Wayne Week — Nov. 3, 2024

Wayne

WEEK

ELECTION 2024 NOV E M BE R 3, 2 0 24

Our voting guide for the thousands who have yet to cast their ballot.

N E WOL DNORT H .C OM

p. 14

2

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

CONTENTS NOVEMBER 3, 2024 Volume 2, Issue 11

NEWOLDNORT H .CO M

EDITORIAL EDITOR Ken Fine EDITOR Renee Carey DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Hallie Hulse Evans ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE McKayla Alves ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lara Landers

PUBLISHER

New Old North Media LLC

CONTACTS EDITORS

kfine@newoldnorth.com rcarey@newoldnorth.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES hevans@newoldnorth.com llanders@newoldnorth.com malves@newoldnorth.com

DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES

advertising@newoldnorth.com

4 Livingston made case to council

Less than a week before a majority of members of the Goldsboro City Council opted to launch a search for a new city manager, the man who has held the position in an interim capacity for the last eight months sent them a 3,000-word email that spelled out why he believes he is the best person for the job.

10 SRO stops armed student at GHS A teenager brought a 9 mm to Goldsboro High School Oct. 25, but nobody saw it until 3 p.m. Once staff successfully confiscated it, they learned it was equipped with an extended magazine containing 23 live rounds — and that the student was prepared to use it for "self defense" in the event a fight broke out at the staging area for the school's buses.

10 Wedding annoucement

Former Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. Executive Director Julie Metz and her longtime partner, Ty Norris, tied the knot in front of an intimate group of family members and friends at a vineyard in Pennsylvania Oct. 26.

12 Our take

The fact that a teenager had a loaded 9 mm tucked in his waistband for nearly the entire day at Goldsboro High School should scare every single parent in Wayne County — and shock the Wayne County Board of Commissioners into providing the school district with the funding necessary to install metal detectors at every WCPS campus.

14 Election guide © 2024 NEW OLD NORTH MEDIA LLC All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without permission.

Several candidates declined to speak to Wayne Week about why they are running for office, but those who did gave us — and will give you — a lot to think about before you head to the polls on Election Day, if you are one of the thousands of Wayne County residents who have not yet cast a ballot.

WAYNE WEEK (ISSN 2993-9666) is published weekly for $125 per year by New Old North Media, LLC, 219 N. John Street, Goldsboro, NC, 27530.

Periodicals postage pending at Goldsboro, NC, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WAYNE WEEK, 219 N. John Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530.

COVER DESIGN

BY SHAN STUMPF

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 3

NEWS +VIEWS Livingston made case for job before search was launched Interim City Manager Matthew Livingston sent members of the Goldsboro City Council a 3,000-word email a week before the majority of the board voted to launch a formal search for a permanent chief executive.

BY KEN FINE

L

ess than a week before a majority of the Goldsboro City Council voted to open a formal search for a permanent city manager, the man who has held the position in an interim capacity since February outlined, in a 3,000-word email sent to members of the board, why he is, in his words, a “transformational leader.”

But the message, which was sent two days after several council members told Wayne Week they supported launching a search in the interest of ensuring the best possible chief executive was ultimately hired — even if that person ended up being Livingston, himself — did not persuade the four who voted against extending him a contract Oct. 21.

The following is a word-for-word reflection of the email sent Oct. 15 at 6:19 p.m.

Note: It has not been edited for grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Some formatting has been changed for design purposes and clarity. ________________________________________ Good evening. In the last meeting when discussing a future contract, I was asked if I had any initial comments.

One of the things I had asked for was for a better understanding of the work and expectations you have for the City Manager. That is important for any Manager to know because at the end of the day, if the work that I and my staff are doing is not aligning well with what you believe is important or needs doing then over time we are going to run into situations or even problems. Clear communication is always the most important step when starting out. While I have been your Interim City Manager I have clearly communicated my top priorities to each of you at every council meeting.

Thankfully, some of those initial critical priorities have been accomplished such as getting the Audits completed. In two weeks, I expect that we will have turned in our audit for 23/24 on time for the first time in 5 years.

However, there has been many more things going on with the city at that time and some ongoing today. I think it is very important for you to

4

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

1). What would I do in my first 100 days if selected as City Manager? The keys to a Successful City operations Executive Summary

Matthew Livingston

know what my priorities are just to be sure there is no misunderstanding.

The attachment is not an all-inclusive list there are several more items that could fill up twenty more pages. I felt it important to drill down on those matters that I feel are very significant right now. Again, there are several that I did not address like PFAS/PFOS contamination. In part because we are developing a plan to address that and we will need to find all the funding in the next five or ten years to handle that issue. I am confident though that the city can identify future funding to address that issue along with the settlement funds we are going to get from the class action lawsuits. I would like to take some time and speak with you individually and go over this information prior to Monday of possible.

Most of the information on the attachment you may already be aware of, but it is provided for context and perspective as you as elected leaders determine the best way ahead. Our job is to help get you where you want to go. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. Have a blessed evening.

Since assuming the Interim City Manager position was to increase accountability, provide greater transparency and improve organizational efficiency. The top priority was addressing the financial affairs of the city and concerns with a 2-year performance audit and annual audit that had been perpetually behind.

Suffice it to say, the financial affairs of the city were under heavy scrutiny mostly from outside agencies but also from me as the Manager as I now had direct responsibility. That was made very clear to the Finance Department.

The immediate top priority was completion of the audit an annual which had been behind for several years. In fact, the city has not had an audit submitted on time in almost five years. That will change with the fy23/24 audit submitted by October 31st. Submitting extremely late audits is the single greatest reason why the City of Goldsboro has been on the unit assistance list for many years. The need to have the City’s financial house in order from an auditing perspective cannot be understated. This has been done. Moving forward the city will be ready to take advantage of opportunities as they arise and be prepared to quickly and effectively deal with threats. Essentially, this will enable the city to think and act proactively. The next step that we are currently working on is getting removed from the Unit Assistance list.

I spent 24.5 years in the US Coast Guard its motto is Semper Paratus which is Latin for always ready. My training in the Coast Guard impressed upon the need to always be ready and what being ready truly means from an organization’s perspective. Consequently, I do believe an essential element for the success of any city is preparing and being ready. There are many forms of

readiness that exist within a municipal government. They are mission readiness, personnel readiness, material readiness and governance. From my perspective as City Manager, it is my role to ensure that the city is ready is working in all those areas to improve our readiness position. Many of the future projects and initiatives that we are currently undertaking or planning ties directly back to improving our readiness condition.

In reviewing the organization from a management perspective, I have noted several organizational changes could be beneficial. Specifically, those that would improve the capabilities and readiness of our leaders, staff and Governing Board. I will get to some of those later.

The challenge is identifying the best approach to doing so along with an effective implementation plan. To assist us, we have selected a group of experienced consultants to gauge our need’s structure and better understand the opportunities that an organizational study can provide. The study report should prove invaluable direction to the city and serve as an organizational roadmap for the future. This will serve as a very important document for the city that we must be prepared and ready to implement. It is expected to be completed in roughly 60 days.

Current Initiatives: • Creating new forward looking planning documents and future Vision.

Being ready requires planning in all areas. Successful municipal organizations consistently and effectively plan and implement those plans in a timely manner. Creating new plans that correspond with growth and conditions on the ground is essential to healthy development of a city. A primary goal of any land use plan is achieving a future vision that is in keeping with what its residents value and prefer and that future

residents will want to experience and be a part of. These documents will then serve current and future leaders and assist them with land use decision making.

They are very important and that is why I am mentioning them here.

• 25-year Comprehensive Land Use Plan At the heart of every city should be an excellent Comprehensive Land Use Plan. This is especially important when a city is growing as Goldsboro is and is expecting to grow even faster at the Raleigh Metropolitan area continues to expand. The plan will govern and guide future land use decisions in accordance with the future vision of the community. It should carefully understand current and future investments to help guide a growth strategy that will create favorable land uses while safeguarding our current development patterns. The city has completed a request for proposals and has received four qualified bidders. Staff will soon be recommending a consultant to start this project in December of 2024.

• Parks and recreation Master Plan The city has selected McGill and Associates to update to the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The current plan s well over ten years old and does not currently reflect the conditions on the ground or the recommended future state of recreation services in the City of Goldsboro. The lack of an updated plan has effectively hampered the City from obtaining grant funds. In addition, the city is really at a crossroads with recreation now that Herman Park Center

is closed. As a result of the closing of Herman Park recreation staff have very limited office space and have had to use city hall. There is a potential solution for this that will be brought forward to the city council very soon.

• Business Development Visioning Session Working with the North Carolina Department of Commerce the city recently approved an agreement to conduct a vision forum. The vision forum is essentially a round table style discussion with a group of stakeholders that is reflective of the community. The proposed outcome is to identify gaps and needs within the community, identify new partnerships and how to strengthen existing partnerships.

Overall Keys to Success for the next two years There are many keys to a successful municipal organization. The list below is certainly not all inclusive, however, those listed below are one I believe we can apply in Goldsboro to great benefit.

They are also areas where we believe we need to make some changes.

1). Working smarter not harder from reactivity to proactivity: The culture in the City of Goldsboro has been one of simply working harder to get the job done or just doing for the sake of doing and not taking enough time to evaluate the how and why. The inherent weakness with this approach is that it leads to burnout and ineffectiveness over

time. One of the things I consistently hear is the lack of time they have to get their work done.

A key component that I intend to implement is going back to the basics.

In doing so I am going to be asking departments to look at essential versus non-essential tasks. Are we really focusing on what matters most and conversely are we spending too much time on internal processes or procedures that do not really move the needle that much in delivering services to our citizens. One of the tools that is important here is to utilize proven best management practices. The best management practices are already underway.

2). Excellence in Financial management, reporting and transparency: With the city now caught up on its audits we can focus more on other matters regarding financial planning, investments, reporting a greater transparency. The city has greatly improved its financial position over the last three years. However, we should do more in making our financial reports easier to read and understand to the average citizen. We have a long way to go here and it will be challenging.

3). Achieving a sense of ownership and teamwork throughout all departments while boosting morale: The city has historically tended to operate in a siloed fashion. Part of the reason for this is that the organizational structure in Goldsboro is flat and seg-

regated into sixteen different departments. Many of the departments have several cross functional responsibilities.

The implementation of the organizational study will give us a way ahead with this. Departments need more support from upper management. However, the current structure with fifteen department heads reporting directly to the City Manager is not very feasible.

4). Project management The city has several dozen active projects going on these projects range in dollar amount to a few hundred thousand to several million. We are currently working on a system and a process that will help us better manage, track and organize projects throughout the city and put them on our website so that we can be more transparent with the community and keep them updated on major projects.

5). Leveraging outside resources and grants to offset direct costs to the city Successful municipalities are skilled at seeking out and successfully applying for and implementing grants. This not only reduces expenses to the city but oftentimes results in more efficient and effective tools or processes. Staff needs to be encouraged more to go after grants as often as possible.

6). Commitment to Community Safety and Security (Ongoing) For any city to be successful we must Continued on page 7

HOW THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL VOTED ON LIVINGSTON

Here is how members of the Goldsboro City Council voted Oct. 21 when asked if they wanted to forgo a formal search and, instead, extend a contract to Interim City Manager Matthew Livingston:

Chris Boyette (D2)

YES

Charles Gaylor (Mayor)

YES

Hiawatha Jones (D1)

NO

Brandi Matthews (D4)

NO

Jamie Taylor (D3)

NO

Beverly Weeks (D5)

YES

Roderick White (D6)

newoldnorth.com

NO

. Wayne WEEK . 5

6

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

Continued from page 5

have safe and clean neighborhoods. This is fundamental to any city anywhere.

This gets back to the fundamental of community policing and understanding where your crime hot spots are and how best to help the community and citizens by providing opportunities for education and jobs. This is an area we must address in our planning.

Administration: Within the City Managers office there are several key initiatives that are part of this fiscal year’s goals and objectives.

A few of those are highlighted below but it is not an all-inclusive list.

• Implement new agenda management software/Civic Plus (Currently in Progress) The purpose of implementing agenda management software is to increase organizational effectiveness and efficiency in part by going to a completely paperless agenda and an automated voting system. The system software will allow us to store all items and information related to city council meetings in one easily searchable domain which is cloud based. Additionally, it streamlines, standardizes and simplifies our agenda management process.

• Continued Implementation of best management practices throughout city operations (Currently in progress) This is a new initiative that started in late July at the beginning of the current fiscal year. The goal is to continuously improve departmental operations through the identification and implementation of several best practices. All city departments were tasked with identifying three best management practices that they believe would have significant impact on departmental efficiency, effectives, morale and service delivery. Attached is a draft of where we are now as we fine tune implementation strategy.

• Development of 5-year Capital Improvement Plan The city has fallen behind on recapitalizing much of it’s equipment and vehicles in large part due to its inability to borrow due to being on the Unit Assistance list and having late audits.

The need to prioritize spending to recapitalize in crucial areas of the city’s operations has become critical. The formation of the five-year Capital Plan is an essential tool to achieving this objective. The plan is nearing comple-

tion and is expected to be complete in December of 2024.

• Review and develop implementation plan for Organization study The City is currently working with Management Advisory Group (MAG) to produce a pay and classification report to update and improve our pay and classification plan to better understand market condition and any internal inequities that need to be addressed regarding pay. The report will also review policies. We have also requested that (MAG) do an organizational study.

The goal of the study is to review the organization’s structure and general practices and determine where greater efficiencies are needed and can be had through changes in policy procedure or organizational structure.

Intergovernmental Relations • Continue to build upon relationships with other local governments This is an area where the city has laid out new groundwork. I believe we have succeeded to a great extent. We are especially improving in economic development. However, there are several areas where the City and County should partner to identify workable solutions to ongoing challenges such as the unhoused population, crime, safety and drug addiction. As a experienced leader in several organizations I have learned first hand the value and importance of relationship building and collaboration.

Also, having 25 years’ experience in local government you develop valuable key relationships and resources that you have come to rely on when working through various projects or initiatives.

• Create a future vision for business development and revitalization to work in conjunction with components of the Choice Neighborhood initiative

Keen Plumbing Keen Plumbing Co.Co.

2 02 3

2022

“Service since 1923”

“Service since 1923.”

“Goldsboro’s Water Heater Specialists.”

“Goldsboro’s Water Heater• Specialist” RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL Residential

• Repairs Commercial & Installation • •Tankless Water Heaters Industrial • Water Heaters Drain Cleaning • Repairs & •Installation • Water Sewer Lines • Faucets & Sinks • Water Heaters • Pipe Line Cameras • Back Flow Preventers • Drain Cleaning

735-1920

Licensed • Water Sewer Lines Need service? Call us now at 919-735-1920! and Insured • Faucets & Sinks • Tankless Waterwww.keenplumbing.com Heaters • Pipe Line Cameras • Back Flow Preventers

www.keenplumbing.com

Other department Initiatives:

Fire: The Goldsboro Fire Department functions at a very high-level providing fire and first responder services to Goldsboro and surrounding area when called upon. The department has been able to maintain staffing levels in a challenging environment. The most critically important issue is keeping our rolling stock operational and replacing key engines.

• Conduct Emergency Management Drills bi-annually Continued on page 8 newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 7

Continued from page 7

PROVIDING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE INSURANCE SINCE 1927

The city has not generally conducted interagency drills for major emergency management responses such as major storms, mass shooters and other events. I have requested Fire Department to begin implementation of various drills and tabletop emergency preparedness exercises to increase our state of readiness.

Police:

John D. Lewis

Gaston Lewis

For nearly 100 years, O’Berry & Lewis, Inc. has maintained the same passion and drive the agency was founded on through excellent service and reliable insurance solutions. We continue to execute this vision by providing a professional and personable experience for every client with their best interests in mind.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! 200 EAST SPRUCE STREET, GOLDSBORO • 919-735-1237 • OBERRY-LEWIS.COM

I T ’ S T I M E FO R BOLDER BONDING Experience the best family vacation in the world — loaded with thrills like the largest waterpark at sea. Seven unique pools to suit any mood. Entertainment that transcends the stage — and so much more. This is Icon of the SeasSM — now sailing from Miami.

Contact Mallory Dumond to book today!

Visit MalloryTravels.net or MalloryDumond@travelmation.net

*Features vary by ship. All itineraries are subject to change without notice. ©2024 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas. 24014774 • 05/13/2024

8

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

Part 1 Violent Crimes: One of the most detrimental issues for the city of Goldsboro is the level of violent crime. This is an issue that affects us all in one way or another. To help address the police department staffing shortages the City Council did increase pay. This had led to a significant increase in applicants and the city is well on its way of reducing police staffing shortages. The goal is to increase our community policing staffing levels and get additional officers out in the field where the crime hot spots exist.

• Work closely with the Goldsboro PD to implement a strategy to bring overall violent crime sharply down in the city over the upcoming year.

• The strategy here consists of rebuilding our community police force and getting more School Resource Officers into our schools.

• Work with the community on reducing gun violence expand the gang task force role to work with community policing officers to develop strategies to safeguard residents.

Public Utilities: • Expansion of the Goldsboro water reclamation facility. The current plant has been averaging about 65% daily flow.

For the city to accommodate growth and economic development there has to be available capacity at the treatment plant.

This was and remains a top priority for me as the City Manager. We also need to continue to be the regional provider for utilities. My experience in utilities is helpful in that I understand what it is like to merger communities’ utilities, expand treatment plants and the tedious steps that the city must take to maintain its systems and status as a regional provider of water and sewer. Having a utility that is well run it helpful for the region and critical for economic expansion.

2). Given the organizational structure the city currently has what if any organizational changes are needed to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the city?

The City has far too many departments it should be reduced to no more than 12 it is currently at sixteen. Public Utilities needs to also include distributions and collections.

A government organizational consultant is reviewing the city organizational structure.

This will be the guiding document that provides a clear sense of the preferred direction or way ahead. A key challenge will be getting buy at various levels.

3). What is your vision for the future and how can you be a transformational leader for the City of Goldsboro?

My vision for the future of Goldsboro is one that involves taking advantage of the growth and opportunities that are coming our way. However, we cannot wait on the growth we have to be proactive in areas of recruitment and economic development. The vision consists of a thriving growing community with a long list of amenities for all ages and all cultures to take advantage of.

Become a learning organization while recruiting the best and brightest future leaders to energize the city and bring in a new era of prosperity.

Expansion of Bryan Multi-sports complex buy more lights to allow for longer and larger tournaments.

Expanding the treatment plant so that we can compete with other locations for economic development and accommodate growth all at the same time.

I believe in many ways I have already been a transformational leader within the city.

The staff, department heads, supervisors are generally comfortable in talking to me in that I have openly welcomed ideas and suggestions through an opendoor policy that I maintain ________________________________________ Livingston’s email did not prevent the majority of council members from deciding to launch a formal search for the man or woman who will ultimately replace Tim Salmon, who resigned in February.

Councilwoman Hiawatha Jones, Councilwoman Jamie Taylor, Councilman Roderick White, and Mayor Pro Tem Brandi Matthews all rejected the proposal to hire the interim manager without first pursuing additional applications and vetting alternative candidates.n

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 9

SRO stops armed student at Goldsboro High School

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

A GHS student had a loaded gun with an extended magazine on campus Oct. 25 — before he was taken into custody about 3 p.m.

B

J U L I E M E T Z - and - TY N OR R I S Joined in marriage Oct. 26, 2024 Belleville, Pennsylvania — With their daughter, Ruthie, by their side, former Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. Executive Director Julie Metz and her longtime partner, Ty Norris, were joined in marriage during an intimate ceremony at the Brookmere Wine & Vineyard Inn. The wedding, which was officiated by their dear friend, Sherry Archibald, and attended by a small group of family members and friends, was planned by Debbie Hamblen, owner of Event Savvy OBX — and was defined by personal touches, including family heirlooms like the baskets made and collected by the bride’s late mother that hung on the arch.

In the absence of her late father, Julie’s brothers, David and Adam Metz, walked her down the aisle and gave her away — evoking an emotional response from the crowd when they, simultaneously, kissed her on either cheek before she joined hands with Ty. And the family affair continued with a reading, by sister of the groom, Kim Miriani, of James Dillet Freeman’s “Blessing for a Marriage.”

Moments later, after they said “I do” and the sun set on the valley, the reception served as another reminder of those who were not in attendance.

Their names were spoken during toasts.

Items that their children had inherited adorned the long tables.

And Ty, who also recently lost a parent, was reminded that his late father would have “been so happy” that he and Julie finally tied the knot.

The couple wishes to thank those who made the trip and send their love to their friends in Wayne County who they know were with them in spirit.

10

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

BY KEN FINE

ack in September, Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard sent out a “very important message” via the district’s Facebook page, email, and the WCPS call system.

Two weeks earlier, a mass shooting had unfolded at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia — an incident that left four dead and seven wounded — and WCPS had seen “an increase” in “online threats made to the safety of our campuses.”

So, Whichard issued a warning of his own.

The crimes would be solved swiftly — “within a few hours” — and arrests would be made.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation would get involved.

Parents of those responsible for the threats would, in some cases, be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”

Said another way, he used the incidents to encourage parents to “pay close attention” to their children — and reiterated that the “safety of our staff and students” was WCPS’ “number one priority.”

But in the aftermath of an incident that unfolded on the Goldsboro High School campus Oct. 25, no public message has been delivered by the district or Whichard.

The following is what transpired, according to a police report obtained by Wayne Week from the Goldsboro Police Department: That Friday at “approximately” 3 p.m., two female students told a staff member that a male student was “in possession” of a firearm “in his front pants waistband.”

At the time, the armed student was in art class.

Fortunately, a behavior specialist and the GHS School Resource Officer were able to apprehend the suspect and disarm him without incident.

But the ensuing investigation revealed what a law enforcement official characterized as “troubling” information.

The student, who will not be identified because he is a minor, was in possession of the loaded 9 mm for the entire school day.

The firearm, itself — a black Polymer80 — had the serial number scratched off and was equipped with an extended magazine that contained 23 live rounds.

And the student admitted that he was prepared to use it — that he had reason to believe he might get “jumped” and brought the gun to the GHS campus to “use for self-defense purposes” in the wake of a “brawl” at the post-dismissal bus loading area earlier in the week.

So, while no tragedy unfolded, sources at GHS said it could have been “a deadly day” — that

there was “no telling what might have happened” had the teenager not been disarmed shortly before the end of the school day.

It is unclear what the final charges will be as a federal inquiry remains possible.

But as of now, the minor has been charged with two felonies — one for possession of a weapon on a school campus and the other for knowingly possessing a firearm with no serial number for the purpose of misrepresenting the identity of the firearm.

And as for the district’s decision to not notify the WCPS community that a loaded gun was brought to a campus and the teenager who brought it was intending to use it if he deemed it necessary?

District spokesman Ken Derksen, in a statement provided to Wayne Week, said the incident “did not warrant a district-wide press release or call,” and noted that a message was sent to GHS families by the school’s principal.

“I’m calling because today we discovered that a student made a poor choice by bringing a gun to school,” a transcript of the recording provided by WCPS read. “Please be reminded that any student found to be in possession of a weapon on our campus will face swift disciplinary action in accordance with local Board of Education policy.

They will also face criminal charges. We would encourage parents to use this incident as a learning opportunity to speak with your child about the seriousness of bringing inappropriate items to school and of their role in promoting and assuring school safety. Please encourage your child to immediately report to school officials if they become aware of any weapons or other inappropriate items on school buses or campus property.

School safety is a responsibility we all share.”

But a GPD source who asked to remain anonymous so they could comfortably break ranks by talking to the media said it was “shocking” that online threats were worthy of a district-wide notification, but a loaded gun on a campus the entire school day was not.

“Everybody was talking about (Whichard’s) threat about arresting parents when these kids were posting stupid stuff on social media that wasn’t even, in our opinion, credible from a threat perspective,” they said. “But someone brings an actual gun with an extended mag onto a campus and admits he was gonna use it if he needed to at the staging area for school buses and the guy says nothing? Makes you wonder. Are we actually concerned about safety or are we concerned about PR?”n

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 11

{ our TAKE }

SAFETY

FIRST

12

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

I

t was a near miss.

And it could have been a tragedy.

And had a couple of students not said something, the gun that was hidden inside a teenager’s waistband at Goldsboro High School Oct. 25 could have prompted a much more serious call to action.

It could have meant a loss of life.

Thank goodness it didn’t end that way.

Thank goodness the student who brought the gun because he wanted to protect himself in case a fight broke out did not have the occasion to do so.

Thank goodness the weapon and the 23 rounds the student had with him did not accidentally fall out of his pants and go off, killing innocent bystanders.

Thank goodness this one did not end the way it could have.

So, we sort of understand why the fact that this happened at Goldsboro High School on an October Friday did not prompt a notification to all district parents about the dangers — and the near miss — or a sternly worded rant about what the consequences of such behavior would be in the future.

Sometimes, you are just so grateful that nothing happened, you don’t want to make it worse.

The problem was defused, and the student is now facing criminal charges.

It is the end that we all hope will happen when a weapon is discovered on school grounds.

Of course, the statement sent out by GHS’ principal to the parents of the students at the school was designed not to cause a panic.

So, there were no “what-ifs” or scary recitations of the near miss of a real tragedy.

But we think this incident deserves more than a carefully worded admonition that a “student made a poor choice.”

Because it is more than that. Much more than that.

We have a problem in this community.

We have a generation of teenagers who are almost lost.

They come from bad homes, are surrounded by bad influences, and live in areas where they are exposed to everything from extreme poverty to drugs, gangs, and seemingly endless violence.

And those environments don’t just seep into our community — leading to scenes like the broad-daylight murder inside the Ash Street Food Lion.

They also rear their ugly heads in our schools.

We know it because we see the results every day — fights filmed and posted to social media, stories of students who ignore the rules and disrupt classes, and teachers who are threatened.

And, in recent years, we even had a gang video uploaded unabashedly by students who flashed high-powered assault rifles to

the cameraman.

We know it is getting worse because the police and other law enforcement officers tell us that gang activity is increasing, and we see the numbers of shootings and other crimes going up.

We know we need to do something, and we have.

Our city leaders made safety a priority and put their full support behind the Goldsboro police.

And while their chief, Mike West, is still getting the force up to the numbers he needs to stomp out crime, there have been strides — important improvements.

The schools have made changes, too.

Discipline has become a top priority.

Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard has drawn a line in the sand and, from everything we have heard, he is a serious man who means it when he says “non-negotiable.”

The days of excusing away behavior because of some misplaced concern about being labeled “racist” and overcompensation because of fears of being canceled, are disappearing.

Problems are now being dealt with and students who break the rules face consequences — no matter what.

But we still have fights and gangs still have a grip.

What was broken for decades is not going to be fixed in a month or one school year.

That’s just not how it works.

And we have another problem, too.

And it is one that many of our sister districts share.

Mental health issues among teens — from trauma caused by extreme bullying to peer pressure that just doesn’t let up — can cause students to snap.

We have seen it over and over again.

The trauma from COVID just made it worse.

We like to think that what has happened at schools across the country would never happen here.

But it could — easily.

So, what are our schools supposed to do?

How do we stop the gang violence and drug dealers from seeping onto our campuses and illegal weapons from coming into our schools?

How do we send a message that we will do anything and everything to protect our children and to try to reach those who are facing poverty and bad influences?

How do we offer enough counseling to catch students who have nowhere to turn?

We wish we had the answer.

But we think the incident that unfolded last week is a wakeup call — a reminder of how easily a “poor choice” can turn into funerals.

And we think it is time to talk about it.

We just wish the school district had taken

the opportunity.

Frankly, we think the way what happened at Goldsboro High School was handled was a miss.

We would like to have seen the same passion and forcefulness that the superintendent used when he sent out an all-call after students started calling in fake shooting threats.

The warning that parents of students who made those posts could also be prosecuted by the FBI for their children’s criminal actions was startling, but it was also effective.

This incident merited that same response.

But again, we understand that in some respects, Whichard’s hands are tied.

And we are well aware that a press release would have made the headlines for all the wrong reasons at a time when Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is being threatened and WCPS is riding high after making much-needed academic gains.

So, we’ll issue the call.

We have a problem in this community. We have a generation of teenagers who are almost lost.

We need to be proactive.

And that means we need preventative measures in our schools.

We wish we could say that metal detectors — the high-end kind that can ferret out just about any kind of weapon — were overkill, but they aren’t.

We need a serious look at safety, and our county and city need to help find the money to fund it.

And if that means that we need to support a measure to make those purchases happen, then that is what we need to do.

No, metal detectors will not stop every school shooting, and they will not put an end to the fights and disruptions that occur in schools.

This is just one step in a long and complicated process.

But we need to understand that we are facing a crisis and that this past week, we dodged a bullet — literally and figuratively.

So, a safety plan is not just something to talk about and wish for.

Not anymore.

And it is not just the responsibility of the Board of Education to see that it gets done.

The county commissioners need to take a leadership role as well.

Money might be tight, but this is too important to kick down the road.

Safety is not just something to trot out as a talking point when elections roll around.

The families in this community deserve better.

And talking about it and creating yet another blueprint of a plan that goes nowhere is not a viable option, either.

We can’t wait for a consequence we can’t undo or a loss of life that destroys this community and its reputation.

There have already been way too many of those.

And, in the future, information about incidents like the one at Goldsboro High School should not be a “thank God nothing horrible happened” and announced with a statement that is the equivalent of “nothing to see here” and swept under a rug.

The community needs to understand exactly what is happening and why safety measures make a difference, and they cannot do that if they don’t know the challenges that the schools face.

Wayne County residents need to hear those harsh realities.

They need to understand how close we came to having a shooting in the middle of one of our high schools.

They need to know it absolutely could be Goldsboro — or one of this community’s other schools — that make a national headline.

They need to accept that Chief West cannot stop crime and violence or repel gangs on his own — and that supporting our police officers and deputies who work in the schools means listening to what they have to say.

And we also have to see that nothing gets done until it is a priority — and that we, the people, set those priorities.

We need to know exactly what the schools need to protect our children — and the leaders we have elected and will elect next week need to take the lead in making sure that those measures are put into place.

And those leaders who are not sure what those needs are, they need to ask.

So yes, we were lucky this time.

We were lucky that from the first bell to the moment, at 3 p.m., a staff member and a school resource officer disarmed a teenager who admitted he was prepared to fire some — or all — of those 23 rounds loaded into the extended magazine on his 9 mm did not do so.

It’s time to make the decisions that will ensure that we stay that way.

It’s time to answer Whichard’s call of being the village that will help his organization change the stories of the young people who walk the halls of WCPS campuses.

If we don’t, we fear it will only be a matter of time before TV news crews from across the country set up outside a Wayne County school and make this place we all love one another one of this nation’s infamous destinations.n

SOUND O F F CRASH THE PARTIES! When voters rigidly follow party lines, Wayne County often suffers. Loyalty to a political party can overshadow the real needs of local residents. By voting based on party affiliation alone, we ignore the complexities of issues like education, and infrastructure, which require thoughtful, practical solutions rather than ideological purity.

Our community is diverse, and no single party can provide all the answers. When we vote only for our party, we risk electing leaders who are more focused on advancing agendas than on solving local problems.

This leads to neglect of critical issues like public safety or housing because they don’t fit so neatly into partisan frameworks.

Furthermore, voting along party lines deepens divisions within communities, fostering a “winner-take-all” mentality that reduces collaboration. Elected officials become more interested in defeating their political opponents rather than finding common ground.

This dynamic has weakened democracy, as compromise and cooperation are essential for progress. For Wayne County to thrive, we should focus on a candidates’ policies, rather than their party.

Voters should prioritize the needs of their neighbors over political loyalty. Only by breaking free from strict party lines can we elect leaders who truly serve.

Crash the parties!

Chrétien Dumond Goldsboro, NC NOTE: Want to see your thoughts in a future edition of Wayne Week? Send us an email at letters@newoldnorth.com and, as long as you include your name and location, the length is not all that important.

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 13

ELECTION 2024 W

e know many of you have already cast your votes, so the information we have provided here will not be helping you make a decision.

We hope, however, that it will reinforce the ones you have already made.

And for those who are still undecided or who have not yet made it to the polls, the introductions we have included here — a voters’ guide if you will — might help you choose who will best serve your community.

And just in case you have fallen into the often-cited claim that your vote doesn’t matter, we remind you that elections these days can be decided by the smallest of margins, and that the votes you cast could make a significant difference when it comes to who represents you on your Board of Education, in the county Register of Deeds Office, on the Superior Court bench, in the Legislature, and on the County Commission.

And while we all know how important national elections are, it is the local races that affect your life every day.

So, please, we ask you to think carefully, read what the candidates have to say, note the ones who chose not to answer, and cast your vote to help determine the future of your community.

Yes, your voice matters.

Yes, your vote counts.

14

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

E

ricka James says experience is what makes her the right choice for Superior Court judge.

That, she said, and a true love of the law.

James says she has been a prosecutor, a defense attorney, and has years on the District Court.

“I have been on all sides,” she said.

But she did not start out that way.

When she graduated from high school and headed to college, James was a business information systems major.

She got her degree and got a job.

But while her employer was waiting for the funding for her position, he offered her the chance to earn a little money by working for his wife, who was an attorney.

“I never looked back,” James said.

It is where, she said, she fell in love with the law.

The daughter of a single mother who pushed the value of hard work and education, James said she has had life experiences that taught her not only resiliency, but also what it takes to succeed.

James started at Howard University, but then had to switch colleges when the money wasn’t there.

And when, after she transferred to Virginia Commonwealth in Richmond, Va., she became a single mother, she pushed through to make sure she got her diploma.

“My proudest moment was when I graduated college with a baby on my hip,” she said.

She made her way to law school at Regent University in Virginia Beach, receiving her Juris Doctorate.

While she was there, her best friend, who was from North Carolina, introduced her to her husband, who is a builder.

And while she was happily working in Virginia and advancing her legal career when her husband had to take over close supervision of a Goldsboro project, when he suggested they move to Wayne County, she agreed.

She started working for former county prosecutor Branny Vickory, and eventually landed a job as a District Court judge.

She spent nearly a decade in office — leaving before the end of her last term.

Her decision to run for Superior Court is about not only her love of the law, but also about serving her community.

“I really enjoyed the work I did on the District Court,” she said. “You are really able to get involved intimately with the people of the community.”

But decisions made in Superior Court have real-world impact on people’s lives, she said, so her experience — legal and in life — give her an edge.

“It is not a place for a novice judge,” she said. “Wayne County deserves a judge who knows that they are doing coming out of the gate.”

And even though she has some pointed criticisms of her opponent’s experience and motives for seeking the seat, James said she is not a political person.

“I have never worked on anyone’s campaign,” she said.

She said she remembers when running for the bench was a non-partisan exercise.

Today, politics and party are an unavoidable — and uncomfortable — part of seeking a judgeship.

She says understanding what being a judge means — and the importance of the decorum and the impartiality required — is critical.

That’s why, James said, her integrity and the trust of the people who come before her, have always been her top priorities.

Judges who follow the rules, zealously guard their impartiality, do the work, and value and preserve the Constitution and the rights it guarantees, are an important part of keeping the trust in the justice system.

It is a responsibility James says she remembers whenever she walks into a courtroom, and will honor if she gets the chance to return to the bench.

It is about not only dispensing justice, but also respecting the people and issues who come before her, she said.

“I want anyone who walks into my court to be able to say (no matter how I rule) that ‘she heard what I had to say,’” James said.n

N.C. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE: DISTRICT 09B SEAT 1

E RICKA JA M E S

BI LLY ST R I CK LA ND

B

illy Strickland understands what it means to have to fight to beat the odds — to put in the hard work to rise above your circumstances.

But over the years, the Goldsboro attorney has never forgotten two of the most important lessons he has learned — to fight with honor and dignity and to give back to the community that has supported you and your family.

He says he will never forget where he came from, how he got here, or the wisdom he has accumulated along the way — some of it learned the hard way.

So, although he has heard the charges made against him by his opponent in the race for Superior Court judge, he chooses not to respond.

From where he sits, getting into the mud is not how a judicial candidate should conduct himself.

And then there is the Bible’s teaching — judge a man by the fruits of his labor. And that, he said, is how he wants county voters to judge who should sit on the bench in the Superior Court.

“I am going to run on my record and that’s it,” he said.

Strickland comes from a life that didn’t start out easy. He was the son of an alcoholic, abusive father and a mother who was not much better, so at age 15 he left home.

He was homeless for a while, rented a room from his best friend’s mother, but then got a job on the rodeo circuit.

“I rode bulls,” he said.

It was then that he met his wife, Jennifer.

Thirty years later he tells the story of a path that had him graduating with a 1.9 GPA — with no college interested in taking a chance on him — to finishing coursework at Wayne Community College and then Campbell University.

After that, he went on to law school at Regent University in Virginia Beach.

He clerked for the Court of Appeals, and worked in criminal defense and as a city

attorney in Henderson before starting his practice in Goldsboro.

Along the way, he has presented cases in just about every venue — from Magistrate, District and Superior courts and the Court of Appeals to the Industrial Commission.

That experience has given him a perspective on justice, the law, and the courts that Strickland said is more than ample preparation to sit on the bench.

But he says he will bring something else with him — a life of lessons, challenges, and an understanding of the roads people travel as they make their way through life.

It is part of the reason Strickland is now seeking a chance to serve Wayne County as its Superior Court judge.

“I have never had a calling to be a judge,” he said. “But I have always served my community. This is just another way do that.”

So, when the Stricklands’ youngest child started high school, and the time came to consider whether to continue or to retire, Strickland said he and Jennifer prayed about what their next steps would be.

Retirement lost.

So, he will put his law practice up for sale “and take a 50-percent pay cut,” he says, to wear the robe of a Superior Court judge.

It was an easy decision, Strickland said, for a man who has done everything from funding and championing a boxing gym that gets young men off the streets and into a disciplined, supportive environment to serving on the board of Cry Freedom Missions.

And that is how he plans to serve his community — with integrity and gratitude.

“They can expect a court system that is fair, impartial, and transparent,” Strickland said.

And most importantly, Strickland said he won’t ever forget how he got there. “(They can trust that) somebody who has experience — in not just the books and the law, but in the school of hard knocks — will be on the bench,” he said.n

OUR TAKE u Both candidates for Superior Court judge are right when they say that this an important job with real-life implications.

It needs someone who respects the law, and who acts with the decorum and integrity required of a person who sits

on a bench.

But only one of the candidates running has walked that walk during this campaign.

One has taken every opportunity to sling dirt at her opponent and to malign his experience and his character.

The other has not returned the favor — even though he has plenty of arrows he could shoot, too. Billy Strickland has said that he is running on his record, period.

He insists that is how a judicial campaign should be run — that there is no room for

the stench of politics.

We agree.

Strickland has a wealth of experience to draw from — legal and otherwise.

We think he will serve this community honorably.n newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 15

N.C. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: DISTRICT 10 JOH N B ELL

H

is fingerprints are on nearly every major project that has benefited Wayne County for the last decade — from the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex and the Maxwell Center to the soonto-be constructed Rosewood Middle School.

The relationships he has built and nurtured in Raleigh have earned him leadership positions and the respect of politicians on both sides of the aisle.

The fights he has waged — including one against the construction of wind turbines that would have encroached on lowlevel F-15E training routes — have thwarted threats against Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

But for House Majority Leader Rep. John Bell, the pride he has in his many accomplishments has nothing to do with the titles he has earned or the salutes he receives in the military town he calls home.

For the self-described “simple guy from Rosewood,” the reward is helping his community become the type of place his daughter will want to call home when, many years from now, she is ready to start a family of her own.

“You know, those dollars up in Raleigh are a reflection of the hard work the folks of Wayne County have put into the system for a long time, so it’s my job to bring as much of that money back home as possible,” Bell said. “And we feel we’ve been pretty successful at bringing a lot of that money back home to make Wayne County the great place it is. We’re gonna continue that because the people who live in this community deserve it.”

They also deserve a plan for the future.

16

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

“We got to finish out the Rosewood school. We’ve got to finish the work on water and sewer infrastructure to have a regional system. We still have transportation infrastructure we’ve got to keep working on,” he said.

“The list goes on.”

And it includes continuing to advocate for Seymour Johnson, helping Goldsboro restore historic Union Station, and bringing the Dillard Middle School track back to its former glory.

“That’s a community track,” he said. “We need to make it right.”

But Bell wants the community to understand that getting money from the state budget is not a given — that it has taken years of relationshipbuilding to ensure Wayne County has a “seat at the table.”

“I have the relationships at the state and federal levels to help us navigate all that,” he said. “And when the decision-making process is done, we’ve got a seat at the table.

And I don’t mean at the big table.

I mean at the small table. It’s very important that Wayne County has a seat at that table. We’ve been there for the last 10 years.”

And should Bell be re-elected Tuesday, the Speaker of the House is committed to making him the Rules Committee chairman.

“So, I’ll be the chairman of the most powerful committee in the House, and I will be one of the longest-serving members of the House leadership,” Bell said.

“Those things matter.”

But they don’t matter because they will add to a particular representative’s list of accolades.

They matter because they would put Bell in a position to continue to do more for the county he proudly calls home.

“This is what it’s all about. This is why I’m running again after more than 10 years in Raleigh,” he said. “Wayne County deserves everything we can secure for the folks who call it home.”

And that includes schools worthy of the children who will one day attend them.

“We’ve got to continue to push for school funding — additional capital funding,” Bell said. “I’m proud to say I’ve been a partner with our school system and our county commissioners on that.”

So, he has a to-do list and the ability to see it through.

He has the experience and the support of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents — a rare feat for a politician in a state like North Carolina.

And should voters send him back to the state capital, he will remain the same man that has been fighting for this community since 2013.

“We’ve got more work to do, and I’m up to the challenge,” Bell said.

“But no. It’s not for me. It’s never been about me.”n

OUR TAKE u There are few politicians these days who enjoy support from both sides of the aisle.

There are even fewer who don’t let power go to their heads.

So, when you have someone who checks both boxes, you thank your lucky stars they reside in your community — and make certain you continue to fill in the bubble next to their name when they appear on a ballot.

Wayne County residents, regardless of their political affiliation, know they can count on John Bell.

He has fought for this community since his first day in Raleigh and, because of his willingness to engage with everyone, his successes are visible, quite literally, in every corner of the county.

So, while we are always grateful when incumbents are humbled by an opponent, the truth is, there is, in our view, no better person to represent us in the capital than Bell.

When people show you who they are, believe them.

And what Bell has shown us is a person willing to put himself on the line for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and people from all walks of life.

If he wanted to, he could spend days listing all the money he has secured for this community — and all the projects he is responsible for.

But it speaks volumes that he never does and, instead, simply makes the drive to Raleigh to create a place in which his daughter will one day want to raise his grandchildren.

Bell’s opponent agreed to an interview with Wayne Week, but never followed through and is, thus, not represented here.

But the truth is, in our view, nothing she could have said would have changed the fact that the House Majority Leader remains one of the easiest picks Wayne County voters will have on their ballots this year. n

PROVEN LEADERSHIP with the heart of a mom A Mom on a Mission to...

Be a voice for PARENTS Give TEACHERS & STAFF the support they need Be a bridge between board and COMMUNITY to work together to meet the diverse needs of all students Advocate for EVERY STUDENT with the heart of a mom

All Wayne County residents vote for the At-Large Candidate www.kathylarsonforeducation.com

FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION AT-L ARGE No candidate or candidate’s committee is responsible for the content of this advertisement. Paid for by Mark and Lauren Metzler.

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 17

Vote Billy Strickland for Superior Court Judge

For more information, visit BILLYSTRICKLAND.COM PAID FOR BY BILLY STRICKLAND COMMITTEE 18

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

A N TON I O W I LLI A M S

OUR TAKE u There are consequences to elections.

We have experienced quite a few of them as we have navigated the rough waters of politics in Wayne County in recent years, with disastrous results.

So, there will be quite a few names on the ballot this year whom you will not see represented in our voters’ guide. Some of them are candidates who just don’t want to face the questions they know we are going to ask. We have noted those.

After the years of embarrassing lawsuits, public questions, and bad behavior, it is no wonder one sitting county commissioner has no interest in sitting down to talk about his performance.

It is too bad his challenger seems to have abandoned ship, because there will likely be another term for Antonio Williams.

But we are puzzled by one of the candidates running to replace Patricia Burden on the Board of Education.

Seems an auspicious start that only Richard Taylor thought he needed to talk to the voters before Election Day. Coronations are never good — especially when a long-term incumbent makes the pick.

There are others worth noting — those who, frankly, don’t need to fight for their seats.

They are incumbents without challengers who don’t have to answer any questions or defend any of

their decisions or promises made to voters because they have no competition.

So, one of them, who was involved in a significant controversy involving a Wayne County town’s finances this year, does not have to speak to voters to defend her seat.

And she is not alone.

On several boards, there are incumbents who probably should not be on the ballot this year.

But they don’t face any serious challenge — and it is the same story year after year.

Some of them even brag about it — one even implying that no one challenges him because he “does such a good job.”

We know better.

The power of incumbency is real — and it is dangerous.

It keeps people on boards who should not be there and intimidates new voices who might actually be a better pick.

Wayne County has had officeholders who have been in their positions so long that they do not even think about what is best for the community anymore.

They just do what they need to do to earn the next vote.

Sure, politics plays a part, as does apathy.

There is not exactly a rush to run for local offices.

If we had more candidates and better choices,

some of those static long-termers just might have to earn the votes they take for granted.

If we want to make a difference in the future of Wayne County, we need to step up and build up the pool of people who serve in some of the most important jobs in this community.

Yes, your School Board and your City Council and County Commission matter.

And you saw what happened when an unchallenged and unqualified person ran for Register of Deeds.

It might take us years to undo that mistake.

We preach every year about the need for more of the good people in this community — the leaders and those who have significant and important experience in moving this county forward — to step up and serve.

We get the quality of candidates that we do because we don’t demand better and because we don’t step up and answer the call ourselves.

So, while we have had some pretty good challengers pop up this year — some important voices with the courage to lead — we need more of them, and quick.

No incumbent should ever be so cocky as to think no one would ever dare run against him (or her).

And we the voters have the chance to change that.n

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 19

K

athy Larson understands balance.

While creating curriculum for Bible schools across the country, as well as teaching Christian education at the college level, Larson has to balance her professional life with what she considers her most important job — being a mom.

And that perspective, as well as the information she has gleaned from working with the Parent Teacher Association at Spring Creek Elementary and talking with teachers, administrators, and other parents has made her realize that what Wayne County Public Schools needs is a different perspective on the Board of Education.

And that, she said, is the reason she decided to throw her name in the hat for the at-large seat on the Wayne County Board of Education.

“There is no mom with kids in the system on the school board,” she said. “We are aware of a lot of issues because of us having kids in the schools.”

So, when the board analyzes a new policy or creates a new process or procedure, Larson said, it is the moms (and other parents and guardians) who have to deal with the actual implementation — and they see firsthand the effects that those changes have on the children and the education they receive.

Larson said she is used to speaking up and advocating for better options for Wayne County’s children.

As a member of Spring Creek’s parent group, she and her fellow parents noticed that the car-rider line was not moving efficiently and snaked along a busy roadway.

“We thought it was dangerous and something needed to be done,” she said.

So, she advocated for a change — and some shelter for the teachers who were out managing the line and keeping the children safe — by calling the district’s Central Office.

She was told that the changes were in the works, but that the N.C. Department of Transportation would have to sign off

on any shifts.

And that would take time.

So, Larson and her fellow parent volunteers got to work and made the necessary noise and calls to get the change made.

It is the difference, she said, between wading through bureaucracy and being determined to get things done.

And that is what she wants to bring to the Board of Education — not only a determination to fight for the children and teachers, but also the tenacity of a busy mom who doesn’t have time to sit around and talk about a problem.

But running for office, she said, is not what she thought it would be.

The Board of Education is still a political post.

“School Board should be about helping children and supporting teachers,” she said. “It should not be about politics and who you know.”

And her understanding of that priority, Larson said, will help her become a catalyst to get things done.

“I am politically unaffiliated, so I feel I am able to talk to people on both sides of the aisle,” she said.

Larson said she has been pleased with much of the work that has been done to improve the district to date, and sees good things ahead for Wayne County Public Schools. But she says there are still very important issues that need to be addressed like school transportation and teachers’ salaries.

Parents know, she said, how important a teacher is to a child’s education.

And that is one of those perspectives and priorities, Larson says, she can communicate to the board.

So, should she be elected, Larson said she will keep the focus on the practical, everyday issues that parents, teachers, and students face as she works to improve the schools.

“I want to be the voice for the people,” she said.

The people, like her, who actually have some skin in the game. n

WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION: AT-LARGE

KATHY L A RSO N

TOMMY SA ND E RS

W

hen he first ran for Wayne County Board of Education, Tommy Sanders wasn’t sure how long he would serve.

But now, as he seeks another term as the community’s at-large representative, he said he is asking voters to send him back to Royall Avenue because there is still work to be done.

“I want to see this through,” he said.

And it doesn’t hurt that he sees his service as a way to make a real difference in his community.

“I really enjoy it,” Sanders said.

“I love meeting the teachers, the parents, and working with the schools. I have the time and the energy to serve, so I want to continue the work we have started.”

And while Sanders says Wayne County Public Schools has faced some serious challenges in the past — low test scores, low-performing schools and serious financial woes, he said the district, under the leadership of its new superintendent and the hard work of teachers and administrators, is starting to turn around.

“Everybody’s accountable,” Sanders said.

“Everybody’s involved. It has been a team effort.”

And while he says the district is just one of many across the state still reeling from the damage done by COVID-19, WCPS is making progress.

“We have celebrated the steps forward, but we know we have a lot more challenges ahead.”

Sanders said. “What we have done is a good start, but it is not good enough.”

So, if re-elected, Sanders said he will continue to push for the changes he said are necessary to move WCPS to the level community members and parents have every right to expect.

“We can’t let up. You have got to keep the pedal to the metal or you are going to lose momentum,” he said. “There is a real sense of urgency to get things done.”

Discipline has become a key part of fixing what went awry in the schools, Sanders said.

And consistency and standards are changing the atmosphere in many county classrooms and hallways.

Now, when there is a violation or disruption, teachers are getting the support they need, and students are finding that there are real consequences for bad behavior.

“We are not going to let a few kids hold back a whole school,” Sanders said.

And serious offenses are being met with equally serious penalties, he added, which “did not always happen in the past.”

“And it’s working,” he said.

But Sanders said there are challenges ahead.

Money is one of them.

Dilapidated buildings are another.

And then, there are the continuing woes associated with serving children from families that are struggling and where there is little to no support for education.

Those issues, Sanders said, are particularly evident in the Central Attendance District.

And while Sanders said he does not know what the solution is for the problems it faces, he noted that the challenge is on the minds of school personnel and the board.

“We have got to take care of the kids,” he said.

To do that, Sanders acknowledged that there might be talk of redistricting in the future as schools look for ways to better serve students and to efficiently manage resources.

“We are a poor district. There is not money just lying around,” he said. “We have some problems that it is going to take some time to solve.”

But Sanders said he will continue to advocate for increases in funding for WCPS and more support from the county commissioners — not only for capital projects like the new Rosewood Middle School, but also to increase teacher supplements to attract and to keep the best educators in the region.

“We have to take care of our teachers and staff,” Sanders said. ‘Most teachers want to work for a superintendent who will back them up. We have that now. But money is important, too. We have to be competitive.”

So, if re-elected, he will continue to be a voice for the teachers, students, and taxpayers who make WCPS what it is.

And he will remain clear-eyed about where the district is today and where it needs to be.

“We have made progress, but we are not there yet,” Sanders said. “So, I am going to keep pushing until we get there. It is what I promised the people who elected me, and I am going to live up to that promise.”n

OUR TAKE u This is not an easy race to call.

Tommy Sanders is right. He does have a job to finish, and he’s not afraid to tell it like it is — even when it is not politically expedient to do so.

Kathy Larson is also right. The board does 20

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

need the perspective of a WCPS parent with a history of serving schools.

The good news?

Whatever happens here, Wayne County wins.

And because of that, just like many of you, we are torn.

A vote for Sanders is a vote for one of few board members who is seen in the schools talking with parents, teachers, and students.

But a vote for Larson is a vote for someone who will fight when it’s time to put the gloves on for our children.

We just hope that if Larson loses, she will consider a district-specific race immediately.

Because a board with Sanders and Larson would, in our view, be a strong one.n

WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION: DISTRICT 3 RICHARD TAY LOR

F

or Richard Taylor, perspective came with age.

In his younger days, making mistakes and traveling, at times, down the wrong path, brought consequences.

He didn’t always live by the principles he was raised on “growing up in the church.”

He did not always follow his father’s example of serving his community.

But Taylor would come to find that with age came maturity and wisdom.

And while so many others in Goldsboro remained on a destructive path, when it “clicked” for him, he found his calling.

The early days of his YouTube channel were controversial.

He was building a following, yes, but for every supporter, the detractors came, too — just as vocal and passionate in opposition of the commentary he provided as those who were encouraging him to keep shining light on issues he felt were not being talked about.

But he has stayed the course and attempted to evolve.

And now, as he focuses on drawing attention to what he believes is social injustice across the nation, he can look for ways, locally, to simply be a part of the solution without rattling cages on the internet with Wayne Countyspecific videos.

The work, here, is still about giving a voice to those he feels have been subjugated.

But serving is how he hopes to accomplish it.

“Learning right from wrong at an early age gave me the ability to see when things were wrong,” Taylor said. “As many, many characters in

the Bible, when they saw things that were wrong, they acted on it and tried to right it. I could say that is one of my catalysts for this.”

Should he win Tuesday, he knows it won’t be easy to sit on the Board of Education with people he has openly criticized on his YouTube channel.

But given the number of calls and emails he receives from students and parents, he knows there is plenty to fight for.

And he knows that because he has, in his younger days, walked in their shoes, he is the only person who can lead the charge to change their fortunes.

“I think that’s why so many people in the school system call me when there’s an issue. They know that I have firsthand experience with some situations that they might be going through,” Taylor said. “And being in some tough situations has given me that desire to fight for what’s right.”

His latest video is an example of what he feels like he could have

done were he already on the board when a consequential decision was made.

When the BOE decided last year to move Wayne Academy to the Eastern Wayne High School campus, Taylor was, to put it mildly, critical.

There was no way, he said then, that an alternative school population should be on the same campus as traditional students.

In other words, Wayne County Public Schools was asking for trouble.

But nobody on the board questioned the proposed move, which took effect at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

And when a brawl broke out in the cafeteria Oct. 29 — and pepper spray was deployed — Taylor made a “told you so” video and posted it on YouTube.

“Sometimes, in order to get past uncomfortable or difficult situations, you have to acknowledge they exist,” Taylor said. “You have to have those uncomfortable situations so people can get their perspectives out.”

But that doesn’t, he said, mean he can’t be trusted with the confidential information he would, as a board member, have access to should he win a term on the board.

“I respect the sanctity of confidentiality as it relates to being a board member,” Taylor said. “I wouldn’t breach that in pursuit of my media career.”

And if his community votes him into office, he will fight for it — the appropriate way — to ensure it receives “equity of resources and attention.”

“I figured I would give a fresh face,” he said. “A fresh perspective.”n

OUR TAKE u We wish we could have a serious conversation about this race because, if you have followed Wayne Week, you know that we believe the Wayne County Board of Education is in need of a serious shakeup.

So, it would have been nice to get a sense of who these two candidates really are — and dig into the arguments for and against both of them before we offered an endorsement.

But Richard Taylor was the only one who granted us an interview.

And we get it.

Taylor is a complicated man — a candidate who, if we are being honest, is certainly flawed.

He stirs the pot and has, on his YouTube channel, rattled cages and bulldozed reputations.

But here’s the thing.

He owns his actions.

And despite numerous requests, his opponent did not even bother to sit down for a 20-minute interview.

So, whatever you feel about Taylor — and we are well aware that many of you have serious reservations about putting a YouTuber with zero filter on a board that requires, at times, confidentiality — it is worth remembering that having the guts to own that says something about a person, too.

And despite his shortcomings, Taylor has also displayed a genuine concern for the young people living in the district he is running to serve.

He gives them a voice and has, on many occasions, accurately called out the injustices they face and the hypocrisy that often stains Wayne County Public Schools.

If nothing else, that’s food for thought.

His opponent is, by reputation, an experienced and serious woman.

She checks all the boxes one would want from a BOE member and is beloved by those who know her.

It would have been nice, though, to hear her tell her story and, in our view, the fact that we can't says something, too.

What that is, well, is up to you.n

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 21

WAYNE COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS TINA ARNDER

T

ina Arnder takes the job of keeping the county’s records seriously.

She knows that the births and deaths she recorded during her years in the Register of Deeds Office were part of her community’s history — and that the documents she processed and the records she retrieved were services county residents should be able to expect from the professionals who work in the office.

And service is exactly what she says she will provide if voters choose to put her into the job of leading what she calls one of the most important departments in the County Courthouse.

Everyone, at some point, Arnder said, needs something from the Register of Deeds Office.

“A lot of people don’t understand the amount of work that goes on in that office,” she said. “We have so many vital records. Even if you don’t have any property, you are going to deal with that office — maybe for a marriage, a death certificate, or to celebrate a new baby.”

So, getting the procedures right and making sure records are accessible when residents need them, she said, should be Job 1.

“You should be able to go in there and get what you need in 5 to 10 minutes,” she said. “Not have to make an appointment or give up and go to another county because of all the obstacles put in the way.”

And that, Arnder said, is why she decided to offer herself as a candidate for Register of Deeds.

“I just couldn’t sit back and listen to people complain about how things were being operated,” she said. “So, I decided to do something.”

As Register of Deeds, Arnder said she will put customer service back into the office — and make sure her

22

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

staff is treated with respect.

She knows what needs to be done to make sure the office runs smoothly, and Arnder said the community will be able to count on her and her staff to serve their needs efficiently.

“Everyone who comes in matters,” she said. “You see people who are in the best moments of their lives, and those who are experiencing the challenge of a life change. They deserve respect and compassion, and that is the standard I will set as Register of Deeds.”

Making it convenient for residents — and local professionals — to get the records they need will be her first priority.

“We are there to serve the public, not to make it harder for them to conduct business,” she said.

Arnder added that the Register of Deeds staff will receive the support and training they need to do their jobs.

“There is a lot to learn,” she said. “But a good Register of Deeds should be able to count on the staff who work with her to make sure the proper procedures are followed, and that work is done in a timely manner.”

That includes filings and payments that need to be made to the state — work that recently had to be delegated to another county department when the financial responsibilities were not met by the current officeholder, Constance Coram.

After 15 years of learning the ropes in the office, Arnder says she knows how to get things done efficiently and on time, while still keeping costs in line.

But most of all, she said she will bring a passion for the work — an understanding of how important the records she and her staff handle are.

And keeping up with changes in the law and state requirements, as well as offering her staff the training they need to succeed, are responsibilities she says she takes very seriously.

“Record-keeping is not easy,” she said. “You have to know where to file information properly and where to look to find the records people need. I have that expertise and the desire to lead my staff to serve this community in the way its residents deserve.”

Arnder added that she will work with the staff who are in the office to create not only efficiency, but a positive and respectful workplace, where they feel appreciated.

But being a part of her Register of Deeds Office will require one very important characteristic, however — understanding that they are there to serve the community.

“I will give them the training and support they deserve,” Arnder said. “But if they cannot keep up the pace and serve the needs of the community efficiently, that’s OK, but they might need to look for somewhere else to work. We are here for the public, and serving the residents of Wayne County is our most important job.” n

OUR TAKE u There’s a reason Register of Deeds Constance Coram did not agree to an interview with Wayne Week for this edition.

She knows that we will ask the tough questions — and that we are armed with a laundry list of facts that show she has abused her county procurement card, filed and lost a frivolous lawsuit against Wayne County Commissioners, gone, illegally, on “strike,” and even paid her employees via CashApp. She knows that we have spoken with everyone from local lawyers to real estate agents who have literally had to threaten her with legal action for her shocking inability to do her job.

She knows we are aware of the fact that her Johnston County counterpart had to hire a new employee to serve, specifically, Wayne residents who left town to handle their business because Coram's office was such a trainwreck.

And she knows that we have seen the video she posted to social media several years ago where she identified white people as “massas” and their black supporters as “field workers.”

So, frankly, it makes more sense to simply ignore the media — and any modicum of accountability — and hope, somehow, lightning will strike twice, and she will win re-election.

Luckily, the woman who nearly beat her via an unprecedented write-in campaign four years ago is officially on the ballot this year.

And luckily, that woman, Tina Arnder, has both the experience to effectively run the Register of Deeds Office and the temperament to handle what we assume will be a massive clean-up effort when she takes office soon after Election Day. If you have been on this journey with us since the beginning, you already know about Coram.

Just be sure you educate your friends before they vote. n

Judge Ericka James for Superior Court

An experienced judge we know & trust.

Experienced

10 years as a judge, 4 years as a prosecutor, & 6 years as defense attorney & civil litigator. Certified juvenile court judge who spearheaded the school-to-justice partnership and secured a $100K grant for Goldsboro PD. Endorsed by the Wayne County Realtors Association.

Knows and Follows Judicial Ethics

Takes NC’s Code of Judicial Conduct seriously to protect public trust in our courts. Never given money to political candidates while a judge or candidate for judge. Served on Board of Governors of NC Conference of District Court Judges.

Focused on the Law, NOT Politics Elected 3 times as a judge.

Never run for any other elected office.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5th

Paid for by Committee to Elect Ericka James newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 23

JERICHO FA R M S

24

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

EASTERN NC’S PREMIERE WHOLESALE GROWER OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF TREES AND SHRUBS 3 GALLON - 25 GALLON