There's speculation about who will be tapped by the Wake County Democratic Party to replace the late state Senator Vernon Malone.
One name that's been mentioned is school board chairwoman Rosa Gill, who lives two blocks away from Malone in Southeast Raleigh. Gill has been a longtime Democratic Party figure, including serving a stint as chairwoman of the county party.
Gill said she hasn't asked anyone about filling the position. While she said she'd have to ask her husband about it, she's not indicating that she'd turn it down if the position was offered to her.
Gill said Malone's successor should be someone who is an "advocate for education and children."
Gill and Malone were friends for many years, having known each other since the 1960s when both were involved in the civil rights movement.
They ran against each other in 1984 for a vacancy on the board of commissioners. Malone, who had been on the school board at the time, won the election.
Gill said Malone may be the reason she's on the school board now. She said Malone had urged her to run for the school board in 1999.
Gill said her plan after winning re-election in 2007 was to serve one final term on the board.
If Gill is chosen by the Democratic Party and appointed by Gov. Perdue, the vacancy would be filled by the other school board members. The newcomer would serve out the rest of Gill's term, which expires November 2011.
Comments
Anyone in the wings for this?
Fri, 04/24/2009 - 10:56 — DrActualFactualDid he have any staff members, children, friends he was mentoring for eventual replacement, particularly anyone in the legislature area?
Rosa is a fine person and a great chair of WCPSS
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 15:56 — Doctor_FeelgoodBut the senate position this blog is centered on will be decided by the community via an open public hearing by the Raleigh Wake Citizens Association and the Wake County Afrcian American Caucus Saturday, May 2nd, 10:00 am in the Seby Jones Auditorium, Saint Augustine's College. It should come as no surprise that we need a cadre of new African American political leadership under the age of 50. Hopefully the succession process will bring forth some young and new blood. Who ever is honored with replacing the late Senator Malone needs to have some Legislative experience. With the revamping of the Tax Code and the recession, Senate District 14 can not afford any ojt with this selection. Mrs. Gill needs to stay on theWake County School Board and protect the legacy of Senator Malone's greatest work, the balancing of the socio-economic disparities that are tearging WCPSS apart at this time.
"Mrs. Gill needs to stay
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 17:01 — CaryCurmudgeon"Mrs. Gill needs to stay on theWake County School Board and protect the
legacy of Senator Malone's greatest work, the balancing of the
socio-economic disparities that are tearging WCPSS apart at this time."
Well, Mrs. Gill isn't doing a terribly good job of that because 1/3 of Wake County schools don't comply with the school board's own diversity policy.
That is probably why this
Sun, 04/26/2009 - 16:13 — user1234That is probably why this assignment is so tough because they let it get so out of compliance. Hopefully, after next year there won't be so much disparity.
You know whoever they pick
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 14:31 — JackORosesYou know whoever they pick is going to have to be black.
Not too surprising
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 15:02 — Bob_SconceThe district is largely an African-American district, and the appointee has to live in the district.
So?
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 23:19 — SDR256I thought that in America a person of any color could hold any seat. Are you telling me that if a white person lives in that neighborhood (and there are some) the black neighbors would not vote for them based on the color of their skin? Doesn't sound right to me....
Maybe they should start reassigning these seats just like they do for the schools. I thought our county government didn't want any particular type to congregate.
;P
Yeah, it sounds stupid. Just sayin....
Mr. Hui - Question
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:45 — Voice_of_Reason_Under what statute would they backfill Ms. Gill's position on the school board? And are you saying the other members get to decide who fills the position?
peterlyon- I don't see your issue as a problem. Governors normally appoint out of the same party a replacement when a state or federal level polititician dies. I think in this case, Ms. Gill is an appropriate appointee if that what she decides.
Board Policy 1050
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 13:00 — shank56All vacancies occurring in the membership of the Board by reason of death, resignation, removal of residence from the district from which elected, or for any cause whatsoever, shall be filled by the remaining members of the Board by appointing a member from the voting district creating the vacancy for the unexpired term.
more importantly this mean
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:45 — AngelaWmore importantly this mean potentially ANOTHER BoE seat up for grabs??
If Rosa was the appointee
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 14:08 — KeungHui (author)If Rosa was the appointee for Malone's slot, and folks with legislative ambitions may have a thing to say about that, the position wouldn't be on the ballot until 2011. The other eight members would pick someone to serve out her term. The last time a vacancy popped up was in 2001 when Wray Stephens resigned and Jeff York was chosen to finish out the last two years.
EITHER PARTY WOULD APPOINT
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:43 — AngelaWEITHER PARTY WOULD APPOINT MID-TERM.....duh
This is why elections
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 11:43 — shearertwThis is why elections matter...
Democrat party APPOINTING someone to office without vote
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 11:35 — peterlyonI betcha if this was a Republican the news media would be screaming about how unfair it is that the party gets to name the person with out voter input!