Take Wake Schools Back and Wake Schools Community Alliance are on the same page when it comes to endorsements for school board candidates.
Both groups are backing Chris Malone in District 1, John Tedesco in District 2, Deborah Prickett in District 7 and Debra Goldman in District 9. Take Wake Schools Back announced its endorsements today while WSCA made them before the filing period ended last month.
The one crack in the unified opposition will likely be closed up next week when the leadership of the Wake County Republican Party revises its endorsements.
The GOP had also endorsed Malone, Tedesco and Goldman. But the group had backed fellow Republican Jerry Ballan in District 7 over Prickett, an unaffiliated voter.
Ballan later withdrew, citing his wife's health issues. He denied it was connected to his involvement with a 1991 prostitution case in Florida.
Claude Pope Jr., chairman of the Wake GOP, said they'll revisit the District 7 race on Aug. 11 when they also interview candidates for the Nov. 3 municipal races.
No one expects the GOP to back Karen Simon, a Democrat, in District 7. This would leave Prickett as the likely choice among the two candidates left in that race.
The Children's PAC is expected to endorse candidates as well.
Take Wake Schools Back and WSCA are touting how they're backing candidates who support "community schools." It's a less loaded term than neighborhood schools in the minds of some people.
While critics are firming up ranks, it looks like school board supporters will back Rita Rakestraw in District 1, Simon in District 7 and Lois Nixon in District 9. It's uncertain who'll they back in District 2 but it would likely be incubment Horace Tart or Cathy Truitt.
Here's today's press release from Take Wake Schools Back:
Take Wake Schools Back Announces Endorsements for School Board Candidates
RALEIGH, N.C., August 4, 2009 – The Take Wake Schools Back political action committee (PAC) has made its endorsement decisions for the October Wake County Board of Education races. The PAC endorses Chris Malone in District 1, John Tedesco in District 2, Deborah Prickett in District 7, and Debra Goldman in District 9.
All four candidates passionately advocate Take Wake Schools Back’s mission of bringing common sense back to the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) on behalf of children and families; focusing on community schools, system accountability, flexibility, transparency and excellence.
“Our PAC is thrilled to support four dynamic candidates who have the right ideas and approaches for improving the quality of education in Wake County and better serving the needs of families and taxpayers,” said Dennis Berwyn, a founding member of Take Wake Schools Back. “District 2 was a difficult decision for our PAC, because we believe that Cathy Truitt also has the expertise, forward-thinking ideas and leadership qualities that the WCPSS desperately needs. We hope Dr. Truitt will be a valuable asset to the WCPSS in another capacity.”
Take Wake Schools Back is actively raising money to support Malone, Tedesco, Prickett and Goldman. The members of the PAC are also volunteering their time to help individual campaigns. Those who wish to support the PAC’s efforts can do so at www.takewakeschoolsback.com. The PAC also encourages people to volunteer to help the candidates in their campaigns, especially those who live in one of the four districts up for election.
Comments
take a listen....
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 21:51 — AngelaWhttp://wptfmornings.blogspot.com/2009/08/john-tedesco-candidate-for-wake-county.html
Go John Tedesco!
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 08:40 — g88ky07Great piece and he sounds very "together"!
Come on October, bye bye "tired thinker" in district 2!
People Make Me Laugh
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 21:24 — ArnieOsbornI am never sure what will be said next. Eight people running everything... Some days I wish that were true, it would make life so much easier.
It is time to climb out from behind the bushes, pull your ear away from the window sill and meet these potential candidates. Ask them the hard questions. Hold their feet to the fire, get a real answer. The best news so far is that they are taking a stand. It may not be the stand that you want, but at least it is a stand and people of conviction and principle is exactly what we need in Wake County.
These folks are hoping to accomplish much for the children of Wake County... how do I know... I was running against one of them, until I realized we wanted the same thing... a better future for our children. I believe in these folks and I trust my children to them.
Wait a minute ... aren't
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:23 — MorrisVMorrisWait a minute ... aren't both these groups run by the same eight people? These look like GOP front groups to me.
and we all ride around on
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 20:45 — CaryCurmudgeonand we all ride around on little tricycles at our conferences.
Just a sec...
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 20:20 — designmanNope, wrong again. Sorry, pal, both groups are comprised of thousands of fed up parents and voters with a variety of politcal affiliations. What you are experiencing is wishful thinking, an affliction suffered by many on the losing side when they see the writing on the wall.
You know....
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 17:24 — Bob_SconceIt's not any fun if you just copy the opposition talking points word-for-word. Couldn't you at least be a little more clever about it? For example, naming the eight people you claim to be running both groups and stating their party affiliations?
You know, I heard all the status-quo supporters were closet communists, child-abusers and drug-dealers. These look like satanic front-groups to me.
What else is there?
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 20:32 — designmanWithout the talking points, what else could the opposition possibly have to say? They certainly cannot cite any successes. Heck, even the BOE members they support have no answers to their failied policies and are quitting.
A satanic front-group, eh? Funny stuff.