Image 1 / 3
Newcomers Randy Barefoot, Carol Worley and Georgina Zeng had enough votes to force current board members Dr. Carl Barr, Victor Fryar and Dr. Bill Starling from the current board.
Newcomer Randy Barefoot stated in an interview that he is very excited to get down to work as a Clinton City Board of Education member.
“It has taken a lot of support from people to make this happen,” said Barefoot, noting how grateful he was for all the effort that made his election possible.
Feeling the same sense of joy, newcomer Georgina Zeng stated that she felt gratified to know that she was victorious in this election.
“I feel great. I thank everyone who supported me in trying to make this a better system,” said Zeng.
Equally as enthusiastic, newcomer Carol Worley stated that she is very happy with how the election turned out.
“I am very pleased that the community had enough confidence in me to elect me to this position,” Worley commented.
Only one non-incumbent candidate, Shirley Davis, fell short of enough votes to win one of the three spots.
With his first loss in a Clinton City Board of Education, Dr. Carl Barr stated that he was “saddened” to see his colleagues and himself not on the board.
“I am saddened for our community’s sake. This election is a vehicle that has failed,” Dr. Barr noted.
He added that with the hiring of a new superintendent and the economic times as unsteady as they are now, he felt that it would have been better suited for the community to have three experienced board members.
“We now have five board members with less than a year of experience,” said Dr. Barr.
The current board chairman did say that he wishes the new elected members success as they help shape the Clinton City Board of Education.
“I wish them well, and I respect the wishes of the community,” said Dr. Barr.
Victor Fryar echoed Barr’s comments of wishing the new board members well.
“This is a changing of the guard. I congratulate all of the winners,” Fryar stated.
He thanked the people who voted for him, but added, “It was just time for me to go.”
Dr. Bill Starling was contacted for comment, but was unavailable by press time.
Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.
"What had happen was" not one but TWO race baiters got exited. I'm talking about the race baiters who supported a candidate for INTERIM superintendent who has substantially LESS qualification than the other candidate, whom they did NOT support. The game was rigged from the start when the more qualified candidate was not named ACTING super, supposedly to prevent would-be applicants for PERMANENT super from not entering the process, having concluded that if the ACTING super was also a candidate for PERMANENT super that he/she was a shoo-in. The race baiters seemed to have lost that concern when the candidate they supported for INTERIM also became a candidate for PERMANENT.
The beauty of Tuesday's election is that EVERYBODY was taken care of at the polls: "one who once made a public statement to parents," one who never made a public statement to anyone until AFTER the election, and one who fits neither description. Now, let's replace this at-large voting, that you are not a fan of, with some districting!
That is one of the most arrogant statements I have read in a long time. Why is it that the election failed by bringing in newcomers now but succeeded when Barr was elected as a newcomer? I think what he meant to say is that he is sad that a severe blow was made to the good ole boy network that has kept a strangle hold on this town for so long.
Congratulations to Worley, Zeng and Barefoot. You have your work cut out for you thanks to the ineptitude of your predecessors and the rampant nepotism that has defined Clinton City schools.
Dr. Carl Barr stated that he was “saddened” to see his colleagues and himself not on the board.
Actual meaning; " I can't believe these stupid voters didn't re-elect me".
Dr. Barr;"He added that with the hiring of a new superintendent and the economic times as unsteady as they are now, he felt that it would have been better suited for the community to have three experienced board members".
Actual meaning; "The stupid voters think the grass is greener on the other side. Now they actually have people who will do the job".
Dr. Barr; "“I am saddened for our community’s sake. This election is a vehicle that has failed".
Actual meaning; " The same corrupt political system that voted me in has now voted me out. Stupid voters".
Dr. Barr;"“We now have five board members with less than a year of experience".
Actual meaning; " The Clinton City BOE has five members that aren't as corrupt and arrogant as I am".
Dr. Barr;"“I wish them well, and I respect the wishes of the community".
Actual meaning; "You stupid, inbred, backwoods people of Clinton. The BOE is going to fail and make all of you look stupid. I'll be back next election".
If I was voter in the Clinton district, I would be highly offended by this man's remarks. They were unprofessional, arrogant and childish. This is the caliber of people the voters keep putting back in office.
Gee, Dr. Barr, do you want some crackers with that whine?
-went to school K through 12
-was a member of a state champion football team
-member of a home owners association
And to think I have been doing things the hard way.