How much political fallout will there be over the publicity about Wake County school board member Debra Goldman naming board member Chris Malone as a suspect in a burglary she reported in 2010 and the conflicting statements they gave about their relationship?
As noted in today's article, the two face consequences in how it will affect their campaigns for state office. They also face consequences about how the controversy will affect them on the school board, especially if they don't win their elections next month.
As Andy Taylor, an N.C. State University political professor noted, people aren't talking now about the firing of Superintendent Tony Tata.
"If they're not talking about Tata or the Democratic majority, it's probably better for them," Taylor said of the board majority.
Taylor is working on a book on the Wake County school system focusing on what led to the 2009 election when he said consensus was lost in the community for the old student assignment policy.
Taylor said it would be "pretty hard" for Goldman or Malone, neither of whom are commenting about the 2010 incident, to stay on the board if they don't win their bids for higher office.
School board chairman Kevin said it’s too early to consider whether he would ask either Goldman or Malone to step down from the board. If either resigned, either because they won the election or just quit, the vacancy would be filled by the Democratic-led board.
“I don’t intend to be judgmental,” Hill said. “I would like to think that members would reflect and make that decision on their own, if needed.”
But Hill said the actions of Goldman and Malone could prove an obstacle to the smooth operation of the board.
“My first reaction is that it most certainly will have an impact on their effectiveness and credibility,” Hill said. “Former chairman Margiotta basically alleged that Debra Goldman used her vote to get back at Chris Malone.
That’s clearly not what the citizens and parents in Wake County want. They want to be able to trust that the board members are making good decisions for the kids in school.”
Taylor said it might be better for Democrats not to pressure them to resign, because the longer they stay on the more people will be reminded about the allegations heading into their 2013 re-election campaigns.
The issue of whether they should resign would be moot if they won next month.
Carter Wrenn, a Republican strategist who is not working for Goldman or Malone, said the incident “certainly won’t help” the candidates’ bid in this election season, but might not be a deciding factor, he said.
“Will it change people’s voting behavior? Who knows?” Wrenn said. “You’d have to be smarter than I am to know that.”
Taylor said it will hurt both Goldman and Malone’s campaigns, but especially Goldman.
“She's running for auditor," Taylor said. "The auditor is supposed to be keeping people in government honest, trying to protect the public’s interests and promoting transparency. This won't help her."
Taylor said it might be in the best interests for Republicans to let Goldman take the heat, pointing back to her 2010 vote to kill the zone plan.
"The only way to spin it for Republicans might to be make Malone the victim of it and sort of explain why she wavered and essentially backed out on the majority on the assignment plan,” Taylor said.
While Republicans volunteering at the State Fair on Sunday were mum about the controversy, Democratic volunteers were more than willing to talk.
"All we need is more drama.” said Michael Knight, Democratic volunteer form North Raleigh suggested the school board’s antics could be good fodder for a reality television show. “They have Honey Boo Boo — why not the Wake County School Board?”
Taylor agreed that the story is unusual, even for Wake County.
“It’s such a unique story that it’s hard to compare it to anything else that has happened before,” Taylor said. “It’s bizarre, I guess. It’s certainly not going to help the Republicans.”
Comments
None of the above
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 10:25 — Apexcitizen1Bob,
Real issues here are that the Dems and Reps control the state. (As you've said before - they are the entrenched interests) When has there ever been a viable 3rd party at the state level?
In this case you have a moral dilemma and your conscious goes with Malone as he seems to be the lessor of evil by far in your view. In reality in your and based on your beliefs neither seem to be fit for office now. Malone's adultery is particularly egregious is that he had his affair with another sitting BOE remember. If I we're you I'd be as mad as "#!#!" at Chris Malone as your now in a horrible position in your vote.
We should all be mad at the Dems and Reps jointly for hijacking politics in this state. If you want to take your mind off of this debacle for a few days take a look at how the congressional maps have been gerrymandered. We live in Apex and somehow have been placed in the "new" 13th congressional district. The Reps have built an odd shaped illogical and uncompetitive congressional district. It both parties that play the gerrymandering game protecting their two part system.
Yup...
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 10:55 — Bob_SconceInteresting discussion about "winner-take-all" elections in this week's econtalk. Highly recommended.
I am definitely annoyed with both Malone and Goldman. I expect my elected representatives to act like adults, not high school kids. And, that's especially true when they're on the school board pushing policies that I like.
Bias Showing...
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 09:32 — Bob_SconceOk, so it's vaguely interesting that we don't know what will happen. But, that's true of thousands of other things. So, why is this on the front page? There's no new information for something that purports to be a "NEWSpaper." Answer: Because the editors at the N&O want to try to do as much damage to Malone's and Goldman's campaigns as possible.
The N&O's next step is pretty clear: an editorial in tomorrow's or Wednesdays's paper, answering the question of "what will happen" by calling for them to resign or step down or something.
Why shouldn't the N&O try to
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 09:33 — virginiadareWhy shouldn't the N&O try to do as much damage to those campaigns as possible? Isn't it their civic duty considering the damage those two could do to our state if elected? Read this from a Republican blog and please explain why you would give your vote to someone like Malone:
http://publius2013.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/malones-a-victim/
I understand you would never vote for Milberg, but I certainly can't understand why you would support someone as unethical as Malone. Seems like a man of your integrity would just sit this one out.
?
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 11:03 — starsonours"Why shouldn't the N&O do as much damage to those campaigns as possible?" If the N&O were an equal opportunity damager it wouldn't be an issue. I do recall a certain N&O reporter who was covering a Presidential Election and had knowledge of an affair and never said a word until the National Enquire leaked the story. The N&O should print the news and not be in the "who do I destory and who do I protect" business.
So...
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 10:01 — Bob_SconceI think you're being facetious with your first question.
As to "someone like Malone," yes, he had a serious moral lapse. There's no such thing as an "innocent" adulterous affair. And, if that blog is correct -- if Bryant knew about this problem -- the right thing would have been to tell them "Look, you can run in the primary if you want. But, if you do, then this little story is going to leak a week before the election."
Howver, the lapse was 2 years ago; there's no evidence of recurrence and his opponent is evil incarnate. Further, my big issue in the state legislature is education reform, and (animosity toward Millberg aside), Millberg is clearly going to be an obstacle to any such reform -- she is steeped in the "Kool-aid" of the Burns/McNeal administrations from when she was on the school board.
Further, if I were to abstain from voting in this race, it would increase the chances that Millberg will be elected.
Please don't think I'm being partisan on this -- I'm voting for Betty Lou Ward (her opponent, Paul Fitts, has a poor grasp of details of issues), Beth Wood (decided long before the current scandal), Wayne Goodwin, Elaine Marshall and Janet Cowell.
Did not expect...
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 09:45 — bpuli9999you to do the standard republican "mainstream media" whine. You guys do like to play the victim all the time!
So...
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 09:49 — Bob_SconceOf course it's newsworthy, and I don't really have any problem with it showing up yesterday. There's a backstory about how it got to the N&O, but once it did, it was proper to follow up.
But, today's article doesn't add anything. So why publish it? The obvious answer is that it fits with the political sensibilities of the N&O's editors. (If there's any doubt of which direction they lie, just look at the steady stream of endorsements. There are a few token R's along the way, but by and large, they're all D's.)
If I'm wrong, then that editorial won't appear and I'll have to eat crow.
SCOUCY, STOP WHILE YOU'LL STILL LAGGING BEHIND....
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 12:20 — ClearThinker...it is really, REALLY sad to read your limp postings, trying to rationalize something that is crystal clear to anyone with common sense - THE REPUBLICANS DID THIS TO THEMSELVES! The N&O reported it now because they got official confirmation of it now - both from the police record and the former Wake School Board chair. Maybe if your good buddy Margiotta had kept his big mouth shut, the N&O would have held it until after the election.
Secondly, if these were Democrats, and the N&O buried the story on Day Two of the scandal, you would be leading the cries of "Coverup" without question, so can your bull!
The fact is the Republicans have done substantial damage to the progress and reputation of WCPSS. They are selfish, arrogant, racist, stupid...did I say arrogant...and are interested in destroying public education, not strengthening it.
And enablers like you should be held accountable for putting them in office in the first place, then supporting them on these pages with empty, idiotic opinions that have helped to illustrate what failures Margiotta and Company (and Tata) were.
Say what you want about Hill and the Democrats. At least they're not trying to screw one another literally behind their families backs, then use it as a scornful excuse to influence public policy.
That kind of dysfunctional crap is in a class by itself, and the lead instructors in that class are Debra Goldman and Chris "I need money from my brother to date Debbie" Malone.
I hope you're proud of your association with these two miscreants, Scoucy. They are your type of animal!
Spot on!
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 18:42 — ruthlissSpot on!
Thanks Soft vs. Hard news
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 19:21 — Apexcitizen1Looked up the different type of news stories and here's how yesterday's and today's stories would be classified:
Sunday's article would be considered hard news as the news was immediate and factual.
Monday's article is considered soft news. Soft news doesn't have the immediacy and can be factual or opinion based (or a combination).
It's not a judgment on either type of news both can be good or bad...Just a breakdown of the different types.
?
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 13:53 — Bob_SconceI agreed that it was newsworthy -- I'm not questioning yesterday's article or its appearance on the front page. I am questioning today's.
As to the rest of your post, uh.... Well, Whatever.
News vs. Stories
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 15:35 — Apexcitizen1Bob,
The N&O is no different than any other media outlet. Whether its CNN, FOX or MSNBC true they are journalist but they have a product to sell. So I don't really fault them for running this article or even question their judgment in running this article. FoxNews is the master at extending the story. One way to differentiate new from stories/entertainment run by all media outlets is to see if the headline/topic is statement of fact or question.
Yesterday it was news today its a story.
News - "Wake School Board's Goldman Names Malone in Theft Report"
Story - "Fallout over Malone-Goldman Drama Uncertain."
You can easily rephrase this headline as a question> "Is there Fallout over the Malone-Goldman Drama?"
There are some other good pointers that also are helpful in differentiating News/Stories but this one I readily use. Just watch the biased news outlets Fox and MSNBC and you can pretty much tell when it's a slow news day. All the stories are the "What if scenarios" and they start dragging out the "experts" for their opinions.
Bottom line is it works for the media outlets and people are easily confused.
Bob, Groupthinker hasn't
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 14:23 — shearertwBob,
Groupthinker hasn't much else to live for beyond the magazines along the checkout isle at Wal-mart. We can probably just expect the N&O will be stocked there any day now too. Let's just let him/her have their day living vicariously through the meaningful lives of others.
Consistency
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 14:22 — liberal1If we went back and looked at stories about, lets say the Democratic Party leadership scandal, would we see you making the same argument and calling for the N&O to only put the story in one day?
It's the norm
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 15:04 — Dove314It's the norm when politics are a "Team Red" vs "Team Blue" competition more worthy of SportsCenter than about real substantive political policy. If someone is on "Team 1" and "Team 1" gets bad press then they want it minimized. On the other hand, if "Team 2" gets the bad press, then "Team 1" supporters think it worthy of "full disclosure". We've seen it before and we'll see it again. As somebody else noted, it is unlikely to make much difference but everyone will try to make "points" and minimize "penalties". In this case, Republicans will argue the "party foul" side and Democrats will argue for "full disclosure". At some future time point, the situation will be reversed, positions will reverse, a few will shout "hypocrisy" and everyone will again be "outraged" for a little while. The reality is that those who only see (R) or (D) after a candidate's name will portray "outrage" but their votes won't change and there are very few in the middle who will be swayed by this who weren't already leaning one way or the other.
So...
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 15:24 — Bob_SconceI don't have any problem with full disclosure -- reporting about today's responses from both parties is fair game, for example. I'm just wondering about the N&O's motives for putting today's article on the front page. Surely, for example, the Pope's naming of a Native American as a saint, McGovern's death, Palestinian Elections on the West Bank and the imprisonment of Pussy Riot are more important topics -- at least those each had some NEWS to report.
And, I think I mentioned that I'm not voting a strait ticket -- the letter after the name is informative, but not decisive.
Selling papers and clicks
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 19:35 — Apexcitizen1Bob,
With the exception maybe of the imprisonment of Pussy Riot...lol how are the rest of them more important topics for 99.9% of the populate. Remember media is business first. I'm not going to drop $0.50 in the paper box or click the link to the N&O website if the headline is "Pope names a Native American as a Saint" or McGovern's death. For a demographic over 65 those headlines might work but under 65 those are sleepers. Would you watch your preferred cable news channel if they had extended coverage all day regarding any of the headlines you mention?
A story on a local school board with, theft and adultery is like a gift handed to the local media.
Well...
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 20:41 — Bob_SconceOk, You've convinced me that yellow journalism sells. Maybe the N&O editors aren't trying to undermine their campaigns, but are just trying to sell as many newspapers as they can, even if there's nothing new to report.
However, let's see if that editorial comes out -- that's certainly not front-page news, and I have a hard time believing it would sell any more papers.
Here you go, Bob!
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 20:55 — jenmanhttp://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/22/2430796/good-grief.html
?
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 14:55 — Bob_SconceWell, mostly because this is the WakeEd blog -- what you suggest would be off-topic. If you can give me another example where the second day's story didn't add any substantial new information to the first day's, then I'll be happy to make the same argument.
Sorry, I did not realize
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 15:10 — liberal1Sorry, I did not realize your sense of fairness was limited to such a small range of topics and parameters.
?
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 15:15 — Bob_SconceSo, if I mention something once, then I have to complain about it every single time just to be consistent? Heaven help me if I ever complain about a bad call in a football game; suddenly, I'm obligated to point them all out.
I was accepting your
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 16:24 — liberal1I was accepting your premise. You do not have to call it out ever agian if you do not want to. It is only right that the only time you call it out is when it is republicans in the headlights. You do seem to have little grasp of newspapers though as much as you comment on this one. They got over 270 comments on the story yesterday. There job is to report news people are interested in. It did not take a rocket schientist to expect a lead story on this topic again today. And just a heads up, there will probably be a story about it in tomorrows paper as well.
Former chairman "alleged"
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 09:06 — DrActualFactualFormer chairman "alleged" that Goldman used her vote to get back at Malone--just speculation as far as we know from what the news story indicates. The changing of her vote penalized all the Republicans working for the other plan, not just Malone. At the time she simply indicated that she wanted the process to slow down. Many in the public were watching John Tedesco hash out the details via streaming live video and didn't like what they were seeing--perhaps she just changed her vote based on what her District 9 constituents were seeing.
I agree. I don't think Hill
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 10:34 — jenmanI agree. I don't think Hill should be basing his opinion or decisions on an allegation from Margiotta. It's just speculation on Ron's part. So much for "data driven decisions."
Hill's opinion or decision
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 16:05 — tartexanI don't think the quotes in the story this morning from Kevin Hill said anything about him making any decision or forming any opinions about the people involved. I think he just said to wait and see how it plays out at this time. Maybe I didn't understand what you understood.
Hill Quote
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 16:23 — jenman“Former chairman Margiotta basically alleged that Debra Goldman used her vote to get back at Chris Malone. That’s clearly not what the citizens and parents in Wake County want. They want to be able to trust that the board members are making good decisions for the kids in school.”
I don't think Hill should be giving any credence to allegations by Margiotta or anybody else that her vote was to get back at Malone. It is speculation. It may or may not be true but it is speculation.
Hill comments
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 18:11 — tartexanBut you will note that he went on to say to he was making no judgements and they would just she how it played out.
What implications?
Mon, 10/22/2012 - 08:32 — bpuli9999All the folks who were going to vote for them will still do that. They were not voting based on qualifications anyway.