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WakeEd
The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system as it prepares to undergo historic changes. Will the new school board scrap the diversity policy in favor of neighborhood schools? Will year-round schools be converted back to a traditional calendar? How will the new board respond to growth and the school construction program?
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.
Rod Brind'Amour gives money to Wake school board candidate
You've got a member of a George Soros-backed group and a Carolina Hurricanes hockey player among the donors in the District 1 Wake school board race.
Rita Rakestraw's donors include Gene Guerrero, a senior policy analyst for the Open Society Institute, who gave $250. The institute's founder and president is liberal billionaire George Soros, who is not exactly a favorite of conservatives.
Chris Malone has got some star power, namely a $250 contribution from Rod Brind'Amour, the team captain for the Hurricanes. Brind'Amour's ex-wife lives just outside Wake Forest with their three young children.
While Rakestraw's donors tend to be more liberal, Malone's tend to be more conservative. For instance, one of his donors is local businessman Bob Luddy, a past member of the board of directors of the American Conservative Union, who gave $2,000.
Those are among the tidbits from the campaign finance reports filed last week.
Of the candidates who said they'd raise at least $3,000, only Karen Simon in District 7 doesn't have an updated report in at the Wake County Board of Elections. She didn't return a call yesterday asking about the report, which was due Sept. 1.
Candidates who spend less than $3,000 don't need to file reports.
I'll do a separate post later on the reports from the PACs.
Rakestraw reported raising $14,475. Her other new donors include state Sen. Dan Blue, state Rep. Deborah Ross, school board member Lori Millberg, former school board member Tom Oxholm and former school board member Beverley Clark's campaign committee.
Malone reported raising $10,485. His other recent donors include state Rep. Marilyn Avila, Wake County Commissioner Paul Coble, former Commissioner Phil Jeffreys, Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly and the Wake Schools Community Alliance.
In District 2, John Tedesco reported raising $3,764. He's noticeably behind Horace Tart and Cathy Truitt in terms of money raised.
Tedesco's donors include state Sen. Richard Stevens, Cary Town Councilman Don Frantz, former Commissioner Gary Pendleton, Joe Ciulla of the WSCA and the WSCA itself.
Click here for Malone's report.
Click here for Rakestraw's report.
Click here for Tedesco's report.
Click here for a post last week with the reports of the other candidates.
UPDATE
The Board of Elections says Karen Simon doesn't have to file until Sept. 28 because she hasn't spent more than $3,000 yet.
T. Keung Hui
T. Keung Hui covers Wake schools.
Comments
Not any different that Comm.
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 14:23 — DrActualFactualNot any different that Comm. Norwalk supporting Rakestraw or Nixon is it? This was directed to Shank56's post.
The smallest minority on
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 13:55 — AngelaWThe smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.
Ayn Rand
They didn't need buses in concentration camps...
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 13:11 — RonB.. which is *exactly* what "Wake Cares" and their ilk want to create for schools in less wealthy areas.
Concentrate "those kids" in "those schools" and everyone loses. I for one do not want to be subject to the social engineering of anti-school candidates running for Board of Education seats.
stratification
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 13:40 — SDR256This is exactly the kind of stratified thinking that is part of the core communication problem. What about Holly Springs? That town and many others, including Apex, have a demographic which almost perfectly mirrors that of Wake County as a whole. Don't know about Cary, but its much more economically diverse than people think.
If the goal were to concentrate low income children to 'their own' schools, there would have to be some social engineering similar to what WCPSS has already done to create a different kind of artificial solution.
Besides, attending schools in other communities is not proving to work for ANY students. So, can't we simply try something that may work to improve student achievement and graduation rates? Why do you keep beating this dead horse?
Contributors
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:16 — shank56In another post , one of you questioned whether Mayor Meeker should be making a contribution to a BOE candidate, as a possible conflict of interest.
What do you think of Weatherly or Commissioner Coble, who does have influence over the pursestrings, making contributions towards candidate Malone , who lives out of district ? Just curious.
My feeling is that they're
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:30 — ApexterMy feeling is that they're all Wake County residents, and it's perfectly kosher for them to support the candidates of their choice.
The contributions I resent are those that come from outside Wake County. While perfectly legal, I resent outside forces supplying the cash to influence elections in an area in which they don't reside.
Agree with you.
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:53 — shank56Agree with you.
but are Weatherly and/or
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:24 — AngelaWbut are Weatherly and/or Coble married to a BoE member? Just asking.
Nope. Do you think
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:52 — shank56Nope.
Do you think female elected officials are capable of thinking for themselves, regardless of their marital status or to whom they are married?
Maybe you should contact Hillary and ask what she thinks.
dunno, are they? give me
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:56 — AngelaWdunno, are they?
give me her number out of your address book and I will.
Fer sure, she is NOT in any
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 14:49 — shank56Fer sure, she is NOT in any of my contacts.
Contributors
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 11:34 — uncertainI am glad to see Brind'Amour back a great candidate for District 1. Rita Rakestraw scares me with her vision of the school system.
Way to go Rod!! I have been a Canes fan since they moved down here so it'snice to see them actually care about the schools too!
And I personally don't see where bussing is something that needs to be done anymore. Districts are very diverse in this day and age. Bussing is NOT NEEDED. If you are going to require bussing then require it within YOUR OWN district so parents can still be involved with their child's education!
Tedesco
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 10:39 — thedudescousinDid anyone else notice that Tedesco did not receive any contributions from citizens in District 2?
Individuals
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 13:52 — SDR256Has anyone looked at which candidates (and by proxy, the PACs donating to the campaigns) are receiving more money from Moms and Pops individuals and which ones, like Horace Tart for instance, are getting a big boost from interested community and business organizations like the NC Builder's Association check to him for $4000?
The money raised through WSCA is all through private, individual donation - mostly $15 or $20 from families like ours who took it out of our grocery budget.
Not true
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:01 — ApexterNo, I noticed that he received about $2750 in contributions from individuals who donated less than $51. (If the amount donated from an individual is $50 or less, the treasurer does not have to track the name and employer of the donor.)
While I can't prove that any of those under-$50 donations were from residents of District 2, likewise you cannot prove that they were not ALL from District 2 residents. Since, as you pointed out elsewhere, there are a lot of residents in the district who don't have the cash to be making large donations, it seems disingenuous to make claims about the piety of your candidate for getting donations from smaller donors and then ignore their impact to the other candidates.
You're Wrong
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 17:28 — thedudescousinJohn received a total of $3444.12 from residents not in D2, PACs, and himself. He only received $320 in donations smaller than $50 from a total of 10 individuals.
My math skills are a product of being educated in Wake County Schools.
I was just trying to point out that most of his contributions come from individuals not in his district.
Are you sure...?
Fri, 09/11/2009 - 12:52 — ArnieOsbornJohn has money and a goodly portion of it, if I understand correctly came from Take Back Our Schools and Wake County School Alliance. Both of these organizations draw their funds from donations from people from all over Wake County so... how exactly do we know where John Tedesco's funds are from?
So that we are clear... I have no idea where John's funds are from... I like John... he seems honest... I haven't seen any negativism with him... I have seen a true honest focus on the children, not the position... It is true I don't see big backers... but I am not spotting a hidden agenda either.
He will tell you quickly, he is not in the pocket of Ron Margiotta who is already on the Board... as a matter of fact... John was passed over by Ron as was Kathy Truitt and Horace Tart in his search for the best candidate.
So, who does John have to answer to..? It is not BIG money... It is not BIG business... it only seems to be the kids... Can Horace Tart or Kathy Truitt say that?
I say let's be honest... the issue is not that he is not getting funded from District 2.... the issue is Where is John Tedesco being Funded From? So, rather than be coy, let's just ask him.
John, I know that you read these BLOGs... where has your money come from? Is if from supporters in District 2 or not?
there is a difference
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 09:26 — AngelaWthere is a difference between "doesn't like" and dissatisfied with public schools.
the same way bloggers twist WSCA as "anti-diversity" vs. what they REALLY stand for excellence in education for ALL.
Donations
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 09:19 — mommy59I am for Chris Malone and was stunned that Bob Luddy gave money to him.I am stunned because I was under the impression that Bob Luddy doesn't like public schools and that is why he started the charter and private schools.At least he picked a good candidate to back!
What I've read
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 13:54 — SDR256What I've read about Mr. Luddy is that he's done what he's done - starting private and charter schools with his own money - because he doesn't believe that the public schools as they stand today are preparing our children for future competition.
Luddy frequently gives money
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 09:26 — KeungHui (author)Luddy frequently gives money to political candidates, both locally and nationally. As you'd expect, he gives to more conservative candidates.
Brind'Amour
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 08:51 — WakeCountyParentRoddy is a great supporter of our community. His contribution is especially admirable when you consider that his children are enrolled in private school (or they were the last I knew).
Thank you Brind'Amour!
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 09:50 — DrActualFactualThank you Brind'Amour! Thank you for showing support to one of four people that will change this school system for the better. Go Canes....