2011′s Big Money Race? The Wake County School Board

When Republicans won the Wake School boBrd majority in 2009 (ok, technically it was “non-partisan”, but who are we kidding?), the Democrats were caught flat-footed. Their candidates weren’t that good, their organizations weren’t as… well… organized, and the only people eager to go out and vote were the pissed off parents looking to kick out the incumbent Democrats.

The Democrats have learned form their mistakes.

Gov. Bev Perdue and several other Democratic Party leaders are scheduled to attend a Thursday fundraiser in Raleigh for a group that’s hoping to wrest control of the Wake County school board away from the Republican majority.

The stated goal of the fundraiser for the Wake Citizens for Good Government PAC is to benefit Wake school board candidates “who support high quality public schools for all children.” The PAC was formed in 2009 and unsuccessfully ran a television attack ad against Republican-backed school board candidates.

The N&O

This is going to end up just like that recent Wisconsin Supreme Court Race. The actual candidates and the positions they seek will be irrelevant. Instead, this is going to be a proxy fight and the Democrats are bringing their switchblades and brass knuckles.Do the Republicans understand the type of fight they’re in?

Other sponsors of Thursday’s fundraiser include Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, State Schools Superintendent June Atkinson, U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell, U.S. Rep. Brad Miller. U.S. Rep David Price, State Treasurer Janet Cowell, State Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. State Sen. Dan Blue, State Rep. Rosa Gill. State Rep. Grier Martin. State Rep. Deborah Ross. State Sen. Josh Stein, State Rep. Jennifer Weiss and Raleigh Councilwoman Mary-Ann Baldwin.

Five of the nine school board seats are on this fall’s ballot. GOP chairman Ron Margiotta and Democrats Kevin Hill and Keith Sutton have said they plan to run. Democrats Carolyn Morrison and Anne McLaurin, who is also Meeker’s wife, have not said if they’ll run.

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