NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Some candidates are
concerned about last minute campaign efforts in the race for New Hanover County
Board of Education.
Tammy Covil, a candidate for school board, sent out a
recorded telephone message Monday night telling voters, "…with the prospect of
elementary school redistricting looming, you can be assured that I will fight
for neighborhood schools and schools of choice."
The incumbent candidates, Jeanette Nichols and Elizabeth
Redenbaugh, both told WECT.com that they did not agree with the comment because
the school board has no intentions of redistricting.
"Unless we open a new school, we're not going to any
redistricting," said Nichols, a republican campaigning for her 4th four-year
term.
"It seems like she's trying to play on people's emotions," said
Redenbaugh, who switched to the democratic party before running for
re-election.
Covil said in an interview Monday night that she wanted
to remind parents about her position on the sensitive subject.
"I do want them to be concerned because elections have
consequences," she said.
School board chair Don Hayes agreed with Covil, saying that
redistricting is always a possibility when overcrowding is a concern.
Redenbaugh and Nichols both mentioned that redistricting is an unlikely
solution to the current overcrowding issue in Wrightsville Beach.
The previous school board approved elementary redistricting
in 2008, which took effect during the 2009-2010 school year. The current board
approved middle school redistricting in 2010, which set in place the following
school year in 2011-2012.
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Covil said parents should be concerned about candidates' beliefs on redistricting in New Hanover County.
