WakeEd

The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system. How much will the new Democratic majority on the school board do to undo the changes made by Republicans since 2009? Will the new student assignment plan be a hybrid of the last two models or primarily be a return to the use of busing for diversity? Who will replace Tony Tata as the new superintendent of the state's largest district? How will voters react to a likely request in 2013 to borrow potentially more than $1 billion to build and renovate schools?

WakeEd is maintained by The News & Observer's Wake schools reporter, T. Keung Hui. While Keung posts information and analysis on the issues, keep us posted on your suggestions, questions, tips and what you're doing to cope with the changes in Wake's schools.

Choose a blog

Common Sense Matters spent more than $50,000 against Heather Losurdo and Ron Margiotta

Submitted by KeungHui on 10/11/2011 - 17:54

We now know that Common Sense Matters spent $52,448.90 on campaign mailers attacking Wake County school board candidates Heather Losurdo and Ron Margiotta.

A new campaign finance report filed today shows that the 527 group spent $24,526.44 on various mailers trying to link the two candidates to the Tea Party. This comes after a prior report showed the group had spent $27,922.46 on the initial mailers.

Common Sense Matters has been funded by the N.C. Futures Action Fund, which is led by Dean Debnam and which in turn received funding from the N.C. Association of Educators.

We're still waiting for reports from other groups like N.C. Citizens For Protecting Our Schools and the N.C. Futures Action Fund that could show the extent of the money spent by 501 and 527 groups to indirectly help the Democratic school board candidates.

1318370504 Common Sense Matters spent more than $50,000 against Heather Losurdo and Ron Margiotta The News and Observer Copyright 2011 The News and Observer . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

Isn't it nice to see...

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 22:19 — bpuli9999

rules set up by republicans coming back to bite them?

NCAE does not (and is not

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 20:56 — mrunion

NCAE does not (and is not allowed to) use dues money for political action. Those of us who want to see candidates who care about PUBLIC schools and ALL children, who put kids before convenience of parents and politics, we contribute extra. In the face of no pay raises and increased in work loads we give our money, because big businessmen think they can buy our elections. We think otherwise. If it were up to me there would be no campaign funding for candidates from outside sources, and candidates WOULD be able to donate to causes like Y-Learning instead. But certain people have changed the game, and educators have no choice but to get in it if we want to keep our free public schools for every student.

"the flea"

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 19:28 — auroradave

Outside money wouldn't be an issue in Wake School Board elections if it weren't for "the flea."- thanks Art.

Money well spent!

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 18:03 — Jackson_Tybee

I can't think of a better use of 50k. If we continue to elect Tea Party members to our school boards, we're fools. It's like inviting foxes into the hen house.

I can

Tue, 10/11/2011 - 18:58 — snordone

52K to the Y-learning program or to communities in school. And by the way, I am a democrat - one who lives her party's principles. The rest of you don't.