Goebel denies playing spoiler in school board race, but "... can absolutely see how people think that"

GREENSBORO — Former Republican Bill Goebel denies intentionally playing the role of spoiler in running unaffiliated in a three-way race that saw Democratic challenger David Coates unseat incumbent Republican Michael Logan on the Guilford County Board of Education.

"I don't run to sabotage anybody," Goebel said in an interview Wednesday, a day after the election. "I run to win, and I didn't win, and I'm good with that."

As for being labeled a spoiler, he acknowledged, "I can absolutely see how people think that."

Coates was victorious in the District 3 race with 19,240 votes (45.2%) with Logan finishing second at 18,498 votes (43.5%) votes. Goebel came in last with 4,825 votes (11.3%) in Tuesday's voting.

Going into the election, Goebel and Logan had a history of bad blood dating back to a protracted battle over who should fill the seat after it became vacant in 2022. The seat changed hands between the two men last year in a complicated scenario that involved intervention from the General Assembly. Logan then sought reelection this year — and Goebel launched his unaffiliated bid.

Things would get so tense during the campaign that Logan refused to shake Goebel's hand during a debate and called him " ... a very despicable person."

After losing this week, however, Logan refrained from blaming Goebel, though he did express disappointment that Goebel had entered the race.

"I basically say it would've been nice to have had a race between me and Mr. Coates," Logan said.

How the feud started

The dispute over who should represent District 3 for the school board started in late 2022 when Republican Pat Tillman stepped down from the position after being elected to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

In accordance with state law, the District 3 members of the Guilford County GOP selected Logan as their nominee to fill the seat, but the Democratic majority on the school board repeatedly voted to reject him, creating a months-long impasse with the seat remaining vacant.

The Democrats opposed Logan largely because of social media posts he had liked and shared. One such post relating to George Floyd was condemned by Chairwoman Deena Hayes-Greene as being bigoted and displaying racial prejudice.

Former N.C. Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Whitsett) then stepped in with legislation intended to get Logan seated. That new law, however, contained a loophole that allowed the school board to install a candidate of its choosing to fill the seat.

At that point, Goebel put himself forward as a Republican alternative to Logan, and the board's Democratic majority voted to appoint him to the seat on April 4, 2023. The move sparked contention among the Republican members of the board — they labeled it a backroom deal — and led to an enraged Logan being escorted out of a school board meeting by security.

The two sitting Republican members of the school board afterward filed a lawsuit against the Democrats on the board, alleging a "clear effort" by the other members to "circumvent the North Carolina open meetings law and evade its requirements" in the decision to appoint Goebel.

The issue was ultimately resolved after Hardister secured passage of a second bill to remove Goebel, who then officially resigned opting not to challenge the new law. Logan was installed in September 2023 in the District 3 seat, but the stage was set for the 2024 race.

With the saga finally playing out in this week's election, Logan said he feels he never really got closure with the Democratic members of the school board.

"I was still run through the mud on that, and I don't think that ever got cleared up," Logan said. "I think my actions on the school board showed I was a pretty responsible board representative."

Party chairs give their takes

Chris Meadows, the chairman of the Guilford County Republican Party, said the party is still doing an analysis on the race. "But first glance is that it appears (Goebel) did get some Republican votes," Meadows said. "Enough to give the race to the Democrat."

Meadows said he also doesn't think Goebel ran intentionally with the goal of sabotaging Logan, but nevertheless Goebel end up hurting Republicans. Coates' election will increase the Democratic advantage on the school board from a 6-3 Democrat majority to a 7-2 Democrat majority.

"I'd say he's burned every Republican bridge that's out there in Guilford County and across the state," Meadows said.

Kathy Kirkpatrick, the chairman of the Guilford County Democratic Party, said she believes Coates could've beaten Logan in a head-to-head race, but Goebel's presence on the ballot helped.

"Goebel has supporters who are Republicans," Kirkpatrick said. "Anytime I think you have two people basically looking for the same vote, it's going to bring home in this case the better candidate."

She said she was "ecstatic" about Coates joining the board.

"He's going to be terrific, he absolutely is," Kirkpatrick said. "You know David he's got such a legal mind and legal background. He's been in school law for years."