November 2004 Endorsement
NoMerger.org issued a press
release endorsing Valerie Foushee for the Orange Board of County
Commissioners.
There are two other candidates who are running who oppose
merger:
Press Release October 10, 2004
NoMerger.org, the group of 250 families that formed to oppose merger of the two
Orange County school districts, has endorsed Valerie Foushee for the Board of
County Commissioners.
Several group spokesmen said that Foushee’s depth of experience in government and
her receptiveness to public input would make her well-equipped to deal with the
myriad issues facing a commissioner.
“Valerie is the sort of candidate we had always hoped would throw her hat into
the ring,” said NoMerger steering committee member David Weinberg. “Her
experience in the community, in the police department, and on the Chapel
Hill school board makes her uniquely qualified.”
Foushee has served on the Chapel Hill school board for six years, and was
chairperson of the school board for some of that time.
Weinberg said the NoMerger group also felt that Foushee would display a
sensitivity to public comment that has not always been apparent in the merger
debate.
“One of the reasons so many of us got involved and formed this group was because
we felt the commissioners weren’t listening,” Weinberg said. “Foushee has
demonstrated to us that she is not only receptive to public comment, but she
genuinely wants to hear it.”
NoMerger steering committee member Mark Peters said he expected the merger issue
would continue after the election. “It is obvious from recent commissioner
meetings that one incumbent will continue to push for merger,” Peters said.
“Valerie Foushee has been clear on her opposition to merger.”
Matthew Barton, also a NoMerger steering committee member, said that there are a
number of reasons why the group opposes merging of the school systems, including
inevitable busing, and a weakening of the requirements to build schools where
they are needed. He added that NoMerger will continue to debunk many of the
fallacies that are perpetuated by pro-merger advocates, adding “This
discussion should always be based on facts.”
Peters added that Foushee has stated currently opposes merger but she favors increased
collaboration between the two school boards and appropriate funding increases
for the Orange County system. Foushee stated in a pre-primary debate that she
would support a voter-approved countywide supplemental tax.
NoMerger steering committee members emphasized that there were other anti-merger candidates running in
November but the group's current endorsement was based on more than the single issue of
merger.
“All of our members felt strongly that we didn’t want to endorse a candidate based upon one
issue alone,” Weinberg said. “Several people have written to us and said, ‘Why
don’t you endorse so-and-so? He’s against merger too.’ The answer is we are
looking at the big picture, and we need candidates who have the reach to do that as
well.”
NoMerger.org formed a Political Action Committee in May 2004 and raised several
thousand dollars in small donations from individuals within the community, which
was used for advertising during the primary. As NoMerger steering
committee members have
stated all along, the primary election in Orange County has determined the county commissioners
for as long as anyone can remember, so the majority of the groups efforts were focused on
the primary election, causing one candidate the group did not endorse during the
primary to refer to NoMerger.org as the "fifth candidate".
The many citizens involved in NoMerger.Org wish to continue the proud Orange
County tradition of local control of excellent public schools, with strong
public support for school funding. To this end NoMerger.org will stay the
course, remaining active in the merger debate and advocating for appropriate
school funding.
There are two other candidates who are running who oppose
merger:
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