Wake GOP endorses five school board candidates

The Wake County Republican Party is endorsing Chairman Ron Margiotta, who is seeking re-election for his District 8 seat, Heather Losurdo in District 3, and Venita Peyton in District 4. The group is also endorsing Cynthia Matson, who's running for the District 5 seat, and Donna Williams, who's running for the District 6 seat.

"The party is unified around this slate, and we are looking forward to helping them achieve victory in the upcoming municipal elections this fall," Wake County Republican Party Chairwoman Susan Bryant said.

Fourteen candidates are running for five seats that are up for grabs in the Oct. 11 municipal election.

Losurdo, who is running for the north Raleigh seat, is the only candidate going against a registered Republican, Eric Squires. She also faces incumbent Kevin Hill and Jennifer Mansfield.

Margiotta is running in southern Wake County against Susan Evans.

Peyton is seeking incumbent Keith Sutton's seat in east Raleigh, while Matson is running against Jim Martin for an open seat in south-central Raleigh.

Williams is running against Christine Kushner, George Morgan and Mary Ann Weathers for the open central Raleigh seat.

The school board race is supposed to be nonpartisan but leaders of both Wake County's Republican and Democratic parties say they plan to be heavily involved in this year's race.

The Republican majority took control in 2009 with four new board members in Margiotta's camp. Republicans at least need to hold Margiotta's seat to keep control of the majority.

All of the candidates are expected to take part in a series of forums sponsored by WakeUp Wake County and the League of Women Voters.