Did state Republican Party leaders gamble that Wake County school board member Debra Goldman could be elected state auditor without rumors about her alleged relationship with fellow board member Chris Malone derailing her candidacy?
As noted in today's article, Greg Dority says "senior" Republican Party leaders were worried that Goldman's character might emerge as an issue in the runoff. Dority, who finished second in the May primary, says those leaders pressured him into not requesting a runoff, which allowed Goldman a clear path to Election Day.
When he was considering entering the auditor’s race earlier this year, Dority said he was approached by Wake County residents who wanted to tell him about Goldman’s conduct so that he could use it against her in the primary. Dority declined to take that approach, but the idea arose again when he talked to out-of-state political consultants about whether to take part in a runoff.
“They told me quite frankly that, ‘For you to win this race, you are going to have to hit hard and attack her on the issue of character,’ and I didn’t feel comfortable with that kind of race,” Dority said Tuesday.
Dority said his conversations about whether to run were with people he described as “senior party elements, very wise, very experienced,” who acknowledged to him they knew about the reports involving Goldman and Malone. Dority declined to name the people he consulted.
“They laid it out that it could be a big problem for the entire ticket,” Dority said. “Without the proverbial documentation, it would be a difficult thing for me to substantiate the allegations. Without the documentation, they thought they could get through this.”
Wayne King, North Carolina GOP first vice chairman, said Tuesday he had no knowledge of the relationship before he saw news accounts of it.
“I never heard anything like this until this article that I read in your paper Sunday,” King said.
Amid all the media reports, it looks like state GOP leaders are moving faster now to distance themselves from Goldman.
On Monday, GOP gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory was defending Goldman.
But on Tuesday, McCrory dodged a Charlotte broadcast reporter’s question on whether he had cast a ballot for Goldman in early voting.
“I voted for my Republicans. That’s what I did,” McCrory told WBT reporter Chris Miller.
Asked if Goldman had been among them, McCrory replied, “Thank you.”
McCrory might not be able to dodge the question if Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, presses him on the issue at tonight's debate.
Comments
Reply to willynilly
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 16:17 — humphriesIf you have something share it. Otherwise, shut up.
Actually, Willie is saying
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 20:39 — HJ2ss2Actually, Willie is saying it. It's just that either no one seems to understand it or no one is willing to listen. This little tryst (which seems to have captured everyone's attention) is only the tip of the iceberg. Picture an administrator's boyfriend coming into central office and causing a scene as the two of them quarrel.
Willynilly...
Thu, 10/25/2012 - 18:55 — paulastam....presents himself as an extremely bitter person that had a bad experience so seeks to slander all of WCPSS (18,000 plus employees, 150,000 kids and their families in the process). For all the nonsense he spews he should actually engage an attorney and sue WCPSS, make himself a bucket load of money and never have to taunt ex-colleagues in this forum anymore as he'll instead be living the good life - boat and condo in Florida. HOWEVER, sadly for Willynilly, I suspect his brief sojourn into public education was an entire flop, he has no case, and as he does not take failure well we must contend with his occasional random diatribe. Nuisance value I say.
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
Ouch, your post sounds
Thu, 10/25/2012 - 21:21 — HJ2ss2Ouch, your post sounds angry. What's that all about? A bit of an overreaction? From what I read, Willie has nothing against the teachers and students. Wake County is extremely political.
Does anyone know why Mr. Tata was forced to resign?
I don't live under a rock, just a bit hard to keep up and drive 92 miles round trip to work
He didn't resign, he was
Thu, 10/25/2012 - 21:29 — jenmanHe didn't resign, he was fired by a 5-4 vote. Hill and the others say it was because of his 'leadership style'. He was fired "without cause" so he gets paid out for a year.
Thank you. Only in Wake
Thu, 10/25/2012 - 21:50 — HJ2ss2Thank you. Only in Wake County. I wonder if Mr. Tata actually gathered information then made decisions based on his fund of knowledge rather than waiting for the school board to tell him what to do. They have difficulty adjusting to employees who are professional and come to the job with skills and expertise that can enhance the system. They choose to dumb down. Programs don't have to work, they just need to look like they work.
I think it had everything to
Thu, 10/25/2012 - 22:04 — jenmanI think it had everything to do with stopping reform. Hill is entrenched in that education bureaucracy and would be happy to go back to the way things were.
What does he get out of
Thu, 10/25/2012 - 22:28 — HJ2ss2What does he get out of it?
I do know that they are not happy when someone has new ideas. I also wonder about the prejudice in the system. I worked with the economically disadvantaged with promising results. Nothing was recognized and I was told to "do as you are told".
concerning willynilly
Thu, 10/25/2012 - 10:21 — humphriesSaying what? If no one understands it then it's unclear and unsupported. If no one is willing to listen then it has no merit. Instead of complaining about the same thing and getting no where, open the information to the public, us, and if there is justification the public can cry foul.
They have a process for
Fri, 10/26/2012 - 09:17 — HJ2ss2They have a process for getting rid of staff who have nothing but excellent end of year reviews. I have talked with others and their story is the same. The principal starts asking everyone about you, places you in a position for failure (when you fail he/she takes great joy in ) personally telling you how awful you have done, threatens and screams at you (behind closed doors), accuses you of behaviors you wouldn't think of doing. In short, you are bullied. Staff try to help the target but can only do so much for fear that if they associate with you, they will be next. An asst principal, who is no longer in Wake County, told me he/she knew what they were doing to me and tried to help.
Why are these staff members targeted? Sometimes because they see the futility of what they are expected to do and make the mistake of talking with the principal about doing things differently or you acquire, without searching, some information that could end the career of someone on the fast track in admimnstration. Interestingly, I was branded a liar in my evaluation. The person who forced my resignation has practically been sainted in Wake County.
How does the forced resignation work? You are given the choice of turning in your resignation and given a mediocre evaluation or staying and given a below standard evauation, placed on an "action plan" then fired the next for whatever they make up or distort about you Sorry if I bored you. I suspect Willie had a similar experience.
Of course they knew about
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 07:37 — HJ2ss2Of course they knew about the rumors. Wake County Schools support a great number of dysfunctional people. Their behavior is nothing new. They cover up for certain employees and fabricate negative stories about others.
It can be hazardous to your job if you come upon information that shouild be reported but is covered up by the system.
Hmmm, according to Cary PD
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 07:35 — DrActualFactualHmmm, according to Cary PD investigation findings, District Attny. Colon Willoughby (Dem) requested the report which was printed Oct. 28th, 2011.
I thought that was rather
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 11:48 — jenmanI thought that was rather interesting too. Why would he be requesting that report?
Perhaps someone who was unhappy about it...
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 13:22 — nriemanncomplained that it was false. I think that's a misdemeanor.
Unhappy that he or she was
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 17:13 — jenmanUnhappy that he or she was named as a suspect?
And yet no charges were
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:06 — DrActualFactualAnd yet no charges were filed so it must not have met the criteria of a crime/misdemeanor, so it must be untrue.
No...
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 15:26 — Bob_SconceBut, if somebody complained to the DA, it'd be normal for them to ask for the report so they could check.
Of course, HOW anybody even found out what it said is another matter.
I doubt Pat is worried about this stunt
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 07:26 — FSandYOUor anything else that the inept and pathetic
Perdue IIDalton might want to bring up.Bev Perdue, THE WORST Governor to ever serve in NC.
And the #1 reason Dalton will never be a Governor.
LOL
Wed, 10/24/2012 - 06:37 — willynillyAbd the beat goes on.......these people......downtown AND the freakin school board......are charged with the work to evaluate teachers and others......and this is what they do? And this is proven......a teacher can get raked over the colas based on innuendo and simply "someone" saying this or that and everyone goes bonkers because the person being named is former military? Or SEEMS to have a differing political affiliation? How would you like it, Melinda, if people told what you did to one of your students.....and you still taught. And you, Wendy, and YOUR comments that were PROTECTED by the principal because he was of the same affiliation!!!!! The mailings are packed and ready to go......and my proof is signed by these idiots!!!! I do hope the county board members don't mind a little light reading. They will get these mailings biweekly till someone answers.