Look for a battle over the next month to influence voters in Wake County's school board District 3 runoff election.
But as noted in today's article, you've got some questions in the meantime. One, should Heather Losurdo ask for a runoff? Two, would it have made a difference if the Wake County Republican Party had backed Jennifer Mansfield instead of Losurdo to run against Kevin Hill?
On the first question, it's not a surprise that Democrats say they'd hope Losurdo would refrain from asking for the runoff.
Based on how close Hill came to winning and the outcome of the other four races, Wake County Democratic Party Chairman Mack Paul said Losurdo shouldn’t ask for the runoff. He also cited the division it would generate in the community and the expense of holding a runoff.
”She ought to respect that the public is tired of the divisiveness,” Paul said.
Cherie Poucher, director of the Wake County Board of Elections, said it could cost between $130,000 and $150,000 to hold the runoff. In addition to printing the ballots, the county would also have to pay to staff more than 20 polling places that would normally be closed on Nov. 8.
Poucher said the fact that there won't be any municipal races in the area covered by District 3 means they can't ask any of the towns to help with the costs of the runoff.
The cost was one reason that Martha LaVance didn't request a runoff in 2007 against Hill, who still hasn't gotten a majority of the vote in both election bids.
Paul insists he'd urge that they not hold the runoff even if Losurdo was in first and doing so would leave the Republicans in the majority. Hill said he wouldn't request a runoff if he was in Losurdo's position.
Paul and Hill say they recognize and respect that Losurdo has the legal right to request the runoff.
On the hindsight question, Mansfield said she believes that Hill would have lost Tuesday if the GOP had endorsed her.
“I could have beaten Hill if they had been willing to support me,” Mansfield said of the Wake GOP. “But they wanted to play partisan politics.”
Mansfield says she drew voters away from both Hill and Losurdo. She said she would have gotten more if not for the mistaken impression from people that there wouldn't be a runoff.
Mansfield said that if she had not run, which some Losurdo supporters had urged, Hill would have won outright on Tuesday.
Mansfield said she doesn't want Hill to win because she believes it will lead to the return of some form of the socioeconomic diversity policy. But she wasn't, at least on Wednesday, ready to endorse Losurdo.
Mansfield said that even if she endorsed Losurdo she doesn't know if her voters would go for her in the runoff. She said a number of her voters won't support Losurdo because of her partisanship.
CORRECTION
The high-end estimate for a runoff is $150,000.
Comments
Mansfield shouldn't do it
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 11:34 — EBDarcyI hope she doesn't endorse Losurdo because she will lose a lot of credibility in the eyes of voters. If she supports someone like Losurdo, who most view as unqualified and an ideologue, that would show she is more concerned about politics than the students. IMHO, if she wants to run in 4 years she should keep her mouth shut for the next few weeks.
she will not
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 21:46 — snordonelose anything, she has been fighting for change for years and to let it go backwards would be a disaster. jenn is a much bigger person than you give her credit for being. kevin did an excellent job of scaring the rim, just look at where he won. i think jenn and heather working together could send him out for good.
Question
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 06:43 — Dove314I am in D3. And I am trying to get someone to articulate what original ideas Ms. Losurdo has for WCPSS. She is not Ms. Mansfield so having her now try to use Jenn won't paint her favorably for me. Mr. Hill is known (and not stellar) quantity. But I am not content to vote for "not Hill". Especially in light of the skunk and immigrant comments. So, what are her original ideas?
Honest Question...
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 08:02 — JanisTangowhat is Kevin Hill's original ideas? What did he say in his campaign that made you think he wants to make a difference beyond what he's supported for years? I didn't see anything that jumped out at me so I'm just wondering if you did. Sometimes an incumbant will only run on their record and I don't think his record is that outstanding.
..
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 08:47 — Dove314As mentioned in my post, his record is not stellar. But neither is having a block of 5 running the BoE as the current majority have for the last two years. Either one will seemingly make a majority. For me, those balance each other out and neither is much of an option. So looking beyond that, KH's vision is pretty clear -- he focuses on overall WCPSS functional logistics without much creative vision on how to help academic performance. But what can HL bring beyond just cementing her block of 5? Where is her focus?
How can Mr. Hill focus on
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 11:57 — starsonoursHow can Mr. Hill focus on all of Wake County if he is not representing his district? His vision should be to look after the needs of the people he represents. Saying his performance is not stellar is an understatement. Do you reward that performance with another 4 years to do more of the same lack luster work? Does district 3 go unrepresented for another 4 years? We have districts so the people in the district has someone to advocate for them. You can not say he is looking out for the county as a whole if he is not looking out for the needs of the people he represents. Re electing Hill would be the same as having a child an Ice Cream Sundae as punishment for not doing their work.
Thanks Dove...
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 09:03 — JanisTangoI hate to say this, but to me this is the lesser of two evils. I really wish the GOP had back Jenman. I believe she was the common ground people were looking for!
Do you really wish that
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 14:39 — woodstockDo you really wish that Jenman had been willing to work cooperatively with the GOP or should she just expect them to respond because she asked? Afterall, the GOP and the Democrat Party are political and it involves some give and take.
Let me also add that the GOP is the ONLY organization (along with the '09 version of WSCA) that has delivered BoE members that are carrying out the wishes of those fed up with the whole "diversity" scheme. And, they may be able to deliver one more if everyone gets onboard fully and without exception... not because it is the GOP but because they represent the desired point of view for Wake County schools.
Give and Take.....
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 15:00 — JanisTangoActually Heather wanted Jen to run, but because she refused to put an 'R' by her name the GOP decided not to support her. BIG BIG mistake on their part. It would have been a real step forward for the GOP to support an independent in this race wouldn't it? Now before you go on about Jen and the Rev. Barber and being liberal.....her positions from the school standpoint have always been in line with what Margiotta and team were trying to accomplish. The GOP made a huge mistake not supporting Jen!Where was their give and take? They are going to have a heck of a time getting Heather elected and against such an unpopular candidate as Hill that is just crazy!
If it really was just a
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 15:23 — woodstockIf it really was just a matter of putting and "R" next to one's name in return for 10s of thousands of dollars in potential financial support, plus the concerted efforts of those within GOP to make call, canvas neighborhoods and work the polls, that seems like a very small consession to make. Makes one wonder how willing that person would be to work collaboratively with folks that have even a slightly different view of things.
Additionally, why didn't she go the the Democrats and ask for support? I know, I know, they would have asked for a whole lot more of her than putting a "D" next to her name.
I am pointing this out because perspective is important. Jenman wanted support -- i.e., money and assistance from others -- and did not want to compromise. Well that money comes from regular citizens, not some big GOP bank that fills itself up from thin air. She had to know that the people who give their time, money and effort to the GOP have princples too and, yes,there are strings attached to the hard-earn money they contribute.
Spelling
Mon, 10/17/2011 - 02:02 — SDR256Can any one spell 'buyoff'?
Holy crap. Money? Ethics, money...ethics...Money? ethics?
How shall I vote?
Thank you 8% for thinking about the issues and not being bought out.
What Compromise Did She Not Make???
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 15:30 — JanisTangothe only one I've heard is the refusal to put an 'R' by her name?
Exactly!
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 16:26 — woodstockExactly! That was all that was ever asked of her and yet it was apparently too much.
Ethics
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 18:22 — SDR256Jenn is an extremely ethical person. She understood if she adopted the R certain expectations went along with that with regard to the rubber stamp. She thought there were enough thinking people out there to realize the choice we had between being controlled by the national political weather on the horizon or creating our OWN local weather channel.
Sadly, someone with these ethics might belong on a non-partisan board concerned with children. I think she has the fiber to have withstood this test but it would have been a terrible trial for Jenn and her family. I'm happy in a way she has been spared the torture of this 'national test' school board. Batten down the hatches.
I don't -- and I am sure
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 08:40 — woodstockI don't -- and I am sure others don't -- question her ethics and would not have even if she had made a different choice. Some folks are willing to compromise to attain a larger goal and some are compelled to take a stand at every point along the way. It's personal and hopefully Mansfield feels at peace with her decision. I don't understand it, but then, I don't have to.
My hope is that Mansfield now sees the bigger prize and will get behind Losurdo and help get her over the finish line. Whatever you or Mansfield may think of Heather, you have to know she is putting herself out there on the line under very difficult circumstances to help bring home the vision of neighborhood school and stability that so many Wake County citizens support and have worked so hard to attain.
My hope would be that the
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 15:40 — danofncMy hope would be that the Republicans understand that a candidate that may not be a through-and-through Republican but agrees with their stance on school issues might be a better candidate than some random person who is a full-fledged Republican.
A person's stance on the national platform issues don't make a bit of difference when it comes to school board issues.....which is why the school board is supposed to be non-partisan.
For example, I thought the diversity policy was a good thing with good intentions. By saying that, I've automatically labeled myself as left-wing crazy in some peoples' eyes. At the same time, I think the 40% goal was unattainable once the massive growth hit, and it should have been adjusted upward (or fundamentally changed or eliminated) to avoid a lot of the shuffling that happened. The fact that I say that makes me Tea Party to some people.
In reality, I just don't get so married to any one position that I can't see why something different is better. That's why I could never get elected in today's climate.
Ethics
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 18:16 — SDR256Jenn is an extremely ethical person. She understood if she adopted the R certain expectations went along with that with regard to the rubber stamp. She thought there were enough thinking people out there to realize the choice we had between being controlled by the national political weather on the horizon or creating our OWN local weather channel.
Sadly, someone with these ethics might belong on a non-partisan board concerned with children. I'm happy in a way she has been spared the torture of this 'national test' school board. Batten down the hatches.
I Versus R
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 18:04 — JanisTangoWas it A) about an 'R' behind her name or B) someone that would help them with the goal they were trying to achieve. It seems to me that B would have been the most obvious choice. Seems like they may pay a big price for the difference between an I and R.
Whatever. Your mind is
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 18:37 — woodstockWhatever. Your mind is obviously made up and you refuse to acknowledge that the people willing to contribute money and put forth an effort should have some say on the conditions under which they will provide those things.
I will end by stating that Jenman got an embarrassingly low percentage of votes and Losurdo has a very, very good chance of ending up in Hill's seat. So it is premature to say who has and who has not paid the "big price."
I'm Mad As Heck
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 21:57 — JanisTangothat the GOP took such a risk with this election considering all the time, money and effort many parents like myself put into the 2009 elections. We accomplished something that even exceeded my expectations. If you only knew how much time was put in by individuals ...many of them had a D by their name. It was truly a non partisian effort regardless of what people say. It was not the GOP that got those people elected, it was the WSCA and all the citizens that gave their support. I realize the diversity supporters were relentless and very dirty after the election, but the GOP didn't help themselves!
Well, if the GOP was not a
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 08:38 — woodstockWell, if the GOP was not a factor as you claim, then why are you "mad as heck" at them and why didn't Mansfiled -- and by connection, WSCA -- get more than 8% of the vote? It sounds like Mansfield and WSCA didn't help themselves by choosing to distance themsleves from GOP support.
Also, are you not mad as heck at the Democrats for their status quo positions, relentless lies and false innuendos, and never offering candidates that support your views? Yet, the GOP poured 10s of thousands of dollars and countless hours into promoting candidates that did support your interests.
Argh...
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 10:19 — Bob_SconceOh, the GOP was certainly a factor in the election. They turned out hundreds of thousands of dollars and contributed a lot of on-the-ground support.
The GOP's mistake was misreading the 2009 and 2010 elections (and Obama's plummeting popularity) as "Wow! Everybody loves Republicans now!" So, they deciding to get behind a political insider with a lot of baggage. Unfortunately, the '09 and '10 elections and Barry's popularity are only indications that people are fed up -- they're an opportunity for Republicans to step up and light a way forward, not a mandate to take over.
That mistake is why I'm mad at the GOP.
Why am I not mad at the Democrats for doing those things you said? That's like getting mad at water for being wet.
Making choices
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 11:42 — woodstockPfft
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 15:12 — Bob_Sconce(1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) No.
(4) I'll refer you back to Deborah Prickett who also ran unaffiliated -- seems that this particular requirement of orthodoxy hasn't always been in place. And, for good reason: it's foolish to choose an inferior candidate who happens to be a party insider over a better candidate who isn't.
At the federal and state levels, where there are hundreds of players, party plays a big part in decision making. At the local level, it rarely matters. (Recall that the '09 candidates had support from democratic politicians.) So, requiring party orthodoxy for a stinking school board race is foolish.
Your argument is weak. If
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 13:01 — woodstockYour argument is weak. If Losurdo is, as you baselessly claim, concerned soley about politics, would it not be in her best interest to make voters -- i.e., parents -- happy? Also, I noticed that you did not even mention the differences in policy issues between Losurdo and Mansfield. Is this because there are none?
Also, you are asking Mansfield -- who asked the GOP for help by the way --to make her decision based on factors other than who of the reamining candidates best represents her views on school board issues.
There would be no runoff if
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 16:43 — CaryCurmudgeonThere would be no runoff if Mansfield had not entered the race. As a virulent GOP supporter, you're hoping Mansfield endorses your republican candidate, but at the same time you continue to trash her here. I don't know whether Jennifer is reading the blogs these days, but posts from GOP idiots like you certainly would not do much to earn her support.
Here's a suggestion: Take a breath and give the subject a rest.
There would be no runoff if
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 17:04 — woodstockThe polling clearly shows....
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 21:25 — Jackson_Tybee... that Mansfield being out of the race would NOT have given Losurdo more votes but may have given Hill some -- definitely at least the 50 more he needed to win outright. Mansfield was a spoiler, but she spoiled it for Hill, not Losurdo.
Please! The entire dynamics
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 21:38 — woodstockPlease! The entire dynamics of the race change without Mansfield in it. No poll can show with any precision what would have happened with a completely different scenario and ballot. It is just pure BS to suggest that Hill would have "definitely" gotten a specific number of votes or even any more votes.
At the polls
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 23:49 — SDR256I stood at the poll where Kevin was - all day. Heather had good representation and even appeared for some time herself. I had a good number of people tell me that Jenn was their second choice but they were voting for Kevin.
From what I added up from the election board site the difference would have been about 100 votes IF heather could have claimed ALL of Jenn AND the 4th candidates votes. Take Jenn out & leave the fourth candidate, Hill wins. Take Jenn out, hill would have won. Most voters had decided before they came to the polls, true. And both camps tried to convince me how useless it was to convince people because 'no' voters were undecided. The poll workers were pretty complacent about it. It was more like a big social party for them. But then by about 2:30 they realized quite a number of voters were taking my handouts and reading them because I was the only one pushing fliers like my life depended on it. The Dem guy woke up and started jumping on my heels and mimicing my taglines. The republican ladies just thought it was all so unseemly.
The likelihood is that those few voters I got & other Mansfield workers got at the polls - the ones who the political camps were not prepared for because they were really undecided. Totally clueless, believe me. And, many of them would have voted for the 'guy with experience'.
Losurdo got a run off because of Jenn. So, Woodstock - you're welcome again.
So, now you are a political analyst...
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 07:47 — woodstockSo, now you are a political analyst and your "data" is your expert anecdotal insight? Funny. And the kicker is your rationalization that WSCA helped orchestrate the pending run-off and saved the day... and you did it all with no money and no support. Really? It seems delusions of grandeur are reaching epidemic proportions in your self-important organization.
The point
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 18:44 — SDR256The point, dear sweet woodie, is that with 100 votes it could have been anything. Your position that 'absolutely' if Jenn was not in the race Heather would have won - is ludicrous. Based on observation at two busy polling places -valid based on a margin of such a few number of voters (100) - it is much more likely that Jenn took away votes from Hill. He needed 50 + 1, right? I can say for sure that I got more than one vote from him for Jenn, so there ya go. (You are the one who pretends to be a political analyst. It's a bunch of hot air. At least we put in sweat equity. It seems all you do is blog.
Oh brother... what you are
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 19:48 — woodstockOh brother... what you are missing, dear, is that the entire dynamic of the election would have -- should have -- been different.
For instance, imagine this: A candidate that represents your views agrees to run and registers as a candidate, they have major party support and the people and organizations that helped win elections in 2009 work together to get that person elected.
But, this is how it played out: A candidate that represents your views agrees to run and registers as a candidate and they have major party support. Then, another candidate enters the race which kinda' has the same platform as the first candidate, but has no real support to speak of and some of the people and organizations that helped win elections in 2009 decide to break off on their own due to arrogance or ego or idealism or... ah hell, it does not really matter why, they just do and everyone loses.
But, there still could be a happy ending if the bickering stopped and people got to work to finish the job.
Sweetheart
Mon, 10/17/2011 - 01:54 — SDR256A candidate who represented my views did run. She was the most capable. The political parties refused to see beyond their own narrow boundries.
the entire dynamic of the
Sat, 10/15/2011 - 22:01 — CaryCurmudgeonthe entire dynamic of the election would have -- should have -- been different.
Wood, did you wake up next to a pod this morning? Earlier this week you said Jenn was irrelevant, and you and Jeffy were joking about the paltry handful of votes she would get. Now, suddenly, you're talking about a new "dynamic?"
You whined about having another candidate in the race (turned out it was two other candidates).
But, there still could be a happy ending if the bickering stopped and people got to work to finish the job.
Earlier this week you said
Sun, 10/16/2011 - 09:08 — woodstockEarlier this week you said Jenn was irrelevant, and you and Jeffy were joking about the paltry handful of votes she would get. Now, suddenly, you're talking about a new "dynamic?"
Huh? I never said Mansfield was irrelevant. Although her vote count may have been embarrassing for her, it was clearly sufficient to be a factor especially when coupled with WSCA's lack of support and commitment to the mission at hand. Mansfiled was identified as a spoiler from day one of her candidacy.
I see you've updated your
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 15:21 — NoRalNerdI see you've updated your semantics on this. Kudos to you. It's no longer a bold-faced lie -- now it's just intentionally misleading.
Mansfield DID ask the GOP for help -- she asked them not to run an inexperienced, unqualified Republican who could only get into the race, muddy the waters on the "community schools" message, and ultimately lose to Hill. The GOP refused her that "help" and here we sit.
You are correct. If GOP had
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 16:05 — WhalerCaneYou are correct.
If GOP had backed Mansfield, this would be a much different race, and Mr. Hill would be in a significantly more difficult position at the moment.
and if you
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 21:53 — snordonehad backed her you would have won. The GOP will tell you that. you need to help kevin crank up more fear factor so he can hold on to the rim, because i don't think the upper tier will let this go this time.
So...
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 20:49 — Bob_SconceHere's an honest question for you: Your side did a very effective job of portraying Losurdo and Margiotta as Tea Party fanatics. Would you have even tried that with Mansfield? Is that brush so dirty that it's capable of tarring people who really have nothing to do with the Tea Party?
It's an interesting question for 2012 -- if Romney is the GOP nominee, he's going to be a tough one to tie to the Tea Party movement.
I did mail for Kevin and Susan
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 22:51 — WhalerCaneAnd neither one of them mentioned the tea party in thier mail. We did talk about Ron's failed leadership.
That said, Jennifer would have been a much more difficult opponent in a runoff because you can not paint her with that brush.
How about your 3 stooges this evening Mr. Mailman
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 23:06 — FSandYOUNot even 48 hours after being appointed Barber's new keepers of the faith they want to stop the assignment plan! AGAIN!
The CPA and Mr. Arrogant want Wake County families to continue going to bed each night with that knot in their stomachs because of the uncertainty that will now continue of where their kids will go to school or when they will be told to hop aboard.
First, there are rules in place and they don't get a say until they are seated. Much to your CPA friend's dismay, SHE DOES NOT GET A VOTE ON ANYTHING until she slimes into her seat. Second, just their stupidity alone in saying what they did today and tonight because a camera was nearby shows they won't be anymore fit to lead than the Head, Millberg, Gill boards were.
Hold my mail please, I'm a little busy at the moment.
Seriously?
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 21:56 — chaboardif Romney is the GOP nominee, he's going to be a tough one to tie to the Tea Party movement.
It's not just Romney - the window for the Republican party to separate itself from the Tea Party for 2012 probably passed last spring when the party unanimously backed Ryan's ridiculous plan to kill Medicare. But it *certainly* passed when they tied themselves wholly to the Tea Party on the debt ceiling nonsense and has been reinforced by the unanimous refusal to even consider a moderate jobs bill that has strong bipartisan public support. The GOP is all in at this point - those chips are in the pot.
Well...
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 21:22 — Jackson_Tybee... since there was actual footrage of Losurdso *being* a Tea Party fanatic (holding a sign and screaming for anyone who disaagreed with her to leave the country) portraying her as a Tea Party fanatic wasn't so much "effective" as the damn truth. I seriously doubt Mansfield would have suffered the same fate. The GOP deserves this defeat for picking a crappy candidate in Losurdo. If they want to have the Tea Party's support, fine, but they need to be more careful about choosing candidates from the Tea Party. A lot of those people have some serious problems. It may well be too high a price to pay to pander to the Tea Party.
Well...
Fri, 10/14/2011 - 11:07 — Bob_SconceI asked the question because it is a common tactic to try to tar the opposing candidate with something that they're not. That strategy was pretty successful against Bob Dole, John McCain and Mike Easley.
I don't know if it's that Losurdo is a lousy candidate, or if she just ran a lousy campaign -- she depended too much on turning out the 40% of people who automatically vote Republican no matter what, but didn't really display anything that would attract people in the middle. Unfortunately, that's a party-insider mistake: when you see how unpopular the other side is, you assume that the popularity must have switched to your side.
She might be able to cobble together a position for the middle voters in the next 3 weeks, but it'd be tough.
Nonetheless
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 16:48 — FSandYOUHill has a ridiculously blurry mug shot on the cover of the propaganda & diversity paper and is already doing interviews down playing what will happen to what was to be a new assignment plan.
If the truth bothers you or your neighbors you will want to purchase plastic to line your shorts with cause we ain't even done started.
FS, "An Equal Opportunity Offender."
More diffulcult than facing
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 16:10 — woodstockMore diffulcult than facing a run-off loss? LOL Funny stuff.
Wow, the GOP must be very
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 16:15 — woodstockWow, the GOP must be very powerful if they can take a candidate who could only generate 8% of the vote on her own and send her to victory with 50% plus 1. I have to say, I wish that were true.
So, Hill is in your view, very "experience and qualified;" how's he doing representing your interests?
The GOP is powerful enough
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 19:24 — NoRalNerdThe GOP is powerful enough to get a candidate with no experience and no qualifications 40%, so yeah, I'd say so. I never said they weren't powerful. They were STUPID to pick Losurdo in the first place, but that has no bearing on "powerful".
Hill IS experienced and qualified. He also has a proven track record of ineffectiveness in the board room.
You want to make everything black and white. It's sad.
you forgot
Thu, 10/13/2011 - 21:57 — snordoneto mention a record of not supporting D3 schools, ever. We are far worse off in this district than we were under Carol Parker, she was a strong advocate for us.