Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta and Susan Evans are both pulling in substantial amounts of cash in the District 8 race, including money from the Popes, Bob Luddy and the Campbells.

The new campaign report filed today by Margiotta shows he had raised $40,367.33 as of Aug. 30 with $34,111.23 on hand. The new report for Evans shows she had raised $26,406.43 as of Aug. 30 with $21,405.30 on hand.

The biggest donors for Margiotta in his new report are the $4,000 apiece from conservative businessman Art Pope, his wife Katherine Pope and conservative businessman Bob Luddy.

The District 6 race for the Wake County school board is looking like it could be the most expensive of all the races this fall.

The new campaign report filed today by Christine Kushner shows she has raised $41,565.83 as of Aug. 30 with $33,256.54. The new report filed today by Donna Williams shows she has raised $27,806.83 as of Aug. 30 with $22,634.43 on hand.

The biggest donor in Kushners' new report is the Democratic Women of Wake County, which gave $1,100. She also received small donations from former school board members John Gilbert, Lori Millberg, Tom Oxholm and Susan Parry.

Dana Cope is showing how serious he is about keeping his kids at Lacy Elementary School.

Cope has put his Inside-the-Beltline home for sale so he can look for a new place that's still in Lacy's attendance area. Cope's neighborhood, near Glen Eden Drive, is being reassigned to help reduce crowding at Lacy and reduce the percentage of low-income students at Stough Elementary.

Cope said he realizes he'll probably take a hit because he only purchased the home a year ago. Cope is chairman of the Children's PAC and executive director of the State Employees Association of N.C.

What could tear away a lobbyist from the opening festivities for the General Assembly?

The answer it seems is Wake County student reassignment. At least three registered lobbyists, all Lacy Elementary parents, were at Wednesday's work session to see if the moves to Stough Elementary would be dropped.

Dana Cope, executive director of the State Employees Association of N.C., was working the room to promote his new group, the Children's Political Action Committee.

UPDATE

Link for Children's PAC flier now at end of the post.