Debra Goldman and Chris Malone: Readers speak on the school board saga

Some letters to the editor about Sunday's story detailing Wake County school board member Debra Goldman's suggestion to Cary police that fellow board member Chris Malone might have been the burglar who took $130,000 in jewelry, cash and coins from her home in 2010. Malone told police the two had a relationship that was "personal and physical." Miss the story? Read it here.

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Why was the public not told two years ago that Wake County public school board member Debra Goldman had filed a police report in which she said she suspected that fellow Republican-backed board member Chris Malone had stolen $130,000 worth of currency and jewelry from her house?

Reporter T. Keung Hui says in today's N&O blog that "the reason all of this [is] coming to light now and not two years ago is that the details about the allegations aren't public record. The only thing that is officially public record is the incident report in which Goldman reported the crime."

That doesn't sound like much of an excuse -- certainly not much of a reason.

What's more troubling to me is that Goldman and Malone had been engaged in a romantic, physical relationship that was apparently so obvious that former Republican-backed board chairman Ron Margiotta says he "thought it was common knowledge."

That's news to me.  Why wasn't I told any of this until now?   I hope the N&O will follow up on this story and tell us who participated in the coverup and how they accomplished it.

Peter V. Andrews
Louisburg

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Monday's headline "Fallout over Goldman-Malone drama" reminds us to give thanks to the voters of Wake County and to the new school board majority for blunting the influence of a gang of manifestly flawed public officials. Malone and Goldman, along with Tedesco, now seek other public offices, for which their past behavior and ideological rigidity indicate they are also unqualified.

The present school board majority correctly removed Tony Tata, whose obvious lack of educational expertise, administrative competence, and anger management issues created gridlock for the county's school system. We can only hope the state's voters have the wisdom to keep this quartet from doing further damage as public officials.

Richard W. Slatta, PhD
Cary

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Wow - let me see if I have this straight: Last year, several people I personally know and respect because of their integrity and passion for equality in our schools were arrested because Ron Margiotta, previous school board chairman, accused them of inappropriate actions and obstruction of the school board meetings.

Now we learn that because of the inappropriate relationship and behavior of two school board members, Debra Goldman and Chris Malone, Ron Margiotta states that "It certainly had an impact. . . I can't tell you how much time was spent dealing with them."

What a travesty! Sounds to me like they surely obstructed the meetings -- and these are the candidates now seeking to serve our state in higher office? What gall!

Theresa Moore
Raleigh

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Just when I thought I had heard it all about the Wake County school board, The N&O publishes an article about Debra Goldman and Chris Malone. Wow, what a travesty this entire group has become. I propose to “clean house” and make sure no one in the group gets re-elected.

Tracy Dalrymple
Cary

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To use a military phrase, I think Debra Goldman took a torpedo amidships with the publication of "Theft report strained Wake board" (Oct. 21 front-page article) and at this point, is probably dead in the water. Now, the Democrats on the Wake County school board will get some relief because the focus will go elsewhere, at least for now.

As a Republican, my reservations about Goldman’s qualifications as a potential state auditor have now been clarified. Think about that situation: $120,000 in jewelry and cash stored in a "ratty pink backpack" in her home, and another $10,000 in coins in a suitcase. That is almost equivalent to burying the gold in a jar in the back yard. In my mind, it does not reflect the management and judgment I would expect from a person responsible for auditing the financial affairs of the state of North Carolina.

Eric Hinesley
Raleigh

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I would like to thank Debra Goldman and Chris Malone for adding the political absurdity that has been sorely lacking in the local news section of the N&O recently. As a longtime reader, I fondly recall the articles about such local luminaries as Joe Oglesby and Leo Tew. They certainly set a high bar, but Chris and Debra, part of new the political generation, are showing much promise.

Chuck Nintzel
Raleigh