent in prior reports.

When factoring in the last report filed before the election, it looks like Martin raised $37.076 and spent $30,732.19 in winning the District 5 seat.

New Wake County school board member Christine Kushner raised $51,343 in election campaign

Wake County school board member Christine Kushner raised more than $50,000 in her bid to win the District 6 seat.

In her final 2011 report filed Wednesday, Kushner reported raising $51,343.47 and spending $37,123.21. This leaves the Democrat with $14,220.26 that she can use to donate to other groups or to prepare for a future campaign run.

Her main opponent, Republican Donna Williams, raised $48.335.96.

1327799848 New Wake County school board member Christine Kushner raised $51,343 in election campaign The News and Observer Copyright 2011 The News and Observer . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Wake County school board member Kevin Hill raised $68,598 in re-election bid

Wake County school board chairman Kevin Hill raised nearly $70,000 in his successful reelection bid this fall.

A new report filed today shows that Hill, a Democrat, raised $68,598 and spent $54,322 in the District 3 race. Heather Losurdo, a Republican, hasn't filed her final report yet. But she had reported raising $82,357 through Oct. 24.

Before this year, only one candidate had raised more than $50,000 in a Wake school board race. But at least four candidates hit that mark last fall during the high-stakes election.

New Wake County school board member Susan Evans raised $43,386 during election campaign

New Wake County school board member Susan Evans raised more than $40,000 in her successful bid to unseat incumbent Ron Margiotta,

In her final campaign report filed today, Evans reported raising $43,386.53 and spending $39.077.16. Margiotta hasn't filed his final report yet, but he had reported raising $52,748.31 as of Sept. 26.

But the funding gap between Evans, a Democrat, and Margiotta, a Republican, is a lot narrower considering all the outside money that was poured into the District 8 race.

Wake County school board member Keith Sutton raised $33,327 in election campaign

Wake County school board member Keith Sutton raised more than $30,000 during his lopsided election win in District 4 last fall.

In Sutton's final campaign report filed Thursday, the Democratic-backed candidate reported raising $33,327 and spending $32,484.31. His Republican challenger, Venita Peyton, hasn't filed her final report yet. But she had reported raising $1,280 as of Sept. 26.

Sutton's report seems to be missing some info. He reports having raised $5,500 from other political committees on his summary page. But the actual page listing this contribution or contributions isn't included.

Campbells give $4,000 more to Wake Citizens for Good Government

Ann and John Campbell are continuing to give money to help Democratic candidates running for the Wake County school board.

A new campaign report posted this morning shows both gave $2,000 to the Wake Citizens for Good Government PAC formed by Dean Debnam. This $4,000 combined contribution, made possible by the runoff election, comes on top of the $8,000 they previously had given to Wake Citizens for Good Government and the $40,000 to the five Democratic school board candidates.

All together, the reports released so far show the Campbells have donated $52,000 to unseat the board majority. The amount is expected to keep going up once updated reports are filed by Kevin Hill, the Wake County Democratic Party and potentially the 501 and 527 groups.

Cars View All
Find a Car
Go
Jobs View All
Find a Job
Go
Homes View All
Find a Home
Go

Want to post a comment?

In order to join the conversation, you must be a member of newsobserver.com. Click here to register or to log in.
Advertisements