Take Wake Schools Back and Wake Schools Community Alliance are on the same page when it comes to endorsements for school board candidates.

Both groups are backing Chris Malone in District 1, John Tedesco in District 2, Deborah Prickett in District 7 and Debra Goldman in District 9. Take Wake Schools Back announced its endorsements today while WSCA made them before the filing period ended last month.

The one crack in the unified opposition will likely be closed up next week when the leadership of the Wake County Republican Party revises its endorsements.

Former Wake County school board candidate Jerry Ballan may have had more than sufficient reason to drop out of the race.

Ballan was among a list of Florida businessmen who received immunity in exchange for agreeing to testify in 1991 against the operators of a bordello. While Ballan's name appeared on the bordello's client list, his secretary told a newspaper reporter in 1991 that Ballan had simply mailed his business card to the prostitute.

Ballan denied the prostitution case was the reason he dropped out of the school board race. He told reporter Ray Martin that the reason was his wife's health issues.

Are there too many critics vying for seats on the school board this fall?

As noted in today's article, you've got multiple critics running in all four board seats. In contrast, supporters of board policies have largely been able to keep it to one candidate in each race.

All these extra candidates, especially the critics, could make it easier for board supporters to retain control this year.

The Wake Schools Community Alliance has gone through the crowded field in District 2 to endorse John Tedesco for the school board.

In today's press release, the WSCA says that of the five candidates "only John Tedesco's approach to moving our schools forward is in tune with WSCA objectives and the unique needs of District 2." The group says they have agreement on issues such as reassignment and year-round schools.

The WSCA has been the only group so far to officially endorse school board candidates. But with the filing period now over, expect more groups on both sides of the fence to announce their endorsements soon.

Carlene Lucas was the only candidate to file today before the deadline for school board elections.

Lucas is running for the District 2 board seat. I'll have more details about Lucas later.

There will be five people running for the District 2 with four Republicans and one Libertarian. Incumbent Horace Tart is seeking another term. 

We can forget about Arnie Osborn running for the school board this fall.

Osborn filed today to run for a seat on the Garner Town Council.  In a press release on his web site, Osborn said he is backing John Tedesco for the District 2 school board seat.

Tedesco is running against incumbent Horace Tart, Cathy Truitt and Chris Augustine for the seat. We'll see if anyone else files before the noon deadline on Friday.

The Wake County Republican Party is jumping into the Jim Black land controversy by defending school board member Ron Margiotta's criticism of the deal and calling for an independent investigator to review the case.

In a press release sent late this afternoon, Wake GOP Chairman Claude E. Pope Jr. says that Wake Judge Donald Stephens' complaints about Margiotta were "extremely inappropriate." Pope fires some really harsh shots, saying the deal was a case of "the party in power cutting deals for its own fallen leader."

The Wake GOP has been really active in school affairs this election year. It has promised to back candidates who support neighborhood schools and complained about year-round school being open on Memorial Day.

No new filings today for school board.

You've got until noon Friday to step forward for this fall's elections.

No brave souls stepped forward today to file for seats on the school board.

The filing period ends noon Friday.

As was mentioned in yesterday's post, the Wake Schools Community Alliance had agreed to endorse Debra Goldman even before she filed to run for the school board seat in District 9.

To make it official, the WSCA sent out a press release Tuesday night officially announcing their support of Goldman. The press release touts her support for "stable neighborhood schools in a community model" and "voluntary calendar options for all families."

With Lois Nixon likely to pick up the backing of groups that support current school board policy and Goldman getting the backing of the critics, where will Ray Martin fit in the mix? Additionally, will other candidates file before Friday to make the District 9 race even more congested?