Are Lakewood's Non Partisan Elections Racist?

[Karolyn Isenhart]

I was always a critic of Lakewood Schools until I had the opportunity to meet Betsy Shaughnessy last year. Now, I can't imagine trusting our schools to anyone else.

I would LOVE to see all the hyper-critical people on this forum do a fraction of what she does for the city. Her children have graduated and she could easily walk away but she doesn't because she actually CARES about this city, about the children and young adults in the school system, about making sure our tax dollars are used properly.

I don't have children in the schools but it is wonderful to be able to boast about all that has been done to rebuild them AND that I can call one of the architects a friend.

[Karolyn Isenhart]

I think these nonpartisan primaries and generals are ridiculous. If this was tiny town of 1,000 it might be okay but Lakewood is too large.

[Ryan Patrick Demro]

Nope. Apparently you just got here, but over 60% of the electorate said that was the way it should be in Lakewood in 2002 after 50 years of partisanship.

[Justine Cooper]

I was always a critic of Lakewood Schools until I had the opportunity to meet Betsy Shaughnessy last year. Now, I can't imagine trusting our schools to anyone else.

I would LOVE to see all the hyper-critical people on this forum do a fraction of what she does for the city. Her children have graduated and she could easily walk away but she doesn't because she actually CARES about this city, about the children and young adults in the school system, about making sure our tax dollars are used properly.

I don't have children in the schools but it is wonderful to be able to boast about all that has been done to rebuild them AND that I can call one of the architects a friend.

I didn't read ANY thing that was criticizing Betsy as a school board member (and apologize if I missed something) but have heard and read that the fear is that she would retire soon after being reelected and that the taxpayers would NOT have a vote in who replaces her.
So you would call concerned taxpayers hypercritical for asking questions? For caring? So we should fork over our taxdollars but keep our opinions to ourselves? Never question anything, just pay for others to do the job? "Off with their heads" sort of dictatorship instead of a democracy? Some around here would love that.

This is about honesty and transparency and fair votes. Nothing more and nothing less.

[Bill Call]

......but have heard and read that the fear is that she would retire soon after being reelected and that the taxpayers would NOT have a vote in who replaces her.
So you would call concerned taxpayers hypercritical for asking questions? For caring? So we should fork over our taxdollars but keep our opinions to ourselves? Never question anything, just pay for others to do the job? "Off with their heads" sort of dictatorship instead of a democracy? Some around here would love that.

This is about honesty and transparency and fair votes. Nothing more and nothing less.

I've heard the same thing.

I'm not sure why people would vote for someone who is running for council or school board who intends to resign that position soon after the election.

Are our school board elections racist? The Justice Department thinks so:

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/Dece ... -1058.html