Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta's predictions about next year's election results are newsier than his inclination to not run again.
As noted in today's article, Margiotta told the crowd Thursday at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce event that he's leaning 95 percent against seeking a third term next year. It's something he's been saying for awhile, including in a December article.
But Margiotta also predicted the majority will pick up two seats next year. He told WRAL that he thinks they'll win the seats now held by Kevin Hill and Anne McLaurin.
Hill's district, which includes Wakefield and a good chunk of northeast Raleigh, is an area that's expected to draw a lot of interest from both sides next year.
McLaurin's South Central Raleigh district is about as Inside the Beltline as you can get. It's traditionally been a stronghold for supporters of the old diversity policy, something McLaurin noted.
"I don't think my district is supportive of Mr. Margiotta's policies or the way he does business," McLaurin told WRAL.
What could shake things up will be the new district boundaries that will be drawn up and used next year. Hill's district will be shrunk while McLaurin's district will have to expand to balance out populations.
The districts held by the other minority members, Carolyn Morrison and Keith Sutton, would also have to expand.
Comments
Here's my prediction: The
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 03:57 — eddie2Here's my prediction: The limousine liberals will set a record for the amount of money spent on a school board election.
Further preduction
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 08:48 — Bob_SconceWe'll never know exactly how much, because a lot of it won't be donated directly to candidates, but will be spent by the likes of GSIW and WEP.
Good point, Bob. Don't
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:03 — CaryCurmudgeonGood point, Bob. Don't forget those free commercials courtesy of WRAL!
Clarifying - -
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 19:52 — bluedaisyKeung - are you saying the Census data and rebalancing will happen before the next election?
They just need to get them
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 13:00 — KeungHui (author)They just need to get them adopted before the filing period starts in July. Now there's always the chance that one side, more likely supporters of the board minority, could go to court to block the use of the new districts. If that happens and it's not resolved soon enough, they'd use the current districts for 2011. Then the new districts or some variant would then be used beginning in 2013. There's been talk that having Thomas Farr around, who helped the state GOP win redistricting court cases, would help the board majority with the new districts.
Keung, Who would be allowed
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 16:44 — CaryCurmudgeonKeung,
Who would be allowed to file such a lawsuit? ie. State legislators, county commissioners, school board members, political party, private citizens?
I'm not a legal expert but,
Mon, 08/30/2010 - 10:01 — KeungHui (author)I'm not a legal expert but, based on who has filed in other NC redistricting suits, it could be just about anybody. There doesn't appear to be an overly high requireement for a plaintiff to have standing. You could probably have any community group be able to argue they can file.
Keung, Thanks for digging
Mon, 08/30/2010 - 11:15 — CaryCurmudgeonKeung,
Thanks for digging into this. Given we have seen lawsuits from citizens complaining about tickets being issued for board meetings, seems pretty likely that we can expect one when this comes up.
Clearly...
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 20:59 — Bob_SconceThey will certainly happen in time for the next election --after the 2000 census, the redistricting process started in the spring of 2001 and finished in time for the 2001 election.
Here's hoping
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 18:07 — prescott2Here's hoping that whomever runs in district 3 does so not because :
Here's hoping that the next school board races will focus on high educational ideals for all of Wake County's students and not just their little province.
program equity will be our focus
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 07:56 — snordoneClearly you don't understand Kevin's district. We have many under-enrolled, under-funded schools with moderately high poverty levels. We will be looking for a representative who understands that program equity is necessary for balance in a public school system.
Margiotta is not 'running'
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 15:17 — JoeTarheelMargiotta is not 'running' because he knows he's going to lose....badly. In most of the public's eyes, he is not very intelligent and has no reason to be on the school board in the first place, given he has no kids in school.
LOL Boy are you ever out of
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 08:26 — woodstockLOL Boy are you ever out of touch, Einstein.
has no reason to be on the
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 15:31 — jenmanhas no reason to be on the school board in the first place, given he has no kids in school.
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I guess that includes McLaurin, Morrison and Hill too, huh?
If you would come out of
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 15:28 — shearertwIf you would come out of your momma's basement every now and then you'd know that Margiotta has been saying this for just about as long as he's been on the BOE. He's the reluctant public servent I wish they all could be. We've been lucky to have him as long as we have. He's probably done more to right this shipwreck of a school system than any other board member in the past 15 years. I appreciate his service and we'll miss him when he leaves. He will, however, be replaced by someone with similar views which will obviously prove just how lost this post of yours is.
So...
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 14:02 — Bob_SconceCan't speak to McLaurin, but I think the minority's best chance to retain Hill's seat is if Hill doesn't run again. He has repeatedly ticked off people in his district and they are out for blood; you could run a turnip against Hill and Hill would lose.
Lori Millberg and Patti Head
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 20:35 — CaryCurmudgeonLori Millberg and Patti Head both stepped aside, didn't make a difference. Seems like Hill's district doesn't have a lot of love for him or his policies. He would have been destroyed if he had had to run in 2009. I think the majority shifts to 6-3 next time around.
Personally, I hope Keith Sutton keeps his seat. I don't agree with his agenda, but he is the most competent of the board minority members (and we do need balance there).
Sutton needs to go too. His
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 08:41 — woodstockSutton needs to go too. His involvement with Friends of Diversity, Rev. Barber and his misguided stunt that nearly got him arrested demonstrated to me he has very poor judgement and is willing to get sleazy and pull out the race card. We don't need that on a forward-thinking 21st century school board. Having he said that, however, he will likely win his first election next time around and become a legitimate, rather than appointed, school board member.
I thought you decided to
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:04 — zandeI thought you decided to sign off woodie.
...
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 15:28 — SideburnsTurnip, Kevill Hill. What's the difference?
One of them is purple.
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 15:30 — shearertwOne of them is purple.
I've seen Hill's face turn
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 08:42 — woodstockI've seen Hill's face turn purple at times ...so there is less of a distinction than you may imagine.