Issue Position: Political Leadership

Issue Position

Bureaucrats and failed political agendas have controlled North Carolina's education system for too long. In 2011, after back-to-back years with thousands of North Carolina teachers losing their jobs, a Republican controlled General Assembly was sworn into office for the first time since Reconstruction in the late 1800's. The Purdue/Atkinson administration ramped up political gamesmanship in the name of education and set a divisive tone with our new leaders. Most political experts, alert to new redistricting maps, believe that a Republican majority will hold again after the 2012 elections, regardless of what happens at the national level.

In the May primary elections, candidates on both sides of the aisle will have to be weighed against their ability to effectively work with the incoming Governor and General Assembly if they are to be able to build upon what works and improve what does not in education. If we are to produce results for our children and protect our teachers and classrooms we will need leaders who can work together.
In the Democrat primary entrenched incumbent, seeking a third term, June Atkinson has already shown inability in this regard. Her opponent, Representative Rick Glazier, launched his campaign on the platform that he will fight the Republican leadership more aggressively than Atkinson -- as he has done in the General Assembly.

In the Republican primary, there are several nice gentlemen but they lack the proven track record, results, and vision that John brings to the role. Some are career teachers who we respect and admire, but they have never served in elected leadership roles accountable for large scale systems to our citizens and taxpayers. John Tedesco is the only candidate who has been elected by the citizens, and voted on by his colleagues, to serve in the leadership of the state's largest education system.
As Vice Chairman of the Wake County Schools System, and chairman of several key committees, John Tedesco has had to be responsible for a budget of $1.5 billion and 18,000 employees, along with over 10% of the state's entire student body population. John has worked closely with members of our state leadership and produced positive impact in various roles. While we respect our GOP opponents, none of our opponents have ever come close to the accountability, leadership, and proven results to the scope and scale of John Tedesco.

Divisive partisans attempt to accuse our new state leadership of attempting to "destroy" public education. When we elect leaders like John Tedesco to work with our state officials we will see a clear vision to fix and improve our educational systems for all children in North Carolina.

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