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The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system. How much will the new Democratic majority on the school board do to undo the changes made by Republicans since 2009? How will the new choice-based assignment system work now that the socioeconomic diversity policy has been eliminated? How will Superintendent Tony Tata lead the state's largest district through more budget cuts and possible layoffs? How will the 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.
Cathy Truitt officially announced this morning that she's dropping out of the District 2 school board race.
Truitt's name will remain on the ballot because they've already been printed.
Here's the online story. More details to come from the press conference...
Comments
Getting the balloon ready
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 06:45 — Dadof3I heard there was a large, silver balloon under construction in Dr. Truitt's backyard. What's up with that (excuse the pun)?
(I'm sure there's no balloon in her backyard, but Dr. Truitt does leave me feeling, well, "punk'd")
Interesting Comment in the article
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:53 — Bob_SconceSo, she dropped out. Now, in theory, there's no reason for anybody to vote unless there's some other race on the ballot. What happens if a dozen people vote for her anyway and she wins? According the the article, the school board gets to choose the successor. But, which board? If it's the old board, then Horace Tart is back! If it's the new board, then it's split 50/50 between Tedesco supporters and Tart supporters.
Let's say that there are areas of District 2 where the school board election is the only thing on the November ballot. Do those areas still vote?
And, do we know if she has officially withdrawn, or has she only publicly withdrawn? If she hasn't officially withdrawn, then she could still win and be elected.
More questions than answers
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:17 — g88ky07Mr. Hui, where can we get some answers to some of the questions Bob presented here? Is this a ploy to backdoor her way into the seat, or worse, crack the door for Horace to climb back in?
Will John not be officially declared the winner before Nov. 3rd and why would there be an election at all now for this issue? Why would we spend money to have polling places open, especially where this was the only issue? Just because ballots have been printed?
So...
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:51 — Bob_SconceI don't think it's a ploy to backdoor her way into the seat, although I will want to make sure that she actually withdraws.
Since I posted that, I did some research -- withdrawals are governed by N.C.G.S. 163-294.1(b) (http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-294.1.html). Basically, if a withdrawn candidate wins an election, including a runoff election, then the seat is vacant and is filled in the same way than any other vacancy is filled.
That makes some sense in a general election. But, when the 2nd place candidate demands a runoff and then withdraws, it reaches a bizarre result.
Now, you would have to be completely immoral to plan to take control like that. But, considering that the powers-that-be also went behind the voters backs when the Raleigh and Wake districts were merged, I wouldn't put it past them.
Inquiring minds want to know.....
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:20 — J8307200Keung,
I concur.....its would be great to get answers to these questions!!
For what it's worth, when I
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:38 — KeungHui (author)For what it's worth, when I mentioned to Truitt today about what would happen if she won now , she was surprised. She seemed to think that things were over. She said she intends to file the paperwork with the county Board of Elections to withdraw from the race.
As for the election, there's always one held even if only one person runs. The idea is that while only one person filed it would be presumptious to deny the voters the right to express if they want a different person in office. That's why you'll sometimes hear about write-in campaigns that actually succeed.
Don't kid yourself
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 17:10 — g88ky07she's not surprised about squat. Her people told her full well how this works. I don't buy it for a second, but then, I do like a good conspiracy!
I still think
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:43 — J8307200the timing on this is very suspicious. It totally comes across like a political ploy. How do you get people so fired up to make change stay home and not vote??? HMMMMM...Let's see......convince them there is NO ELECTION!!!!
If she felt the huge margin between her and John could not be made up why call for a runoff and cost the taxpayers the extra funds? I don't think any of us are buying her "doe eyed" innocence for one second!
You know it!
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:19 — petehsYou can run but you cannot hide.
OK new board members, brace yourselves
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:17 — BlawgDawgYou are going to be treated finer than you've ever known by Del Burns and his staff in an effort to woo you to their way of thinking. They will flatter, cajole, and tell you that they really voted for you themselves, if that's what they think it will take to get you to swallow the data they give you. Be prepared for it, and continue to think for yourselves as you have been doing. Please don't fall into that trap like so many new board members have done before you. I could name names, but I think you know them as well as I do. The central office staff knows they'll be there long after you're gone, so they'll try to resist by not telling you the whole story. All you have to do to get a balanced view is ask your supporters to do some data mining, and we'll do it. Don't think it's all on you now. You have an army out here, so use us!