Businessmen Art Pope and Jim Goodmon are out in the financial forefront when it comes to backing candidates for Wake County Board of Commissioners.

As noted in today's article, the latest round of campaign reports show that  Pope and his family have given at least $32,000 to Republican candidates for commissioner. Campaign reports also show that Goodmon and his wife have given at least $13,000 to Democratic candidates for commissioner.

“It’s a contributor referendum on the school board,” said Democratic candidate Jack Nichols.

Readers of this blog will definitely be interested in what former Superintendent Bill McNeal and former school board member Tom Oxholm have to say in their new book.

"A School District's Journey to Excellence: Lessons From Business and Education" is primarily geared toward school administrators. But as noted in today's article, Wake residents will be interested in what they say about topics such as diversity, reassignment, the school transportation fraud case and the value of the business community.

For instance, McNeal and Oxholm credit the business community with getting the bond passed in 2006.