Local Democrats are pulling out all the stops to help Wake County school board member Kevin Hill defeat Heather Losurdo in the runoff election.

As noted in today's article, you've got groups like Common Sense Matters hiring The Strategy Group, a Washington political consulting firm, to develop mailers attacking Losurdo. Past clients for this firm include President Barack Obama, former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and current Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

You've also got the Wake County Democratic Party mounting, for them, an unprecedented field operation in an off-year election.

New Wake County school board members Susan Evans and Jim Martin are denouncing as "absolutely false" a rumor being spread by Republicans that they browbeat Superintendent Tony Tata and staff about the new student assignment plan.

In an issue of the Elephant Express sent today, Wake County Republican Party Chairwoman Susan Bryant says "there's a rumor floating around" that Evans and Martin "barged" into a student assignment task force meeting "and ordered him (Tata) to take no steps toward implementing the plan." Bryant writes that "we understand their yelling was so loud it could be heard out in the hall."

"I don't know how she can completely fabricate something like this," said Evans, in an interview today, about the charges from Bryant.

UPDATE

In en e-mail response, Tata said "we had a meaningful, frank, and sometimes spirited discussion" at the Oct. 21 meeting. I haven't gotten back a response from him clarifying what that means.

While I don't think shortening Tata's response changed anything, here's the full reply he gave me yesterday:

"I had not heard any rumors and had not seen the newsletter until you emailed it to me. As I announced two press conferences ago, I invited Dr. Martin, Ms. Evans, and Ms. Kushner to attend an update on the assignment plan so that we could answer their questions and provide more information in order to begin their transition as individual board members. The assignment task force was present along with some other senior staff personnel. Over the course of about two hours, we had a meaningful, frank, and sometimes spirited discussion. Our transition plan calls for more information exchange in the coming weeks leading up to their taking office. We have a full agenda and fixed timelines, making it vital that we share as much information as early as possible so that we can remain firmly focused on students and parents. Thx, Tony."

Wake County school board member Kevin Hill is still ignoring opponent Heather Losurdo in his campaign literature for the runoff election.

In this door hanger, Hill says the issues are "ensuring quality for all schools and all children," "high expectations for all students" and "restoring public confidence in the school system." He goes on to list his educational experience and awards.

As the incumbent, Hill hasn't mentioned Losurdo or any of his District 3 opponents in his literature. In contrast, Losurdo's mailers have focused on comparing herself to Hill.

Then again, the 501 and 527 groups are going negative on Losurdo so Hill does not have to do so.

Wake County school board member Heather Losurdo is saying in this new campaign mailer that the runoff election is "the last chance for neighborhood schools."

Losurdo's mailer points to school board member Kevin Hill's recent no vote on the new student assignment plan. Losurdo says that "in comments afterward, he indicated he is still the champion of busing."

"Three incoming Democrats are anti-neighborhood schools," says the mailer. "If Hill wins the runoff, the pro-busing, anti-neighborhood schools forces will be back in charge and will in all likelihood go back to the old policy that started all the turmoil in the first place."

Hill's supporters have argued that the new plan shouldn't be called a neighborhood schools plan even though a prime focus is on proximity.

Wake County Republican Party Chairwoman Susan Bryant is citing a testimonial in support of neighborhood schools to motivate her members heading into the school board runoff election.

In the latest issue of the Elephant Express today, Bryant says she's sharing a letter she received from a fellow Wake County Republican. The letter writers talks about loving walking to his neighborhood schools as a child.

Now years later, he writes that "my wife and I quickly learned that they would never have the same great experience we had." He complains about reassignment, the possibility of being "bused somewhere across town to an area we would never know."

"On the news, we watched Kevin Hill vote against the new plan, and our right to choose our neighborhood school and that angered us," according to the letter writer. "Even the two Democrats not running for office this time voted for the plan. We cannot let this stand. We will be supporting Heather Losurdo for District 3. Please hear us.”

Terry Stoops and Perry Woods had a running exchange today on the qualifications of Heather Losurdo and Kevin Hill to be on the Wake County school board.

Stoops, director of education studies for the conservative John Locke Foundation, kicked things off in this blog post today responding to Woods  saying on the Bill LuMaye Show that Losurdo lacked qualifications for being on the board.

Citing the broad qualifications in the state Constitution, Stoops writes that "it is an implicit acknowledgment that experience and credentials do not guarantee competence." He adds that "diverse perspectives and experiences strengthen elected bodies."

Wake County school board vice chairman John Tedesco is accusing Cash Michaels of spreading lies in his new article in The Carolinian newspaper.

In the article, Michaels speculates on what could happen if Heather Losurdo wins the runoff election and Tedesco becomes the new board chairman. Michaels rips into Tedesco for things such as his firing as borough administrator in New Jersey, calling himself a family man, speaking at Tea Party rallies and his public war of words with board member Debra Goldman.

In a letter written today after the story was published, Tedesco tells Michaels "try not to use so many lies with only a sprinkle of truth."

Wake County school board vice chairman John Tedesco was a guest last Thursday on "Free Markets With Dr. Mike Beitle," an Internet radio show.

Normally I listen to the whole interview before blogging but things are a bit backlogged right now. From what I did hear, Tedesco touches on topics in this interview such as the 2009 and 2011 elections, the change in the student assignment policy and the hiring of Superintendent Tony Tata.

Tedesco stumped for Heather Losurdo in the runoff election. He was critical of school board member Kevin Hill, saying he's "been part of the problem for 35 years, not part of the solution."

"If they bring him back, what he'd like to institute is a new busing system for student assignment based on busing for test scores and quotas at every one of the schools and restrict choice for our families," Tedesco said of Hill. "That's just not what we're about so it's going to be a battleground here the next couple of weeks in Wake County. We'll see how that plays out."

Wake County school board candidate Heather Losurdo is promoting "the choice is clear" message with this palm card that says she's for neighborhood schools and incumbent Kevin Hill is for forced busing.

The palm card does a compare and contrast saying Losurdo supports "the new Bi-Partisan Assignment Plan passed by the School Board." It also says the plan will "end Forced Busing," "expand parental choice" and "stabilize assignments."

In contrast, the palm card says Hill "was one of only two Board members to oppose the Bi-Partisan Plan." It also says Hill "championed Forced Busing throughout his career" and "ignored Parental and community concerns about where their children go to school."

The card also says that Hill "as chairman, led a period of turmoil and public dissatisfaction with the Board's arrogant policies." Hill's supporters are just as likely to level these same charges at the current board majority.

Wake County school board member Kevin Hill is touting how both of his 2007 school board opponents are now endorsing him in this year's runoff election.

In a press release today, Hill's campaign announces that it has been endorsed by Martha LaVance and Alfreda Wilson. The release particularly focuses on the endorsement from Wilson, calling her the "2007 Republican candidate" and saying it shows how Hill has "continued to pick up bi-partisan support."

"Kevin is the BEST person suited to represent District 3 on the Wake County Board of Education," Wilson says in Hill's press release. "I have been very pleased with his representation thus far and I believe that he will continue to conduct himself accordingly. "