It looks like voters found one way to reduce partisan fighting on the Wake County school board.
As noted in today’s article by Andrew Kenney, Tuesday’s vote gives Democrats a near stranglehold on the board. You’ve got seven Democrats, a former Democrat and a Republican who was reappointed to the board by Democrats.
School board member Tom Benton said that the election results would further calm partisan tensions. “This is people talking about what’s best for our schools,” he said.
School board member Bill Fletcher said the campaign had reinforced his belief that voters are tired of political fights on the board.
“The need to rebuild community around our schools is apparent,” Fletcher said. “Even folks I’ve talked to today at the polls … my take on what they shared with me is they don’t think they’re being listened to.”
Newly elected school board member Monika Johnson-Hostler added that “I feel like the board is finally in a good rhythm.”
Without much internal opposition, one question will be how the board acts moving forward.