Stan Norwalk may not be the only Wake County commissioner who gives up his seat early.
Under The Dome reported yesterday that Tony Gurley had announced he had filed organizational papers to run for lieutenant governor in 2012. Gurley's term on the board of commissioners doesn't end until 2014 so he could keep the seat while running for statewide office.
If Gurley wins, the leadership of the Wake County Republican Party would be able to nominate a successor that the commissioners would have to accept. That person would hold the seat through 2014.
A similar scenario could play out this year after Norwalk sells his home and moves to Kansas. In that case, the GOP majority on the board of commissioners would have to accept the person picked by the Wake County Democratic Party.
Gurley and Norwalk have frequently clashed over issues, particularly on funding and the old school diversity policy.
Comments
This is getting old. We
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 08:46 — CaryCurmudgeonThis is getting old. We already have two of nine school board members who are appointed, now we can potentially have two of seven commissioners who are also appointed. Vacant seats should be filled by special election, the don't "belong" to a political party or a board majority.
What sort of a...
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 10:00 — bpuli9999democracy do you think we live in?
Argh....
Thu, 03/24/2011 - 17:00 — Bob_SconceWhat sort of $%^! is this? Gurley was just elected last year. If he didn't want the Commissioner's job, he shouldn't have run for the office.
Gurley
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 11:20 — stan_norwalkBob,
My SWAG is that Republican Party officials pressured Commissioner Gurley to run for the BOC. The alternative was to increase the odds that a strong Democratic contender would have won the race...and that would have tipped the BOC the other way. Just guessing, but by running, Comm. Gurley increased his stature as a party loyalist.
The bigger question is is - who is next to go?
You are smarter and more
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 09:02 — woodstockYou are smarter and more aware than this... it is nothing new. Politicians routinely use their positions at one level as a spring board to the next level. Hell, Obama was a Senator for about 150 days before he essentially dropped out to run for President.
And Sarah Palin...
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 09:57 — bpuli9999quit to make more money.
Oh yeah....
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 09:13 — Bob_SconceOh, I know it's routine for politicians. Yet another indication of the state of ethics among the political class. Slimy bastards.
That's being bit naive and
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 09:30 — woodstockThat's being bit naive and ignoring certain realities. Are you really calling Gurley a "slimey bastard?" That's unfair and just plain inappropriate. Getting elected is difficult, one can't just crawl out from under a rug and get elected to a higher office. There is a process and it is unfortuately a messy one.
Um....
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 10:17 — Bob_Sconceone can't just crawl out from under a rug and get elected to a higher office
Two words: John Edwards
Saying that there's a "process" for this only means that politicians have institutionalized their smileyness.
But, nevermind me. I'm generally down on all politicians, especially those rat-bastards (of both parties) currently occupying Congress, who are so afraid that they'll be voted out of office that they're not making the cuts which clearly have to be made, and then they're using gimmickry to make it seem like they're doing far more than they actually are.
I see, being an armchair
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 12:32 — woodstockI see, being an armchair idealist must be very challenging.
It's not just you. Last
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 10:48 — CaryCurmudgeonIt's not just you. Last week, Gallup released a survey showing Americans' confidence in government is at an all-time low. Many of us have voiced issues over Rosa Gill and Beverly Clark's seats being filled with appointees, to not have the same concern with Gurley potentially being replaced by appointment would be hypocritical. "Saving someone a seat" should happen in grade school, not government.
For clarification, I agree
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 12:28 — woodstockFor clarification, I agree that there should be special elections instead of appointments. In fact, maybe the candidate who is leaving office for another elected position -- or his/her campaign committee --should have to fund the special election.
You are right...
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 09:59 — bpuli9999only democrats are. Everything republicans do deserves our greatest respect.
It's the same...
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 08:39 — bpuli9999$%##@ that all politicians pull. However, I think the reason is that he can raise more money as an "in-office" candidate than as an outsider. And that is what it is all about anyway.