2020 School Board Forum—On Line Citizens For Good Government Style!! Will last from NOW until Election DAY!!! Questions from the Public, Answers by the candidates, Debate between Candidates and Fact Checking by ME!!! Moderator, facilitator, reporter and fact checking by Robert A. Williams and the public

Editor’s Note: COVID-19 and the sometimes-ridiculous gathering limits imposed by Governor Roy Cooper has limited the ability of citizens and voters to get to know the candidates for elected offices. Also, the usual slate of Forums, like the one School Board forum scheduled at Cleveland Community College for this coming Tuesday evening will not allow the public to participate or to ATTEND. I believe that is a waste, bad planning and limits each candidate to around a total of eight minutes each. I said in a previous article that such a Forum is a “bust.” One of the CCC School Board forum Moderators, Andy Dedmon, suggested that I have my own forum and make my own rules. So, that is exactly what I am doing here.

HERE is my plan.

• This forum will be online and conducted on this website.
• This forum is open to all candidates and all citizens and voters.
• This forum will last from NOW until Election Day-November 3, 2020
• Candidates that did not have time to adequately answer the questions at the CCC Forum are welcome to make their complete response on this forum.
• Any citizen and voter will be requested to provide the questions they would like to ask the candidates to me at raw@shelby.net or to provide a comment to this article with their questions or answers included
• All candidates will have the opportunity to answer that question in as great a detail as they see fit. Note, my website is NOT Facebook so it will take a period of time to post the questions and receive the answers.
• I will monitor every school board candidates campaign page for interesting statements, opinions, facts and statements and add those to this forum as a clearing house of information for all to see.
• I will fact check any item that is fact checkable. The public is asked to also provide fact checking information.
• I will monitor candidate political advertising, billboard, yard signs, handouts, TV commercials, etc. and fact check. The public is asked to also provide their information.
• Any candidate that refuses to participate will be identified for all to see.
• There are no rules except that no profane language or words will be published as is.
• We reserve the right to improve our format for the convenience of por readers. Candidates the public and our moderators. Mostly ME.

This article is where our 2020 Election School Board Candidates Forum Starts.

We start with Candidate Samantha Davis and her campaign Facebook Page. Samantha is First in alphabetical order so that is a good place to start as any.

But First, in my personal conversations with Samantha Davis, I have asked her several questions and this is just a part of what we discussed.

Why you are running for the school board?
I have a passion for children. As a parent of school aged children, I am concerned about failed schools, bullying of children, sexual exploitation of children, safety and the poor educational record that CCS has, but refuses to talk about. I believe the School Board needs new blood that is not afraid to tackle problems and resolve them.

What is your motivation?
When I see or hear about a problem of any kind, it is my first instinct to figure out the cause of the problem and to fix the problem. Whatever that problem may be.

What is your “vision” as a potential new school board member?
I have this deep understanding that children are at school more waking hours than they are at home. Therefore, what the children learn at school, as well as their character traits are mostly shaped by their educational experience at school. Every leader, every follower, every teacher, every policeman, every judge and every lawyer, every citizen in Cleveland County was once a student in school. If those students continue in life making bad decisions, our school board has failed them. If a former student commits a crime, our educational system has failed them. If students are successful in life, our school board and educational system has succeeded for them. My vision is that every child in school at every level is taught right from wrong, how to cope and solve problems for themselves, how to think for themselves, have good moral fiber that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Then we have succeeded as a school board. But that success has to include discovery of character issues at an early age and make the appropriate accommodation for that particular child. We have to understand that those who act out or bully other children at school are actually crying out for help. We have to discover the problems and make the accommodations as early in a child’s life as possible. And encourage every child to do the best that their ability will allow them to do.

Now, looking at Samantha Davis’s Facebook campaign page, I find that Samantha Davis has provided more insight into her motivation and vision. Starting way back!

Samantha Davis Facebook campaign page.

On December 8. 2019 Samantha Davis writes:
Someone asked me was I sure about running for school board. She said you just beat cancer and are still healing. My response was this. The same way I fought cancer is the same way I fight for our children! Like my life depends on it. Cancer didn’t stop me, it made me stronger!! Many of you may not know this, but while fighting that ugly “C” word, I was still fighting for our children and the injustices against them. The day of my surgery my focus was still on our Children!! So just know, if I’m elected to be on the Cleveland County Board of education, I will NOT just sit there!!! I will fight for ALL of our children and ALL of our CCS employees!! There will be no more sweeping mess under the rug!! Folks will be held accountable!! As my children would say, I’m going to fight like a boss!!!

(Folks, provide your comments about that strong statement)

On September 20, 2020 Samantha Davis writes:
Good Sunday afternoon. I would like to come to all my supporters and make a formal statement about the accusations against me.
On December 5, 2019 I went to the Cleveland County Board of Election to file as a candidate for The Cleveland County School Board. Never have I ever thought I was a registered Republican, nor was I upset or angry that I wasn’t.
When people are afraid of what you stand for or feel like you may have a good chance at beating them in the election, they tend to spread rumors. I as a candidate for school board and someone who is against bullying, lies and rumors. I am disappointed at how far someone would go to hurt someone who is 100% for our children.

(Editor’s Note: Since the September 18, 2020 Political Smackdown program where co-host Betsy Wells attached Samantha Davis as A Democrat in Name Only (DINO) personal attacks and various forms of lies and slander have exploded. Go back and read my article about that Political Smackdown episode. School Board Candidate Michael Tolbert was also disparaged on that episode. We will cover such egregious political dirty tricks in other articles. But, in the meantime, Shame! Shame, Shame on Political Smackdown and Cleveland Community College. Also, the Cleveland County Democrat Party who wants to exclude Samantha Davis and Michael Tolbert for Shearra Miller, Richard Hooker and Roger Harris.)

On September 18, 2020 Samantha Davis writes:
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
The deadline to register online to vote is Friday, October 9, 2020.
The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Friday, October 9, 2020.
The deadline to register in person to vote is Friday, October 9, 2020. After the regular voter registration deadline of Friday, October 9, 2020, you can register and vote in person at one-stop sites during the early voting period, which runs from Thursday, October 15, 2020 to Saturday, October 31, 2020. This process is known as same-day registration. Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of residence. Within two business days, the county board of elections will review the registration and the registrant’s address. Your vote will be counted unless the county board of elections determines that you are not qualified to vote.
The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
The early voting period runs from Thursday, October 15, 2020 to Saturday, October 31, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.

On September 15, 2020 Samantha Davis Posts on Facebook:

On August 17, 2020 Samantha Davis Posts of Facebook:

Editor’s Note: Besides being an excellent prayer, the “In Jesus name we Pray” at the end of the prayer is always a good indication that Samantha Davis is a practicing Christian. Many voters would want to know that. I know that I do.

On August 4, 2020 Samantha Davis posts on Facebook:

On July 22, 2020 Samantha Davis writes on Facebook:
At the last board meeting a school board member motioned for a safety committee to be formed. He did not get a second and the motion did not carry.
Now more than ever the safety of our children should be top priority. My concerns are that the focus may be so much on the sanitizing cleaning and protecting our kids from the virus which is so important, that other safety concerns may be ignored or overlooked. The safety of our children should be top priority. I am all for a safety committee. I feel one is needed now more than ever.

Editor’s Note: At the September 14, 2020 School Board meeting, 2020 School Board Candidates Shearra Miller, Richard Hooker and Roger Harris again voted against a School Board Safety and Health Committee. Along with Phillip Glover and Jo Boggs.

On June 25, 2020 Samantha Davis post of her Facebook page”

In early June 2020 Samantha Davis replies to a person reporting bullying and no actions at Cleveland County Schools Samantha Davis replies: (Note, the identity of the person making the report is not included as her child will likely be retaliated against.)
Thank you for reaching out. Bullying of any form from anyone will not be tolerated. I am the founder/president of
Parents Against Bullying NC
I have been advocating for many years. My plan is to hold ALL who bully accountable. To stop letting it be swept under the rug. Bullying does start at home, but it’s not just students bullying students but teachers bullying students, students bullying teachers, board members bullying other board members. I will work with the parents to come up with solutions to stop bullying.

Editor’s Note: Folks, this is the first article in a series that we will publish as a continuing Candidates Forum for the 2020 School Board Elections. This is a start and as I previously stated Samantha Davis, in alphabetical order, goes first. I will get around to all of the School Board Candidates in time, but this is the first step. A baby step.

Candidates, voters, ask your questions by emailing me at raw@shelby.net or by commenting on any of these articles. If you don’t know who to vote for when you receive your ballot, shame, shame, shame on YOU!!!

In the meantime, I will be developing a series of questions for all candidate. Some to particular candidates, like incumbents and their records, and some to all candidates. Also note that all of us citizens will be fact checking as we go.

Warning, ANY candidate that refuses to participate will be considered to be unfit for the office. This 2020 School Board Election is serious business and we will NOT play around!!!