Source: News & Observer
The Wake County Board of Education is charged with the management of North Carolina’s largest school system. All nine seats will be on the ballot this November and the majority of the sitting members have announced that they will not be seeking re-election. Candidate filing for the race begins in earnest next month.
According to the News & Observer, “This fall’s election could decide whether Wake continues to have a left-leaning school board majority or shifts to a more conservative direction.”
The Wake County Board of Education, like many other boards across the country, has experienced an influx of public participation, with many school board meetings becoming heated, often leading to members being confronted. David McLennan, a political science professor at Meredith College, told the News & Observer that it’s not surprising that many board members have opted to not seek re-election.
McLennan said, “Serving on the board has become much more contentious in recent years with parents and outside organizations putting pressure on board members on a variety of emotional issues, such as books in the libraries and the teaching of racial and gender issues.”
Wake County Board of Education elections are officially non-partisan, however, the county Republican and Democratic parties have said that they plan to field candidates for all nine seats.
Four board seats will be on the ballot for four-year terms and the other five seats will be on the ballot for two-year terms. Seats elected to two-year terms will switch to four-year terms in 2024.
Candidate filing for the Wake County Board of Education starts July 1st and will remain open until July 15th.
