The network of progressive left-wing groups involved in the Orange County School Board race.
Left wing, right wing, same bird.
Since an article was published about incumbent school board candidate, Jennifer Moore, who used Artificial Intelligence to generate responses and plagiarized on a candidate questionnaire in Orange County, she has gained more endorsements.
Jennifer Moore is endorsed by the following progressive, Democrat, leftwing groups and individuals: Indy Week, Public Schools Strong, Orange County Association of Educators, Communities Supporting Orange County Schools, Northern Orange Black Voters Alliance, Graig Meyer, Jenn Weaver, Mark Bell, Brenda Stephens, Hillary MacKenzie, Libbie Hough, Kay Singer.
These progressives are also endorsing Carrie Doyle and Wendy Padilla, to make up the block vote of three for school board. Even with the knowledge that Jennifer Moore plagiarized and used Artificial Intelligence to write her responses on a candidate questionnaire, the progressives who endorse her ignore the truth. Jennifer Moore has not responded to questions surrounding the plagiarism and use of Artificial Intelligence, nor has the Orange County School Board or the Superintendent.
There is a real threat for progressives that this block of three candidates could be outvoted by their “conservative” opponents, Michael Johnson, Cindy Shriner, and Bonnie Hauser. For strategy, a progressive Orange County blog, Triangle Blog Blog, has written a blog post looking at the network of conservative groups involved in the Orange County School board race.
School boards have always served as a stepping stone for conservatives. As recently as 2022, the Orange County Schools Board of Education was considered a safe Democratic district.-Triangle Blog Blog
The overall goal of this blog post is to paint conservatives in a negative way, create division between conservatives and progressives, and pit school board candidates to one side based on who they are endorsed by. The second goal is to deem who a Democrat candidate should align with based on some underlying norms of what it means to be a Democrat. The third goal is to create a narrative that conservative and Republican thought and values are wrong and their voices should not be represented by the elected school board members of Orange County, even though these voices exist in the county. The fourth goal is to keep the false narratives and echo chamber language alive that groups like Moms For Liberty, Friends of OCS and anyone close to these circles, are extremists, anti-equity, anti-LGTBQ, want to “ban” books and destroy public education. These goals are trending on Fascist ideologies.
While the author of this particular blog post boasts that Jennifer Moore, Wendy Padilla and Carrie Doyle are, “endorsed by a series of trusted organizations and community leaders,” (as if endorsements by conservative groups can not be “trusted”) he fails to realize this game can be played on both sides. There also exists a connection of people and money behind the local progressive left-wing spectrum of Orange County. By putting a spotlight on the connections between the individuals and groups endorsing Moore, Doyle and Padilla, the “other side” can create a “dark forces at work” narrative as well. All of the following information is based on public information accessible by anyone who chooses to look and read beyond headlines.
Network of progressives
Public Schools Strong
H.E.A.L Together NC launched the movement Public Schools Strong, with the goal to counterbalance extremism from Moms For Liberty and push for Democrat votes. H.E.A.L Together NC recruits and organizes members as Public Schools Strong to attend board meetings and give public comments.
Public Schools Strong (PSS) has a chapter in Orange County. Members attend the school board meetings wearing light blue shirts with a red heart and the text, “Public Schools Strong.” Board member Jennifer Moore is a member, as she wears the T-shirt at school board meetings as well as board member Carrie Doyle. Kathleen “Katie” Harper is also a member of PSS, she happens to also have been the Treasurer of the Committee to Elect Meaghun Darab in 2023 and the Treasurer for Carrie Doyle’s school board campaign in 2020. Meaghun Darab was elected in 2023 onto the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners. She received funding from Hillary MacKenzie and Kathleen Harper. Currently Darab is the Treasurer for Carrie Doyle and Jennifer Moore’s campaign for re-election to the school board and a member of Public Schools Strong. In addition to that, Kathleen Harper is also the organizer and treasurer for the PAC, Communities Supporting Orange County Schools, more on that below. Another outspoken member of Public Schools strong is Nina Morley Daye, the Rural Organizing Chair of the Orange County Democrat Party.
Public Schools Strong uses the following narrative to recruit members and support:
“Public education is under attack by right wing extremists. They are stoking culture war fears to try to undermine and defund our schools. Bullying, censorship, and harassment are not the values that represent our schools or our communities. We are organizing because we are tired of this phony outrage.”
It is clear by this statement that the only voices and culture that should be in public schools are the ones that they deem righteous and acceptable. If individuals or groups question policies, curriculum, or spending that PSS supports, then they are labeled a right-wing extremist. Rather than trying to be inclusive and represent the entire community outside of their special interests, they would rather call names and create false narratives.
Down Home NC , creator of H.E.A.L Together NC/Public Schools Strong, is a lobbying organization founded to promote Democratic candidates in rural North Carolina and left-of-center policies. They partner with left-leaning groups such as, People’s Action, Blueprint NC and Equality NC. More details on this can be found in this article. As seen in the infographic below, funding comes from elites at the top, like George Soros, Kellogg, and Ford.
Communities Supporting Orange County Schools
This political action committee was formed by Kathleen “Katie” Harper in January 2024, they are endorsing Doyle, Moore and Padilla. This PAC has received over $6K in donations. Remember Harper from above, a Public Schools Strong member, and past campaign Treasurer for Carrie Doyle and Meaghun Darab. As acting Treasurer for Doyle in 2020, the campaign made contributions to Jennifer Moore and Friends to Elect LaTarndra Strong, who were also running for school board in 2020. Candidate LaTarndra Strong is the founder of Hate Free Schools Coalition, member of Orange County School’s Equity Task Force and former president of the Northern Orange NAACP. Strong has had a heavy influence in and around Orange County, receiving accolades and awards, presenting policy recommendations to the school board, and speaking on education panels. Now that she has recently been charged with felony child abuse she has been non-existent in the community. During Strong’s 2020 campaign she received funding from Mark Bell, Hillary MacKenzie, Tom Stevens, Charles Willingham, Carrie Doyle, Jennifer Moore and others. Mark Bell is currently endorsing Doyle and Moore. Hillary MacKenzie and Tom Stevens are currently endorsing and funding Wendy Padilla. Hillary MacKenzie, among others in the overlapping progressive circles, joined in Strong’s efforts as an ally and active member of Hate Free Schools Coalition. The circle continues.
During the first quarter of Strong’s 2020 campaign her Treasurer was Charles “Chuck” Willingham, he passed away in Nov 2021. Strong and Willingham are listed together on a property deed purchased in August of 2017, which has since foreclosed. Charles Willingham was formally married to Mary C Willingham. Mary Willingham was a professor at UNC-CH and the outspoken whistleblower over the UNC-CH scandal involving the academic integrity of athletes, including plagiarism. She co-authored a book called, 'Cheated' and won a settlement from UNC with a lawsuit over the scandal.
Northern Orange Black Voters Alliance
This grassroots organization works to increase the Black vote in Orange County. Current Orange County Commissioner and candidate for 2024 ,Phyllis Portie-Ascott, served as Chair and she also helped fund Meagun Darub’s campaign and serves as an Executive Committee Member for the Democrat Party. The Northern Orange Black Voters Alliance, NOBVA, is in a current alliance with Hate Free Schools Coalition to host an upcoming candidate forum on March 3rd. NOVBA is also an ally of Jennifer Moore and frequently promotes her company, Lennix James Foundation. They are endorsing Jennifer Moore, Carrie Doyle and Kevin Alston Jr. for school board. Additionally, they are endorsing Phyllis Portie-Ascott for County Commissioner.
Indy Week
This Democrat, progressive, tabloid-format news outfit is endorsing Jennifer Moore, Carrie Doyle and Wendy Padilla. The previous editor, Jeffrey Billman, was fired in 2020 for failing to follow up on a sexual misconduct tip concerning a local restaurant. According to emails, this seems to be a recurring pattern for the Indy as the current editor refuses to investigate the actions of Jennifer Moore and her use of Artificial Intelligence and plagiarism to secure her school board seat. The tabloid has a narrative to upkeep and looking into Jennifer Moore would disrupt that. Indy Week has published Op-Eds written by school board member Carrie Doyle, no surprise they are endorsing her again in 2024. The other non-surprise is their endorsement for Wendy Padilla as she is the current secretary of the Orange County Democrat Party.
Orange County Association of Educators
This teachers’ union is the Orange County chapter for the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), a state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). The NEA is America’s largest labor Union, where their political arm donates 97% to Democrats and Progressives. They are opponents of school vouchers and charter schools. Interestingly, the Orange County Associations of Educators (OCAE) is endorsing Wendy Padilla, who supports charter schools. She was employed by a charter school in Durham, Central Park School for Children, and was their PTA Treasurer & Auditor. Part of the OCAE’s decision on who to endorse was based on a candidate questionnaire. There is evidence that Jennifer Moore plagiarized and used Artificial Intelligence to write her responses for this questionnaire. Jennifer Moore served as Vice Chair for OCAE in 2017 and 2018. However, this association of educators is still endorsing her. OCAE also has an alliance with Public Schools Strong and its members, as they co-hosted a candidate forum and have overlapping members.
So, where is the scandal?
There isn’t one. That is the point.
News flash, Orange County is not made up of 100% Progressives, Liberals or Democrats. News flash, Moderates, Independents, Conservatives, and Republicans live in Orange County. There are almost as many registered Unaffiliated voters (44K) as there are registered Democrat voters (50K) in Orange County. What is the big deal if a conservative group or any group for that matter endorses a school board candidate? What is the big deal that like-minded people naturally connect and group together? This back and forth between Conservatives vs. Progressives could go on and on and will not teach students how to read on grade level or be proficient in math. What’s lacking is a disregard of a middle or common ground in order to compromise and respect each other among a diverse community. The only reason to call someone out is if they have committed a crime, lied, cheated, violated their oath or abused an office position; no matter their political affiliation. Is it better to endorse a progressive candidate who isn’t qualified over a conservative one who is qualified just because of party affiliation and endorsements? Perpetuating division with false narratives in the community will continue to block positive progress and is a Communist tactic at work. All voices in the county have the right to be represented by elected officials. After-all, isn’t that Democracy?