New Wake County school board member Deborah Prickett is no longer worried about telling the world that she's a Republican.
Prickett had been a registered Republican before changing her party status to unaffiliated in November 2007. She said she changed because she felt it was the "wise decision" to make before starting a new job at the state Department of Public Instruction.
Prickett changed her status back to Republican last month. She said she made the switch back because she felt Republicans were on the "right side" of education issues. She also said she was impressed by all the help the Wake County Republican Party provided during the election.
The party change means Republicans hold a 5-4 majority on what is officially a nonpartisan board. Prickett was one of four GOP-backed candidates elected last fall to help form a new majority on the board that pledges to bring about neighborhood schools.
3 for GOP in District 2
If three counts as a flock, candidates are flocking to compete for the Republican nomination in the District 2 Board of Commissioners race in Wake County.
Raleigh Realtor Champ Claris, who ran for Raleigh City Council last year, said this week that he will run in the May primary, joining two previously announced candidates, former Commissioner Phil Jeffreys and Garner Town Council member Phil Matthews.
Lindy Brown, the Democratic incumbent, does not face a primary opponent, as of Friday.
Ex-councilman dies
A former Raleigh city councilman died this week. John A. Edwards, 82, a civil engineer, died Monday after complications from surgery. Edwards served on Raleigh's council from 1980 to 1983.
Taylor for sheriff
For the first time this millennium, Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill, a Democrat, might have Republican opposition in his bid for re-election.
Roy G. Taylor, owner of a private security firm called Capitol Area Police, announced his candidacy and filed to run in the Republican primary May 5. If successful, he will face the Democrats' nominee in the general election Nov. 2.
Hill has been Durham County sheriff since 1994. He has beaten several challengers from his own party, but has had no general-election opposition since Republican Al Hight in 1998.
In a written statement, Taylor called for "interagency collaboration ... combating crime, drugs, gang violence, and terrorism in Durham County. One can't go to the people of Durham County and tell them everything is OK. It is not satisfactory to have gang violence, drug violence, person on person violence at the rates we have in our area."
Political trail
The Western Wake Republican Club is meeting from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Ragazzi's, 802 Cary Towne Blvd. in Cary. Dinner will precede the meeting. For more information, check www.westernwakegop.com or call 363-1967.
The Senior Democrats of Wake County will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Crabtree Marriott Hotel and will discuss traffic safety.
Join the Orange County Democratic Women from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Durham Technical Community College - Orange County Campus, 525 College Park Drive in Hillsborough. Call 942-0045 or e-mail l_foxworth_2000@yahoo.com with questions.
The banking industry and federal government will be discussed at the next Republican Women's Club of Chapel Hill meeting at 11:30 a.m. Friday . Lunch is $12 at Captain John's Dockside Restaurant. Call 942-2325 to reserve a space.
The Northern Wake Democrats will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Milton's Pizza & Pasta, 8853 Six Forks Road in Raleigh. Lorrin Freeman, Wake County Clerk of Superior Court, will speak. Call 802-3286 if you plan to attend.
Compiled by staff writers Jim Wise, T. Keung Hui, Thomas Goldsmith and Sarah Ovaska.
