Letter to the Editor: Gerrymandering Voting Districts in Stallings?

 Politics, Stallings  1 Response »
Mar 092013
 

Is Incumbent Gerrymandering Alive And Well in Stallings, NC?

On Feb. 11th and 25th the subject of “voting districts” was on the agenda for Stallings council meetings. For those who aren’t familiar with the serious nature of the subject it would be worthwhile to listen to the audio of the meetings by going to the Town of Stallings website and referring to the archived minutes and agendas for the Feb. 11th and 25th meetings.

Harry Stokes, Shawna Steele, Fred Weber and Reed Esarove are adamantly opposed to rebalancing the six voting districts, (actually residency districts) before the November 2013 elections. Stallings has not balanced voting districts since 2001, even though tremendous growth from annexations, new developments and population increases has changed to the point where our voting districts are seriously out of balance by 129%.

It was amazing to hear Steele and Esarove’s comments, which included words such as “inappropriate”, “gerrymandering”, “Chicago style politics”, and fear of the perception that council would be accused of trying to influence who is elected.

There is a term for what the majority on Stallings town council is trying to cram down Stallings citizen’s throats. It is called “incumbent gerrymandering.” Incumbent gerrymandering is most evident in districts 1 and 2, because reduced electoral competition produces “safe” seats for pre-selected individuals. It also reduces voter turnout by diminishing the chance that an individual solitary vote can change the outcome of an election. Gerrymandering in districts I and 2 reduces the chances for a newcomer in either of those districts to be elected because it increases campaign costs by making it harder to build name recognition across districts that wander far and wide over an area seven miles long. This gives incumbents Stokes and Esarove an even bigger advantage, and restricts opportunities for other citizens to become involved in the electoral process.

To ensure that no further action on changes in district boundaries would take place this year Fred Weber succeeded in getting his motion passed to table discussions on district rebalancing until after the November elections. Weber brags about being “independent” and not influenced by others on how he votes. It is interesting to note that neither Weber nor Steele, to my knowledge, ever voted on any motion in opposition to Stokes and Esarove. The outcome is always 4 to 2, with Dunn and Frost in the minority.

Harry Stoke and Reed Esarove helped Steele and Weber get elected. It appears those favors are now being returned. Surprisingly Stokes offered financial assistance to both Weber, (my opponent) and me, suggesting an attempt to buy influence no matter who won. I refused his offer to avoid any future obligation. Since Weber and Steele were seated on council many controversial and expensive changes have been made, such as the generous contract extension for the town manager, firing and replacing the police chief, and use of patrol cars for long commutes by town policemen living outside the area. All these items involve increased expense to taxpayers.

It is an insult to the intelligence of the Stallings electorate to ignore obvious malapportionment in residency districts, which is clearly spelled out in the town charter, as well as NC General Statutes. The brazen attempt to ignore discrepancies in district population balance makes one wonder who or what is behind such an agenda.

I firmly believe it is time for a referendum to allow Stallings residents to have input in the manner for structuring voting districts, and whether or not we have at-large seats on council. Since Stallings has an unusual geographic makeup it may be a good idea to consider dividing the town into 4 voting districts, with two at- large seats to compose the six member council. A hybrid system such as this would legally require rebalancing after every US Census, while our present residency districts legally do not have to meet state and federal statutes.

Stallings citizens need to get actively involved, demand objective, precise criteria to which any district map must comply in order to eliminate “incumbent gerrymandering now, as well as in future elections.

Stallings will be electing a mayor and four council members in November, 2013. Candidates will begin filing for office from July 5th to July 13th, 2013. If we are going to do anything to get more effective, honest, transparent representation time is running short.

Sincerely,

Ira Bostic
Concerned Stallings resident and voter

 

 

 

 

Letter from disgusted teacher: ‘I quit’

 Politics, School System  No Responses »
Oct 312012
 

Reader Note: The following article was published in the Washington Post focusing on a resignation letter written by a Union County teacher.

The resignation letter below was written by teacher Kris L. Nielsen of Monroe, N.C. and sent to Union County Public Schools. Why is Nielsen quitting right now? “Because…I refuse to be led by a top-down hierarchy that is completely detached from the classrooms for which it is supposed to be responsible,” and “I will not spend another day under the expectations that I prepare every student for the increasing numbers of meaningless tests,” and more. Read the whole letter, which was first published by  United Opt Out National.

Kris L. Nielsen
Monroe, NC 28110
Union County Public Schools
Human Resources Department
400 North Church Street
Monroe, NC 28112

October 25, 2012

To All it May Concern:

I’m doing something I thought I would never do—something that will make me a statistic and a caricature of the times. Some will support me, some will shake their heads and smirk condescendingly—and others will try to convince me that I’m part of the problem. Perhaps they’re right, but I don’t think so. All I know is that I’ve hit a wall, and in order to preserve my sanity, my family, and the forward movement of our lives, I have no other choice.

Before I go too much into my choice, I must say that I have the advantages and disadvantages of differentiated experience under my belt. I have seen the other side, where the grass was greener, and I unknowingly jumped the fence to where the foliage is either so tangled and dense that I can’t make sense of it, or the grass is wilted and dying (with no true custodian of its health). Are you lost? I’m talking about public K-12 education in North Carolina. I’m talking about my history as a successful teacher and leader in two states before moving here out of desperation.

In New Mexico, I led a team of underpaid teachers who were passionate about their jobs and who did amazing things. We were happy because our students were well-behaved, our community was supportive, and our jobs afforded us the luxuries of time, respect, and visionary leadership. Our district was huge, but we got things done because we were a team. I moved to Oregon because I was offered a fantastic job with a higher salary, a great math program, and superior benefits for my family. Again, I was given the autonomy I dreamed of, and I used it to find new and risky ways to introduce technology into the math curriculum. My peers looked forward to learning from me, the community gave me a lot of money to get my projects off the ground, and my students were amazing.

Then, the bottom fell out. I don’t know who to blame for the budget crisis in Oregon, but I know it decimated the educational coffers. I lost my job only due to my lack of seniority. I was devastated. My students and their parents were angry and sad. I told myself I would hang in there, find a temporary job, and wait for the recall. Neither the temporary job nor the recall happened. I tried very hard to keep my family in Oregon—applying for jobs in every district, college, private school, and even Toys R Us. Nothing happened after over 300 applications and 2 interviews.

The Internet told me that the West Coast was not hiring teachers anymore, but the East Coast was the go-to place. Charlotte, North Carolina couldn’t keep up with the demand! I applied with three schools, got three phone interviews, and was even hired over the phone. My very supportive and adventurous family and I packed quickly and moved across the country, just so I could keep teaching.

I had come from two very successful and fun teaching jobs to a new state where everything was different. During my orientation, I noticed immediately that these people weren’t happy to see us; they were much more interested in making sure we knew their rules. It was a one-hour lecture about what happens when teachers mess up. I had a bad feeling about teaching here from the start; but, we were here and we had to make the best of it.

Union County seemed to be the answer to all of my problems. The rumors and the press made it sound like UCPS was the place to be progressive, risky, and happy. So I transferred from CMS to UCPS. They made me feel more welcome, but it was still a mistake to come here.

Let me cut to the chase: I quit. I am resigning my position as a teacher in the state of North Carolina—permanently. I am quitting without notice (taking advantage of the “at will” employment policies of this state). I am quitting without remorse and without second thoughts. I quit. I quit. I quit!

Why?

Because…

I refuse to be led by a top-down hierarchy that is completely detached from the classrooms for which it is supposed to be responsible.

I will not spend another day under the expectations that I prepare every student for the increasing numbers of meaningless tests.

I refuse to be an unpaid administrator of field tests that take advantage of children for the sake of profit.

I will not spend another day wishing I had some time to plan my fantastic lessons because administration comes up with new and inventive ways to steal that time, under the guise of PLC [Professional Learning Community] meetings or whatever. I’ve seen successful PLC development. It doesn’t look like this.

I will not spend another day wondering what menial, administrative task I will hear that I forgot to do next. I’m far enough behind in my own work.

I will not spend another day wondering how I can have classes that are full inclusion, and where 50% of my students have IEPs, yet I’m given no support.

I will not spend another day in a district where my coworkers are both on autopilot and in survival mode. Misery loves company, but I will not be that company.

I refuse to subject students to every ridiculous standardized test that the state and/or district thinks is important. I refuse to have my higher-level and deep thinking lessons disrupted by meaningless assessments (like the EXPLORE test) that do little more than increase stress among children and teachers, and attempt to guide young adolescents into narrow choices.

I totally object and refuse to have my performance as an educator rely on “Standard 6.” It is unfair, biased, and does not reflect anything about the teaching practices of proven educators.

I refuse to hear again that it’s more important that I serve as a test administrator than a leader of my peers.

I refuse to watch my students being treated like prisoners. There are other ways. It’s a shame that we don’t have the vision to seek out those alternatives.

I refuse to watch my coworkers being treated like untrustworthy slackers through the overbearing policies of this state, although they are the hardest working and most overloaded people I know.

I refuse to watch my family struggle financially as I work in a job to which I have invested 6 long years of my life in preparation. I have a graduate degree and a track record of strong success, yet I’m paid less than many two-year degree holders. And forget benefits—they are effectively nonexistent for teachers in North Carolina.

I refuse to watch my district’s leadership tell us about the bad news and horrific changes coming towards us, then watch them shrug incompetently, and then tell us to work harder.

I refuse to listen to our highly regarded superintendent telling us that the charter school movement is at our doorstep (with a soon-to-be-elected governor in full support) and tell us not to worry about it, because we are applying for a grant from Race to the Top. There is no consistency here; there is no leadership here.

I refuse to watch my students slouch under the weight of a system that expects them to perform well on EOG [end of grade] tests, which do not measure their abilities other than memorization and application and therefore do not measure their readiness for the next grade level—much less life, career, or college.

I’m tired of watching my students produce amazing things, which show their true understanding of 21st century skills, only to see their looks of disappointment when they don’t meet the arbitrary expectations of low-level state and district tests that do not assesstheir skills.

I refuse to hear any more about how important it is to differentiate our instruction as we prepare our kids for tests that are anything but differentiated. This negates our hard work and makes us look bad.

I am tired of hearing about the miracles my peers are expected to perform, and watching the districts do next to nothing to support or develop them. I haven’t seen real professional development in either district since I got here. The development sessions I have seen are sloppy, shallow, and have no real means of evaluation or accountability.

I’m tired of my increasing and troublesome physical symptoms that come from all this frustration, stress, and sadness.

Finally, I’m tired of watching parents being tricked into believing that their children are being prepared for the complex world ahead, especially since their children’s teachers are being cowed into meeting expectations and standards that are not conducive to their children’s futures.

I’m truly angry that parents put so much stress, fear, and anticipation into their kids’ heads in preparation for the EOG tests and the new MSLs—neither of which are consequential to their future needs. As a parent of a high school student in Union County, I’m dismayed at the education that my child receives, as her teachers frantically prepare her for more tests. My toddler will not attend a North Carolina public school. I will do whatever it takes to keep that from happening.

I quit because I’m tired [of] being part of the problem. It’s killing me and it’s not doing anyone else any good. Farewell.

CC: Dr. Mary Ellis

Dr. June Atkinson

 

 

via Letter from disgusted teacher: ‘I quit’.

Obamacare at Center Stage

 Politics  No Responses »
Aug 192012
 

In the summer of 2009, President Obama and congressional Democrats faced a dilemma. In the midst of a severe economic downturn, and less than a year after the national debt had reached the 14-figure mark for the first time in American history, they wanted to launch a brand-new federal health care entitlement—and they needed a way (at least on paper) to pay for it. They were only willing to fund about half of it with tax hikes, so they needed to come up with a lot of additional money. Their chosen funding source is now coming back to haunt them.

It is doing so as Democrats try to ride to victory by demagoguing Paul Ryan’s (and Mitt Romney’s) proposed Medicare reforms—which would help keep Medicare (and the nation) solvent by giving future seniors more freedom, more choice, and more opportunity to pursue value. But raising the Medicare issue also brings to light this inconvenient fact: Medicare is where the Democrats decided to get the rest of the money to fund Obamacare.

via Obamacare at Center Stage | The Weekly Standard.

‘Damaged’ GOP candidate to hand Dems safe seat?

 Election 2012, Robert Pittenger  No Responses »
Jul 152012
 

As Republicans hope to pick up additional House seats and even capture the Senate in November, they are nettled by the growing prospect of losing an otherwise safe House seat in North Carolina to Democrats.

Two Republicans are battling in a primary run-off for the 9th District seat held by retiring Republican Rep. Sue Myrick, who has held it for 18 years. But the frontrunner is so plagued by scandals that the party fears the Democrat candidate in the race could exploit them and possibly win Myrick’s largely conservative congressional district located south of Charlotte, N.C.

Tuesday’s [July 17] run-off election will decide the primary race between Robert Pittenger, who garnered 32 percent of the vote, and Jim Pendergraph, who took 25 percent.

Despite his edge in the polls, Pittenger is considered “damaged goods,”according to a GOP congressional leader in Washington.

“Robert Pittenger is a bad person,” said the official, who wished to go unnamed. “The guy is involved in public corruption by FBI definition.”

In 2007, she publicly severed ties with Pittenger after he spread what she called false rumors that they had cut a deal whereby she would run for North Carolina governor and endorse Pittenger for her congressional seat.

No fewer than 16 current and former elected officials from Myrick’s district – including seven mayors – have endorsed Pendergraph over Pittenger, largely because of the ethical cloud hanging over Pittenger.

In fact, Pittenger, a former North Carolina state senator, may soon become a target of investigation. And party officials worry Democratic candidate Jennifer Roberts will seize on the news during the general election.
via ‘Damaged’ GOP candidate to hand Dems safe seat?.

Reader Note: I am not a fan of quoting unnamed sources as used in the article linked above, but in this case, common sense would lend credence to the use. Democrats, with the aid of a liberal media has made Mitt Romney’s departure from Bain Capital into a felony, what do you think they will do with the alleged corruption of Robert Pittenger? How much more of his millions will Pittenger spend after the primary? How much enthusiasm can the GOP muster to support damaged goods?

Pendergraph, Pittenger spar in 9th District debate

 Election 2012, Robert Pittenger  No Responses »
Jul 092012
 

At the News 14/WTVI/League of Women Voters debate, Pendergraph and Pittenger posed for photos shaking hands. But in the second half of the debate, Pendergraph came out swinging.

“As a state senator he failed to recuse himself from a vote where he profited greatly,” Pendergraph said. “That’s illegal. And as a career law enforcement officer I can promise you that will be investigated.”

Then like a prosecutor cross-examining a hostile witness, Pendergraph leaned over the table separating him and Pittenger and presented him with a photocopy of the deed to the Waxhaw land.

“And I have to ask, Mr. Pittenger, is that your signature on this deed?”

Pittenger responded, “I think it’s well understood what you have there and we’ll respond to it.”

Pittenger has accused Pendergraph of desperation tactics saying an ethics committee investigation had cleared him in the 2003 land deal and there was no criminal investigation.

“This is political nonsense,” said Pittenger in a post-debate interview. “These are people who have a political agenda. They have their own reasons they want to use something like this that is a very cheap shot that has no basis at all.”

Pendergraph explicitly stated that the issue of “trust” was crucial in the election because so little separated he and Pittenger on the issues. Pendergraph declined to say whether he would endorse Pittenger in the general election if he won the primary, saying he had not thought about it and to check back with him after next Tuesday’s runoff.

via Pendergraph, Pittenger spar in 9th District debate | WCNC.com Charlotte.

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