Wake County Republican Party Chairwoman Susan Bryant is explaining why they won't endorse Jennifer Mansfield in her bid for the school board or any 'pretend' unaffiliateds.

In the GOP's Elephant Express e-newsletter sent out today, Bryant relates the phone conversation she had with Mansfield earlier this year about the party's endorsement in the District 3 race. Bryant said Mansfield told her she was a registered unaffiliated voter who "leaned more to the Democrat Party" and "really felt more comfortable with many Democrat issues" while also being "a strong advocate for neighborhood schools."

Bryant writes that she told Mansfield they "would be happy to consider her if she would change her voter registration" to Republican. But Bryant writes that Mansfield "immediately responded she would not do that, and I thanked her for calling."

The race for District 3 on the Wake County school board has gotten potentially trickier for those who want to elect a neighborhood schools supporter.

Jennifer Mansfield, a leader of the Wake Schools Community Alliance, announced today that she will seek the District 3 seat now held by board member Kevin Hill. Heather Losurdo, past president of the Northern Wake Republican Club, has already announced her candidacy.

Both women could split the support of those who want to oust Hill, who hasn't formally announced his candidacy but has formed a campaign committee.

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST FOR REACTION FROM HILL AND LOSURDO

The Wake County Republican Party is using an inside the Beltline vs. the suburbs message in its latest call to action for this fall's school board elections.

In the latest issue of the Elephant Express on Tuesday, Wake GOP Chairwoman Susan Bryant says that "this is the time for action." She praises the GOP school board majority, arguing they're making sure that resources and programs don't disproportionately go to Raleigh schools inside the I-440 Beltline.

"They are moving forward with a more equitable distribution of resources and programs across the county – not just inside the beltline," Bryant writes. "They have focused on teachers, students, and quality education."

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich wasn't the only one to receive a standing ovation when he appeared at the Wake County Republican Party convention Thursday night.

Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta also felt the love when he was introduced to lead the 900-plus in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. The other four GOP school board members also received applause at the convention.

Also Thursday night, Susan Bryant was elected to a two-year term as party chairwoman. She's held the job since November, when she took over after Claude Pope announced his resignation.

It looks like Wake County school board member John Tedesco will be avoiding any potential ethics concerns by turning down gifts being solicited in his name by the Wake County Republican Party.

As noted in today's article, Tedesco said he didn't know in advance that Wake GOP Chairwoman Susan Bryant would send out the request Thursday. Tedesco said people should instead send gifts and donations to his former employer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle.

“While I appreciate their generous offer, I can’t accept it,” Tedesco said. “I know there are many other people having difficulties right now.”

Wake County Republican Party Chairman Susan Bryant is defending school board member John Tedesco and urging people to send him gifts to help him out.

In a statement today on the party's website, Bryant complained about WRAL having run a story last night about Tedesco's home facing foreclosure. She says that when the GOP complained, WRAL told the person that Tedesco's "financial acumen and ability to balance a budget will be an important factor in his ability to fulfill the role the people selected him for.”

Also in the statement, Bryant says Tedesco resigned from Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Triangle in April to protect the group because "liberals threatened to cut off funding for the organization unless he was fired."

UPDATE

I'll get into it more later but Tedesco says he didn't know in advance about the letter from Bryant. He says he's asking that any gifts and donations be sent to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle.

The Wake County Republican Party is mobilizing its base for financial support as they look toward this fall's school board elections.

In Friday's Elephant Express newsletter, Wake GOP Chairwoman Susan Bryant praises the actions of the GOP majority on the school board, citing things such as how they "cut administrative waste," are "consolidating five buildings worth of bureaucrats into one" and "conducted a thoroughly professional and successful national search for a new superintendant [sic]."

"They also ended the parents-be-damned attitude of the old board, and their new policy of parental and community engagement has put more choice into calendar matters, taken the minority discrimination out of the magnet school selection process, and made it possible for thousands of kids to attend schools closer to home than before," Bryant writes. "One result?  A 40% decline in appeals of Board decisions."

Claude Pope, chairman of the Wake County Republican Party, is stepping down from his post to pursue business opportunities.

In a press release late Monday announcing the news, Pope pointed to various accomplishments since he became chairman in March 2009. For instance, Pope notes "we elected a majority on the School Board in 2009" and "a majority on the County Commission this year."

The Wake County Republican Party has got a new campaign jingle that could have ramifications on funding for the school system.

In this radio ad for the four GOP candidates for county commissioner, the phrase "Gurley, Coble, Bryan, Matthews, they’re the ones who won’t raise taxes" is repeated several times.

"If you want the conservatives, who’ll keep spending down and won’t raise taxes, that would be Tony Gurley, Paul Coble, Joe Bryan and Phil Matthews," according to the radio spot.

You can chat with all five Wake County school board majority members today at a school, but they're not there on board business.

Ron Margiotta, Debra Goldman, Chris Malone, Deborah Prickett and John Tedesco have all committed to attending today's Wake County Republican Party "Race to the Polls" kickoff event at 5:30 p.m. at Broughton High School in Raleigh.

Last month, Tony Gurley, chairman of the board of commissioners, left a Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce meeting because a majority of his board was present. They were hearing Michael Alves talked about controlled choice.