January 24,2008
Tom Campbell, Publisher

Former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, fresh from a strong performance at last week’s Republican gubernatorial debates on WRAL-TV, appears to be taking the offensive in his party’s nomination process, but instead of challenging other Republicans, Orr appears to be targeting Democrats as the opponent. Tuesday he released his proposals for education reforms in North Carolina.

Orr turned the tables on responsibility for poor performance, saying, “I am tired of hearing the Democratic candidates for governor repeatedly demand that teachers and principals be held accountable. It’s time the political leadership of this state be held politically accountable for shortcomings in our public school system.”

Pledging to make education reform his top priority, Orr proposes to eliminate the election of Superintendent of Public Instruction, bringing this official under direct authority of the Governor. He proposes eliminating the authority of the State Board of Education, also moving that authority to the Governor. In it’s place Orr would move for the election of eight members of a State Board of Education, one from each of the eight education districts currently in place, with the Governor being given authority to appoint three at-large members.

Orr has publicly acknowledged for the first time what many observers have said quietly for years, namely that there are too many cooks in the education kitchen and none of them is directly in charge. The education establishment is expected to dismiss the ideas, but some early reaction we heard applauded Orr for coming up with positive solutions to obvious problems.

The electrons had barely settled from the Orr press release when candidate Pat McCrory opined that he was pleased that Orr was seconding HIS idea. Perhaps another misguided thrust from the Charlotte Mayor. The press was already gigging him pretty hard for playing fast and loose with statistics about the percentage of illegal immigrants in Mecklenburg jails and for failing to note that former Governor Jim Martin was also endorsing Orr in the campaign.

But Orr was quick to point out that the idea of eliminating the election of a State Superintendent for Public Instruction was not originally McCrory’s idea. In fact, Orr stated in his press conference that it was a suggestion that had been around for years but was worthy of further consideration.

Looks like the fur might finally start flying in the Republican primary. The gloves are off, the issues are coming and this might turn into a contest. Will Smith and Graham get into the game?

All the polls show that voters are looking for something to like from a GOP gubernatorial candidate and thus far haven’t found much.

Brer’ Orr he jus sitting over in his laughin’ place having a good chuckle. He may not have the campaign war chest to purchase a lot of media but by making the news and stirring the pot he’s in there front and center like the wealthy dudes.