The largest group representing Wake County teachers and other school employees has made its endorsements for this fall’s school board races.
Wake NCAE is endorsing all seven school board members running for re-election on Nov. 8: Tom Benton in District 1, Monika Johnson-Hostler in District 2, Keith Sutton in District 4, Jim Martin in District 5, Christine Kushner in District 6, Zora Felton in District 7 and Bill Fletcher in District 9.
The Wake County chapter of the N.C. Association of Educators is also endorsing Gary Lewis for the open District 8 seat being vacated by Susan Evans, who is running for a seat in the state Senate.
“These candidates are advocates of public education who have pledged or demonstrated they have and will work towards making sure resources are provided to keep our schools great,” said Wake NCAE president Paulette Jones Leaven in a written statement. “A Wake NCAE endorsement lets voters know that we value the candidates’ stance and their unwavering commitment to public education.”
The only race that did not receive an endorsement was District 3, where former board member Roxie Cash is the lone candidate seeking to replace outgoing board member Kevin Hill. Jones Leaven said the lack of an endorsement is not a reflection on Cash.
Jones Leaven said Cash wasn’t endorsed because the race is uncontested. She said Wake NCAE endorsed incumbents in three uncontested races – Martin, Kushner and Felton – because they had been endorsed in their last campaigns.
Cash hasn’t been on the board since 1999.
Wake NCAE’s endorsement list includes six Democrats and two Republicans. Fletcher and Lewis are both registered Republicans.
“Political affiliation doesn’t matter,” Jones Leaven said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re Republicans or Democrats if they support public education.”
The Wake County Democratic Party and the Wake County Republican Party have both already announced who they’re endorsing for school board.
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