Goolsby: Redenbaugh is the 'Benedict Arnold' of Democratic Party - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Senator Thom Goolsby on Monday pulled no punches when commenting on one of the possible candidates for his seat in Raleigh.

"I was interested to see that the ‘Benedict Arnold' of the Democratic Party, Elizabeth Redenbaugh, decided to throw her hat into the ring for this seat," Goolsby said during an interview late Monday.  He is referring to the former New Hanover County School Board member who announced Saturday that she will run for the Democratic nomination in the District 9 Senate race. Goolsby mentioned Redenbaugh's vote against a proposal for neighborhood schools in 2011, and subsequent switch from the Republican to Democratic party.

"You have someone who ran originally as a Republican, who then betrayed everyone in the county and voted against neighborhood schools, wanted to bus our children all over the county, and then switched parties to become a Democrat," Goolsby continued. "I don't know anyone who would trust anyone with that kind of value system."

Goolsby also took a swipe at Redenbaugh's appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte in September of 2012.  "I also find it quite curious that she's the one who was at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte last year, touting how wonderful Obamacare was. If those two ideas, busing children all over the county and Obamacare are the two big things she's going to run on, I think she's going to have a hard time getting anyone to pay serious attention to her and her idea of how government should work either at the state or federal level running for the North Carolina Senate."

Redenbaugh emailed a response when contacted about Goolsby's comments. "I look forward to sharing with the voters over the coming weeks and months my position on all the issues that have an impact on the quality of life in New Hanover County, such as how to improve our public education system and bring jobs back to North Carolina, and I am not going to start my campaign by exchanging insults with the outgoing Senator from District 9," Redenbaugh said.

Filing period for legislative candidates begins February 10, 2014 and runs through February 28, 2014. 

Copyright 2014 WECT. All rights reserved.