The key to this run off is to know your candidate. I am very surprised that none of this came out in the election…. Since then he has done a similar felony in 99 in Durham He also was passing worthless checks in Orange County
Laura Nicholson – Has not paid their taxes (remember that almost 50% of taxes goes to education!)
Look it up yourself!
Her husband ….
He has a child abuse conviction with PROBATION.
He served 7 months on Sentence Number BA-001 on four Class H Felonies In Durham County (convicted felon)
http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=617242
Issues:
Comments
Need more info
The only citings are about Billy Nicholson III. Is he her husband? Are they divorced? His name does not appear in any searches of Laura's street address. There is no mention of him or family picture on her web or FB page. Some blanks to be filled in.
The fact is there is a Laura
The fact is there is a Laura Nicholson who owns taxes. Now if that is not the candidate them she needs to step up and clear the air. If it is her she needs to withdraw from this runoff immediately! I know I wouldn't want an elected official deciding how to educate or spend our tax dollars who cannot pay their own taxes. She and Cunningham are already wasting our tax dollars which could go to much needed programs.
Who's Cunningham?
I always want to keep up with wasted tax money.
He's a red-haired kid that
He's a red-haired kid that hangs out at Arnold's Drive-In with Potsie Weber, Ralph Malph and some guy called The Fonz. Be careful though. I hear his dad is the sheriff. Either that or he's Cal Cunningham, Democratic candidate for the US Senate that finished 2nd in the primary and has called for a runoff vote against 1st place finisher Elaine Marshall.
Orange County Land Records Data
The Orange County Land Records Data shows both Laura and Billy C Nicholson III living at 1818 Adams Place, Hillsborough: http://gis.co.orange.nc.us/land/queries/account.asp?PIN=9873997713 That is the same address Laura Nicholson lists on the Board of Elections site: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/elect/2010CANDIDATEFILING.asp
It is between Anne & Laura--Billy's name is not on the ballot!
Who is running for school board--Laura or her husband, Billy? What has occurred in the past, over ten years ago, has no bearing on this election. Yes, Billy made some mistakes. Haven't we all? Get over it!
?
I didn't know anyone could own taxes...
I thought
the commishes owned the taxes.
Welcome newcomers! Pardon my
Welcome newcomers! Pardon my typo. (Or typographical errors for any nitpickers.) You missed the point. Laura Nicholson OWES taxes. Yet IF she is elected, she wants us to entrust her with spending our tax dollars on the school budget and setting policy for educating our children. By asking for a run-off election, she shows she is willing to waste money, those precious tax dollars.
It is her right, not a waste of tax dollars
Actually, by requesting a run-off, Laura is showing that she is willing to stand up for what she believes in. And, it is her right to request a run-off since the incumbent did not receive enough votes to earn the seat outright. That is how our wonderful country works.
You call it "willing to
You call it "willing to stand up for what she believes in" I call it an act of selfishness and poor leadership accept the outcome and learn from this event by getting her financial house in order before running for public office again. Hell, she doesn't have any children in the middle and high school levels yet. Both of those levels present a whole set of there own problems and unless you have been there with your kids or worked in that environment you are green at best. On the other hand Ms. Medenblik had or currently has children in the middle and high schools levels and has experience in dealing with the challenges that middle and high schools brings. Are you part of that Calder-Green Clan who is trying to elect Laura?
I have an idea. Why don't
I have an idea. Why don't we just have everybody except Laura Nicholson underpay their taxes next year by a proportional amount and then call it even? That's an interesting website. It seems that then-Town Council member Bill Strom waited until after the final deadline before paying his 2008 taxes. Let's all take some time again to thank Bill again for his public service.
Trying to understand
There is a a Billy & Laura Nicholson with $68 or so owed on a tax bill that they paid $98 on. Is this a misunderstanding, an oversight, or a mistake by the county, or something else? Other taxes were apparently paid. This isn't adding up to the level of alarm that began this post. The address is different than Laura's home address. Are these the sameNicholsons? Is it rental property? Does somebody's brother live there and didn't make the right payment? Who knows? Pretty slim charges to hang much on at this point.
I understand
there are some people obfuscating for Laura Nicholson here. It's that obvious people. Just sayin. Not paying taxes is one thing. I can't help wondering how this might be jumped if it were, ida know, Keith Cook who didn't pay his taxes. Keith got a serious and everlasting beatdown here, but she gets a pass? Now what about marrying and having children with a 5-time felon. What does that say about her judgement? Forgiveness only gets you so far then it starts looking like blindness. There were no non-felons around 7 or 8 years ago that wanted to marry a "VP for Signature Brands?" -Indy Weekly-
It is also obvious that
It is also obvious that there are people in Anne's camp digging up stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with this election. Her decision to marry her husband is hers and it is no one else's business. More importantly, her husband's past has nothing to do with Laura's ability to serve our community and do what is best for the children of Orange County Public Schools.
Hey Rust - I'm glad you're not a journalist
For several reasons.
No I am not,
but I do know the difference between facts and baseless allegations.Facts are documented, as in the links to evidence above. Facts stand on their own and need little to no interpretation. If you want to refute those facts, you certainly may. Baseless allegations assert things not in evidence and usually seek to change the subject away from the facts at hand. Improves insinuation about Ms. Medenblik is an example of a baseless allegation. Try to keep it real people. One thing we all agree on is that the veracity and judgement of our school board members is important.
More than $68.00
If you look at ALL the tax owed by the family it is $68 + $90.22 + $27.76 + $69.23....
Deja vu all over again
This discussion of whether or not a school board candidate should be held to account for not paying his/her property taxes is directly reminiscent of a discussion I had almost exactly two years ago.At that time, I was an active blogger on the issues facing the OC schools. During the run up to the election, an anonymous commenter on my blog made the assertion that candidate Eddie Eubanks was "currently delinquent" on paying his property taxes. I held off approving the comment until I could get confirmation of the facts.A search of the online tax records showed that the comment was accurate and I posted it without delay. I then wrote a commentary that stated:"In light of the current debate over creating new taxing mechanisms to ensure Orange County has enough revenue to meet its needs and the ever present concern about meeting the funding needs of the county school system, the thought that a current candidate for the school board would neglect to pay his property taxes is unthinkable.How can someone who has failed to pay his fair share expect a voice in spending $24 million paid by others? And, how can a voter grant him that voice?"http://savehes.blogspot.com/2008/04/oops-i-did-it-again.htmlIn the end, Mr. Eubanks acknowledged that he had not paid his taxes, addressed the issue in short order, and was summarily elected to the Board.I made no issue as to how much he was in arears, nor did I care. The fact that he was delinquent at all was the issue for me. I feel exactly the same today as I did two years ago.I have looked at the tax records and, for those to whom the scale of such things matter, it appears that Laura Jo Cifaldi Nicholson and her husband Billy C. Nicholson III are currently a total of $255.25 delinquent in their Orange County property taxes - with at least one debt in excess of two years past due.Here is a listing of the currently delinquent property tax bills:$90.22 - Past due since 03/01/2008http://web.co.orange.nc.us/TaxInquiry/TaxDetail.asp?BillNumber=2007136655$68.04 - Past due since 09/01/2009http://web.co.orange.nc.us/TaxInquiry/TaxDetail.asp?BillNumber=2009265209$27.76 - Past due since 01/01/2010http://web.co.orange.nc.us/TaxInquiry/TaxDetail.asp?BillNumber=2009120891$69.23 - Past due since 02/01/2010http://web.co.orange.nc.us/TaxInquiry/TaxDetail.asp?BillNumber=2009129278Of course, these are only the current delinquencies as of 5/19/2010. This does not include the 8 instances in which their tax bills were delinquent enough to incur interest charges before being paid in full.
No, I am not a part of the
No, I am not a part of the "Calder-Green clan"--I have never met or even spoken to Ms. Calder-Green. I am a former teacher, now stay at home mother, who knows a lot about education and sees areas for improvement in our local school system. And, I have personally seen Laura in action at Central Elementary this year. She is an amazing woman who truly wants to positively impact the lives of all children in our community. Yes, she may not have children in the middle or high schools, but that is not a huge deal. Our middle and high schools will never improve if we do not work to improve education for ALL students in Orange County, starting with the primary grades. As for "selfishness & poor leadership"...you obviously do not know the woman who has worked tirelessly to make Central Elementary, a low performing school serving most of the lower-income families in our community, a place that children and parents want to be. She is probably one of the least selfish people I know. Perhaps you should take some time to get to know her.
What grade, and school
What grade, and school system? How long ago did you teach? I agree that improvement needs to occur at all education levels but if you have no experience at the middle and high school levels and your opponent does. Then it should be an easy decision for a voter.As for the selfishness & poor leadership comment I was refering to her decision to call for a runoff. I have attended a forum, read her answers to the Orange County Voice's questionaire and a number of the new articles. Have you done the same for Ms. Medenblik?
yes, let's look at Ms. Medenblik's answers...
In response to a question regarding how well the district is meeting the needs of special needs students, Ms. Medenblik responded that "Studies show early intervention has proven to be extremely effective for children with developmental delays. I support, and this board has supported, funding for preschools in our district." This is little more than lip service given that under Ms. Medenblik's leadership this Board has fought this very issue in court. AND even after losing not once, but twice, the Board continues to fight this very issue of early intervention and preschool services for children with developmental disabilities, racking up hefty legal bills and facing an even greater financial commitment if they lose again in federal court. Why you may ask? Because they are afraid that by "giving in" (regardless of what the law says) would invite even more families with children with special needs into the district expecting appropriate services. (Regardless that research doesn't support this assertion that following sucessful due process cases where families prevail other families flock to districts to set up camp and request services). It doesn't matter that the district's staff in charge of this child's IEP violated both the child's and his parent's rights time and time again, enough that it denied this child a Free and Appropriate Public Education. Not to mention that under Ms. Medenblik's leadership, the Board has violated this particular child's rights under FERPA as well by releasing statements about this child to the media. People should be looking at the issues and realizing that this Board with Ms. Medenblik at the helm are not committed to ensuring the success of every student. Quite the opposite, really.
I have been MIA for a while,
I have been MIA for a while, but in response to Poppalax's questions. I taught elementary school in Fairfax County, Virginia (one of the nation's top school systems), Chapel Hill, and Orange County. I last taught in 2004-2005 school year before staying home with my children.
accepting the outcome
The outcome is that no one won the election. You have to have 50% to win the election, except if the person entitled to call a runoff fails to do so. If the deadline had passed and Laura had failed to call for a runoff than at THAT POINT the other candidate would get a certificate of election and the outcome would be known.
Progressive????
Hilarious that a website that calls itself the voice of progressive politics in Orange County features smear tactics by a group that is as far from progressive as possible. If this is progressive.....no thanks.
Sixty eight dollars?
Gosh, I feel like I should come clean right now and just admit it:I got a praking ticket in Chapel Hill in 1989.Also, just out of fairness, maybe you should post the criminal records of both candidates immediate family members.Good thing there are no policy issues at stake in this election, because that would be totally boring and require voters to think.
So you got "a praking ticket
So you got "a praking ticket in Chapel Hill in1989"Is that why you had to leave Chapel Hill? I am not sure who got the better end of the deal Chapel Hill or Carrboro.
My 1972 property tax "unpaid"
At an 1973 candidate forum at Ephesus Road school, a questioner announced to the crowd that I had failed to pay property tax on my car for 1972. I acknowledged to the audience that the charge was correct, causing an even bigger stir, but I then put the hammer down by mentioning that I did not own a car in 1972. My Chapel Hill 1973 property tax bill on my car was about $6.00.
It's No Wonder
Gerry,With such a stellar history of criminal behavior it's no wonder they have you writing bills down in Raleigh. :-)
the funny thing is
The funny thing is I bought the car January 2, 1973 and actually did not owe any tax for 1973 but I listed it and paid the $6.00 anyway. I had no idea someone would go after me for 1972. The whole controversy actually helped me, but I am sure that was not the intention of the questioner. One of the few things I remember from law school is: "Don't ever ask a question unless you already know the answer."
Your car tax was $6 per year
Your car tax was $6 per year in 1973? Let's do some arithmetic. According to www.inflationdata.com (which I had never heard of until I did research to make this post) the inflation rate from Jan 1973 to Jan 2010 was 408.65%. So that means that $6 in 1973 is worth $24.52. So at the same rate, your car tax in 2010 would be $24.52. What are car tax rates in 2010? I don't know but my last car tax payment (I don't know if it was 2009 or 2010) was $130 for an eight year old Honda Accord. So if your car in 1973 was comparable (relative to other cars of the same time) to mine then the car tax rate has gone up fivefold (in constant dollars) since 1973.
town taxes
In 1973 Chapel Hill and Orange County sent out separate tax bills for motor vehicles I believe, so I am only talking about my town tax bill. The county tax bill was probably 50% more thatn the town. It was a quite used car. Back then there was also a state mandated personal property tax on household items, a tax that very few renters even bothered to fill out listing forms on. I had a furnished apartment at University Gardens, so the personal property I listed in 1972 was my clothes and textbooks. I remember my first town property tax bill, I am pretty sure it was 47 cents for that year.
Mulkey
As you so artfully put it, Patrick: "Welcome newcomers! Pardon my typo. (Or typographical errors for any nitpickers.) You missed the point."
Chilton
Are you going to answer the question I asked conerning why you left Chapel Hill?
Your question has no answer,
Your question has no answer, Patrick Mulkey. I have never "had to" leave anywhere. But way to stick it out with the cheap innuendo, ad hominem attacks, etc.
If you cannot take a little
If you cannot take a little joke, then maybe you need to have a bottle of wine tonight and loosen up.
Okay, well, to tell the
Okay, well, to tell the truth, there was one time when I bumped into a gigantic glass ashtray that smashed into pieces spewing cigarette ashes, sand and shards of broken glass all over the floor of a restaurant in Portland. I pretty much had to leave that place - or that's what the hostess told me.
It's no joke
Your questioning of Mayor Chilton didn't read like a joke, nor was it humorous in any way. It's incredibly gracious of him to even respond to you, which is much more than just about any other elected official would do.I hope you will show the same good grace and consideration, Patrick.
for love
didn't he leave for love? or something like that? I think I left for the same reason.
It's true, Gerry. I moved
It's true, Gerry. I moved from Chapel Hill to Vancouver, BC in 1998 to be with my sweetheart. Happily I later convinced her to move to Carrboro!
Just say no
I would appreciate if everyone who thinks this post is a stupid diversion from the election would let it die a fast and painless death by ignoring it and not posting additional comments.I apologize for not deleting it in the first place, but I'm not close enough to the matter to know the facts of the situation and I tend toward allowing for free speech even if I don't like what people have to say or how they are saying it. But these are very serious, mostly-unverified accusations.I think the nature of the original post speaks for itself.
Say YES to facts!
Not sure how this data leads away from the facts? We hold candidates to a higher standard. Our kids use public officials as roll models and this information is fact and public record. Knowing the back ground of any candidate is a key part (not the only) of someone deciding on who to vote for. If this information was false or not true you clearly would have already deleted it.
Don't push it
I have absolutely NO IDEA what basis your claims have in reality, and if you continue to construe the fact that I let you say them here as validation then I will remove the thread.
Thank you, Mcannon198 for
Thank you, Mcannon198 for starting this blog subject. You backed up your statements with FACTS that others could verify. It does not surprise me that Nicholson's friends are upset when their candidate is caught red handed and they cannot explain it away. I have heard other questions raised beyond the tax issues, I will have to see if they can be verified before going public.
Seriously?
I am by NO MEANS a politcal fan and I only came here to see what all the talk is about a "smear" campaign for a school board election. I don't even have a dog in this fight (but yes I do have a child in Orange County Schools so maybe that's another thing that peaked my interest). I don't usually vote in these types of elections, but it sure makes me want to go vote for the underdog just because and makes me wonder how many others may feel the same way and swing for her, too.
Do we really judge candidates by what their spouses did when they were barely what? 21 years old? Would we even judge the candidates themselves for the same?
Whether you committed crimes or not - would you say you are more responsible now than you were when you were 21 and that you view life much differently? Do you make decisions now the same way you made them when you were 21?
If we all still acted like we did when we were 21 who knows where the world would be. At some point you have to consider that people grow up, regret things of their past and the poor decisions they may have made. But it's also pretty sad that we have to hope others will forgive them enough to move forward.
I wish Jesus could cast a vote.