New Hanover Democrats not endorsing school board candidate Wendy Dale over criminal record

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Democratic Party is no longer endorsing one of its four candidates for the New Hanover County Board of Education.

Party Chair Jill Hopman confirmed that candidate Wendy Dale lost the party’s endorsement because of what Hopman described as a “lengthy criminal record.”

In an email sent to WWAY, Dale addressed her criminal history, which includes several misdemeanor convictions that are all more than a decade old.

According to Dale, she was convicted in 2016 of disorderly conduct in a public building after arguing and yelling at a police officer inside a courthouse.

Court records also show Dale was convicted in 2014 of communicating threats and stalking. In 2000, she was convicted of obstructing a highway after participating in a protest outside the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.

Dale said she had previously disclosed the stalking conviction to Hopman, who she claims later asked her to consider withdrawing from the race following the Rick Southerland scandal.

Dale also alleged Hopman falsely told other party members that Dale had been allowed to discuss her record publicly.

Despite losing the endorsement, Dale said she plans to remain in the race.

“I have every intention of continuing to campaign, with or without the party’s support, keeping the focus on my platform of supporting public education in New Hanover County through financial advocacy, fair and inclusive policies, and safe and supportive public schools,” Dale said in a statement.

Dale also said she does not believe she owes voters an apology because “this information had been disclosed to the party before the primary.” Dale received the second-highest number of votes in March’s primary election.

In a statement, Hopman defended the party’s decision.

“The NHCDP believes in transparency and winning elections. We will continue to pursue both,” Hopman said. “We stand by our endorsement decision and we look forward to helping Jerry Jones, Margie Gewirtzman and Brittnei LaRue win in November.”

Dale added that while she is somewhat concerned about losing the party’s endorsement, she is more concerned about what she described as damage the party has done to itself by making “poor decisions.”