Ron Margiotta was re-elected chairman of the Wake County school board in a 5-4 vote today over Kevin Hill.
There had been heavy lobbying for the chair's slot. Hill in particular had lobbied Debra Goldman to cross party lines to back him. The votes were done by written ballot and will be made public later.
UPDATE
Multiple votes are being made to determine a vice chair among John Tedesco, Keith Sutton, Chris Malone and Goldman. It appears the Democrats are sticking with Sutton while the Republicans are fracturing their support.
Deborah Prickett got a vote on the eighth balllot for a five-way race.
We're starting the 15th ballot now with some Democrats getting votes to go along with Sutton. Presumably some Republicans would rather pick a Democrat at this point than unify behind one person. If they unified, presumably Margiotta would pick the Republican nnd break the tie.
They've recessed after the 16th ballot. We'll see if anything takes place before they come back.
During the recess, I checked on the earlier votes.
The board chair vote was along party lines.
The first round of the vice chair vote had all four Democrats voting for Sutton. Goldman voted for herself and the other three Republicans voted for Tedesco.
One of the Democrats compromised on round two and voted for a Republican making it a 3-3-2 split.
Since then, the Democrats have all hung together for Sutton and the Republicans have voted across the board.
The recess didn't solve things. The 17th ballot was split four ways.
After 30 rounds of voting there's still no resolution.
We've just finished round 41. While I haven't checked the votes since the recess it's likely that Goldman is still refusing to back Tedesco which would result in a tie that Margiotta could break.
Of the first 47 rounds, 22 of them have seen Sutton with four votes, Tedesco with three and Goldman with one.
They took a recess after the 50th vote. Majestic says the board can't move on to the regular meeting without first completing the annual meeting.
A 26-minute recess failed to accomplish anything as the 51st ballot again had four for Sutton, three for Tedesco and one for Goldman.
Tedesco was elected vice chairman on the 56th ballot after Goldman announced she would stop voting for herself. She voted for Tedesco to make a 4-4 tie that Margiotta broke.
It's late so I'll blog more about the vote and other stuff on Wednesday.
Comments
No...
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 20:39 — Bob_SconceWoodstock is extremely irreverant, so it would not be difficult to find something he said along the way that somebody found to be offensive. But, I can't recall that he's ever said anything racist.
I pointed you to the search feature so you could find the post you're talking about.
You were right bob, it was not a tutu
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 20:55 — duvalIs that how it works?
Wed, 06/01/2011 - 17:35 —woodstock
Is that how it works? Unnamed persons, of unnamed affiliations call you and provide you with “news” nuggets? Did these unnamed people share any particular relationships or affiliations? Understanding motives is part of any story… and the reporting on this one is sorely lacking that part of the story.
Hey, I heard a rumor… apparently a certain rotund Reverend likes to prance around his den listening to Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” while wearing pink panties and a bib and being spoon fed Rocky Road ice cream by a red-headed dwarf. Can you please follow up, get some comments and post a blog about it? Your readership awaits.
...
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 21:07 — SideburnsWhich part is racist?
LOL... still funny weeks
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 20:59 — woodstockLOL... still funny weeks later. I crack me up.
I had a second chuckle
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 21:42 — FSandYOUKeep it up. We need more laughs in this insane asylum.
Hui and Editors of the
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 21:07 — duvalHui and Editors of the N&O...Do Woodstocks offensive and racist remarks crack you up?
Again, please point out even
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 06:44 — woodstockAgain, please point out even one racist comment I have EVER posted.
If you want me to play blog
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 22:34 — KeungHui (author)If you want me to play blog police on all the commens I'll have to spend less time blogging and writing to do that. The comment level on this blog is a lot higher than the others blogs. I roll my eyes at some of the things Woodstock says like I do when Joe Tarheel goes after Margiotta being Italian.
I see, like when I "roll my
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 06:49 — woodstockI see, like when I "roll my eyes" when you report unfounded rumors from unnamed sources just to stir things up.
Aren't these the same people
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:25 — danofncAren't these the same people that cut short a retreat where they were supposed to talk about actual issues?
Good grief....
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:21 — Bob_SconceIsn't the Vice-Chair subject to the same term limit as the chair? Keep Goldman in and elect a new vice-chair after the fall election.
...
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:17 — Sideburns4 for Sutton, 3 for Tedesco, 1 for Goldman.
Who keeps voting for Goldman? ;)
So, did Goldman just tip her
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:33 — DrActualFactualSo, did Goldman just tip her hand, she'll vote for Malone, but not Tedesco. Perhaps the others should vote for Malone and then we get 4-4. Let's see what happens. Will Tedesco not vote for himself and vote for Malone...this is ridiculous.
Good thoughts
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 09:13 — cmalone1Right Church wrong pew. Thanks though
I so enjoy your snarkiness,
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 13:13 — WakeCountyParentI so enjoy your snarkiness, Mr. Malone. Unfortunately, it just proves the point. There is not a single person sitting on that Board right now that is truly there for anything other than their own personal gain. I supported you in that last election. I can assure you that won't happen again.
Personal Gain?
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 14:17 — Bob_SconceIf I could hire Chris to cut my lawn, he'd make more on an hourly basis than he does on the school board. NOBODY takes that job for personal gain. That's just silly.
assumption
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 15:24 — Dove314You assume the poster defined personal gain as a financial reward. There are many other definitions of personal gain. No politician is purely altruistic, including Mr. Malone.
Well....
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 15:41 — Bob_SconceWell.... you can apply that to anybody.
Let's look at this another way: If you were interested in personal gain (and, I assume that you are because everybody is), would you choose the school board as a way to further that interest?
School Board isn't a good stepping-off for future poliical office -- the only recent example is Rosa Gill, but she had a long political life before school board. It doesn't pay well. You have to deal with lots and lots of unhappy people about all sorts of stuff. You get to make the final decision to suspend or expel students. Perhaps you're trying to make a difference, but the state and county don't really give you the resources to do it.
Heck, look at John Tedesco -- he was forced out of his job because of the school board and his house ended up in foreclosure; luckily, he was able to get out of that. People vandalized his car.
"Personal Gain" is not a reasonable answer to "why would you join the school board?"
Mr. Malone I appreciate your
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 13:42 — starsonoursMr. Malone I appreciate your service to Wake County. I also supported you in the last election and intend to support you again if you run for re-election.
In response
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 22:14 — cmalone1A) Thank you for yout support Stars it means a lot.
B) Dove your assumption is accurate. No politician is completely altruistic
C) Bob my son mows lawns. Let me know if you need the help
D) Bob again you are right. I decided to run for this particular seat, in my opinion, for the right reasons. After spending a lot of time looking at the issue, I told people what kind of politician they needed working for them. It was at that point someone told me I could do the job. I fit the description. With reservations I determined to do it, and it has been tough but rewarding. Money is never an issue at this level.
C) Wake County Parent. I hope I can get you back. It doesnt take long to figure out I take the issues very seriously but not myself. I am just a neighbor trying to make the right decisions. What I was doing was thanking someone for mentioning me and nudging them in looking in a different direction as to which subject felt the way they did on an issue. I was just using a little humor. Remember I said school board is where politicians go to die so you have to believe I didnt do this for personal gain... but again no politician is 100 percent altruistic. Or snarky.
I hoped it would end with a
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 11:26 — DrActualFactualI hoped it would end with a moderate turn, but it wasn't the case. If I thought that others found this entire episode as distasteful as I did I'd run for the District 8 rep myself. All this posturing detracts from the educational mission at hand.
...
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 11:56 — SideburnsWhich posturing? The 4 that would only vote for Sutton or the one that would only vote for herself?
Good point. Tedesco,
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 14:56 — woodstockGood point. Tedesco, Prickett and Malone all voted for various other people. The 4 Democrats never did, they took a very hardline, unwavering position. What's funny is that their posturing resulted in them getting what is probably their least desirable choice for vice-chair.
I'll have a post up later
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 15:35 — KeungHui (author)I'll have a post up later today about how the voting went.
All of the posturing from
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 12:24 — DrActualFactualAll of the posturing from both sides. Goldman tried to be inclusionary and less partisan toward the dems during her term and it bit her in the end. Did any of the dems even throw one vote toward the sitting vice-chair Goldman....No. It seemed RM steered the ship to JT and surely one of the other Republicans could have thrown a vote to the sitting chair. To reference a well-known republican, this was a pretty good example of a squirmish if such a thing existed.
Don't get your hopes up. The
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:37 — WakeCountyParentDon't get your hopes up. The votes have clearly rotated through the Prickett, Malone, Morrison (and, one time, McLaurin) options about a gazillion times. Wash, rinse, repeat ad nauseum.
How many times is this? I
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:12 — louiselee44How many times is this? I stopped to shower (knowing I wouldn't miss anything) and lost count!
I'm literally embarrassed by
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:35 — luv2teachI'm literally embarrassed by their actions in the vote. They all lose credibility at each board meeting. I've never seen such an immature act among adults in a long time.
I couldn't agree more. The
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:41 — WakeCountyParentI couldn't agree more. The voters of Wake County need to rise up and throw them ALL off the Board. Ridiculous.
The voters already rose up
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 21:40 — FSandYOUDid you miss it?
The voters ended our past miseries by throwing the ridiculous ones out 2+ years ago. John and Co. is hitting their stride now so get over yourself.
Congrats JT.
Why are they repub.s so hell
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:06 — duvalWhy are they repub.s so hell bent on not letting Keith Sutton have that seat?
He has proven to be a level headed person, who listens to all points of view, and has worked well with JT on the EDtask force committee.
?? What gives??
Huh? Sutton does whatever
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:55 — woodstockHuh? Sutton does whatever Barbar tells him to do. He does not think for himself.
He does not think for himself
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:58 — Solon77If this is the criteria - then no one qualifies. They all have puppet strings attached.
You must be kidding. Keith
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:14 — CaryCurmudgeonYou must be kidding. Keith Sutton has shown himself to be as stubborn as his old-school buddies. He still attends NAACP meetings to rally the troops against neighborhood schools,
BTW, I see they just went into recess. I trust they are not going into a closed meeting to discuss the vice-chair spot, since that subject is not exempt from public meeting requirements.
Come on...I know you have
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:17 — duvalCome on...I know you have been paying attention. He has been working very hard and well to further acheivement in ALL of the schools in Wake County.
No, I don't think he has.
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:21 — CaryCurmudgeonNo, I don't think he has. He has been a partisan advocate of returning to diversity-based busing, and he doesn't come across as caring very much for schools outside his district. I don't see him bringing any creative new ideas to the table, just voting the party line.
Ah...so you have not been an
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:27 — duvalAh...so you have not been an impartial voyeur.
Say it aint so Joe...
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:23 — Jeff_morseI agree with you!
Vote
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 18:08 — HereWeGoThe repub are all voiting for themselves - what is that all about?
This is like watching a
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 17:51 — CaryCurmudgeonThis is like watching a county commissioner meeting.
Hmm
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:01 — Bob_SconceYou think Anne McLaurin will need to go to the bathroom?
I'm betting she can last
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 19:54 — DrActualFactualI'm betting she can last longer than Betty Lou, it's not 1 a.m. yet. Shall we send out for insulin just in case? (This may take so long someone might develop diabetes.)
darn it, I took a 2-hour
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 21:35 — CaryCurmudgeondarn it, I took a 2-hour break and missed the final vote.
LOL
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 09:10 — cmalone1It happens that way... What a night! Left me in a bad mood.