NHCDP Chair Jill Hopman addresses BOE candidate Wendy Dale’s loss of party endorsement

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Around a week after the New Hanover County Democratic Party withdrew its endorsement of Board of Education candidate Wendy Dale, party leadership is providing additional details about the decision.

In a lengthy Facebook post published Saturday, New Hanover County Democratic Party Chair Jill Hopman said Dale had not been fully transparent about her background and that her criminal record would likely have prevented her from passing a standard background check required by the school district, which Hopman said Board of Education Chair Pete Wildeboer has confirmed.

Hopman said she made multiple attempts to work with Dale on addressing the issue, including discussing the possibility of quietly withdrawing from the race or publicly addressing her record.

According to Hopman, Dale did not meet with her after she tried to set up a meeting earlier this month.

When contacted for a response to Hopman’s comments, Dale declined to comment, telling WWAY only, “No comment.”

In a statement provided to WWAY, current Board of Education member Dr. Tim Merrick, a Democrat, said: “I’m concerned about Ms. Dale’s lack of transparency more than the fact that she seems to live a difficult life that left her in unfortunate circumstances. I think everyone in both parties is recognizing the need to vet candidates more thoroughly. I’d like to see a different candidate on the ticket. One that I support without reservation. For that reason, I’d like to see her drop out of the race.”