Redenbaugh, a Wilmington attorney and mother of three, made her announcement in front of a packed house of Democrats at the 2011 New Hanover County Unity Banquet.
Redenbaugh gained national notoriety when, on May 23rd, 2011, she received a 'Profiles In Courage’ Award from the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. The JFK Library and Museum honored Redenbaugh because of her principled stand against what she perceived as racial segregation in school redistricting plans being pushed by the Republican majority on the New Hanover County Board of Education.
"North Carolina Democrats would like to wholeheartedly welcome Elizabeth Redenbaugh to our Party," said Melvin Williams, Secretary of the North Carolina Democratic Party. "Elizabeth is a principled leader and we look forward to supporting her tireless efforts to ensure that all of New Hanover County’s public school students have an equal chance at a bright future."
Redenbaugh told the crowd at the Unity Banquet that, back in 2007, she was listening to a sermon series on the book of Genesis. The pastor said something, which she could not forget: "We are all made in the image and likeness of God and, therefore, are all worthy of being treated with dignity, value, and respect."
These words echoed in her head for years and led her to work and vote to try to prevent the severe discrimination, which the New Hanover Board of Education put into place in 2010.
In October 2010, the state of North Carolina asked New Hanover County to sign an affidavit certifying that it was not intentionally segregating county schools based on race or socioeconomic status. Redenbaugh opposed the school board's decision to certify the affidavit. The board approved the certification anyway, saying that if indeed segregation happened, it was unintentional.
Elizabeth Redenbaugh will stand for re-election to the New Hanover County Board of Education in 2012.
To view Elizabeth's 'Profiles In Courage' acceptance speech with an introduction by Caroline Kennedy, please see the video below or click here.
The people in the attached picture are - Left to Right: Austin Redenbaugh (13), Elizabeth Redenbaugh, Caroline Kennedy, Kate Redenbaugh (11), Zachary Redenbaugh (15), and Jamie Redenbaugh
Francine DeCoursey (videographer) and Michele Seidman (editor)
