Handicapping school board and city council races

[Frank Branchick]

I think all of the incumbents will retain their seats on city council. But how about the school board race? There are some qualified candidates who will make things interesting. Great to see someone like Tom Einhouse step up to the plate. We could use 10 more just like him. Is Linda Beebe's run just about up? I would bet it is. Will the Fitzgerald machine power Emma Barcelona over the top? Absolutely. Are voters wise to Bill Call's looney Republican-leaning conspiracy theories and subtle prejudice against homeless people? Most likely. Will Kristine Pug-C-U-in's tireless campaigning win over voters who are unimpressed with her flimsy platform? Perhaps. Can Woody Calleri garner more than 200 votes? We'll have to wait and see.

[sharon kinsella]

Where do you get off with the nasty mouth you have?

Your reference to Christine was disgusting and I hope your post is removed because of it.

[Stan Austin]

Mr. Branchick--- I love the topic of your post! One thing that those of us who love politics enjoy is predicting the races. And, it is sort of like analyzing a horse race or handicapping it to use your phrase. In the Lakewood Board of Education election with three seats to be filled you have given a lively thumbnail sketch of each candidacy.

While each writer is entitled to a certain style which can make for good reading sometimes things are overlooked.

I refer specifically to your reference to Kristine Pagsuyoin having a "flimsy platform." I can only assume that this was an inadvertent oversight on your part and only need refer you to Mel Page's article in the last Lakewood Observer "Why I am voting for Kristine Pagsuyoin for School Board." That along with the campaign literature which was available to you yesterday at the Lakewood Community Festival should give you a different slant as to the substance of her platform as well as qualifications.

You did, however, really hit the nail on the head when you referred to her "tireless campaign." As you might know, I am the Treasurer for the Pagsuyoin for Lakewood Schools Committee and dang it--- Kristine has been at it, campaigning for this important position. In fact that is probably the essence of her campaign. While anybody can list credentials or a history of honorariums as sufficient reasons to vote for a candidate it really takes someone who is willing [b]and has demonstrated [b] the essential part of running for office in America. That part is campaigning, going door to door and asking -what do you expect from your schools, how is your child performing in school, what are your concerns and how can I, the candidate, work with you, other parents, taxpayers, all the stakeholders to achieve our common goals?

This is tireless, relentless work and only those, like Kristine Pagsuyoin, have demonstrated this essential other half of a good candidacy. First is qualifications, second is showing the capacity to actually represent.

In this race, to use the horse race analogy, most candidates have gotten off to a slow start. They aren't even campaigning! They are disdainfully "standing" for office.

Some wanted to form an alliance, a team of three. What an insult to our democracy! They're telling you right out that they're a block and won't consider the needs of the kids, parents, taxpayers.

One candidate doesn't even indicate which school board he is running for and lists a treasurer who lives in Fairview Park. Guess it doesn't matter if you think you can dazzle the voter with a colorful piece of literature.

Another candidate will have to evaluate whether or not she can even vote on the most routine of school board business because of potential conflicts.

Yes, Kristine has been out there walking up and down the Lakewood porch steps, hiking up the streets, going to all the block parties (she even brings home baked cookies!) Maybe it's age or lack of interest that keeps other candidates from the voter. But not Kristine-- she's out there in our Lakewood earning your vote!

[Thealexa Becker]

I think all of the incumbents will retain their seats on city council. But how about the school board race? There are some qualified candidates who will make things interesting. Great to see someone like Tom Einhouse step up to the plate. We could use 10 more just like him. Is Linda Beebe's run just about up? I would bet it is. Will the Fitzgerald machine power Emma Barcelona over the top? Absolutely. Are voters wise to Bill Call's looney Republican-leaning conspiracy theories and subtle prejudice against homeless people? Most likely. Will Kristine Pug-C-U-in's tireless campaigning win over voters who are unimpressed with her flimsy platform? Perhaps. Can Woody Calleri garner more than 200 votes? We'll have to wait and see.

I don't know if I can take your post seriously since it seems to be just insulting rather than constructive.

Yes, there are issues with some people who are running, and that is up to voters to decide, but I don't think that anyone running is worthy of this kind of negative attention that does not seem to be based on their platforms and more on your opinion of their position.

I would cite your scorn of Kristine, but I think that has been covered.

And while Bill Call and I have some significant differences of opinion on public education, I think he raises issues that need to be discussed if only for everyone to properly address their stance on it and not just spout out comments. Whether or not you agree with him is not the issue. If you don't, just don't vote for him. But there is no need to be so combative and accuse him of conspiracy theories. Perhaps he has a more negative view of politics and if he is Republican leaning, so what? Are we so narrow minded in Lakewood that anyone who isn't a flaming liberal with hardcore Democratic principles is shunned from running?

I hope that isn't true. That would mean Lakewood is not as progressive as it seems.

So please, I caution everyone talking about these races to be more thoughtful and not as spiteful in your comments. It is not productive to just insult and deride candidates in such a non productive manner. If you want to challenge a candidate on their position, do some work yourself to actually have an intelligent debate.

So, if you have an issue you want to discuss, make a seperate, SPECIFIC, post. A conversation about pertinent topics would be so much more helpful.

[Will Brown]

I'm convinced that the field of education needs a total makeover. Where once we led the way, we are now falling behind. They recently reported a material drop in SAT reading scores over recent years, yet our schools keep doing things the same way. That is not good for our children and our country.

Few candidates for school board have any relevant experience. Those who claim relevant experience have usually been in the failing education business so long that they are highly resistant to change, when what we really need are members who demand change, and are willing to stand up for that change.

People who cite experience as teachers, or as parents (how does having a child in the schools lead to your being an effective board member?), don't light my fire. I am looking for candidates who espouse dramatic change, and will work to reform a system that is becoming dysfunctional.

One of the weaknesses of democracy, in my view, is that we elect people who are good campaigners, rather than people who will be good legislators or executives. We can all think of examples of people who are good campaigners, but inept officeholders. I'm not sure how to counter this weakness, as it takes a lot of time and work to look behind the sound bites and see the real qualifications, and I suspect most of us are not equipped to do that, but do vote.

Of the candidates I have looked into so far, I have not found one I would support. Incumbents are out. Call impresses me as being a gadfly, eager to rant and rave about how someone is cheating us, but devoid of constructive ability. Pagsuyoin is campaigning very well, with underlings poised to leap on any criticism, but to me she looks like another Beebe, mired in the muck of how things were and are, and not at all interested in needed structural change. If in fact Barcelona is a party favorite, I would not support her, as we need people who see this position as a final position, not people who see it as training for higher office.

[Bill Call]

I think all of the incumbents will retain their seats on city council. But how about the school board race?

If you would like to discuss issues I'll be over here:


viewtopic.php?f=142&t=10403

[stephen davis]

I'm convinced that the field of education needs a total makeover. Where once we led the way, we are now falling behind. They recently reported a material drop in SAT reading scores over recent years, yet our schools keep doing things the same way. That is not good for our children and our country.

Few candidates for school board have any relevant experience. Those who claim relevant experience have usually been in the failing education business so long that they are highly resistant to change, when what we really need are members who demand change, and are willing to stand up for that change.

People who cite experience as teachers, or as parents (how does having a child in the schools lead to your being an effective board member?), don't light my fire. I am looking for candidates who espouse dramatic change, and will work to reform a system that is becoming dysfunctional.

Will,

Are these comments (opinions?) about education specific to Lakewood schools, or are they more global? Did you arrive at your opinions through research, extensive experience, or by watching FOX News? (I noticed that you said, "They recently reported...")

"Falling behind", "failing", and "dysfunctional", are not how I would describe Lakewood schools. If that is your premise, I would have to say that it is flawed, and your following comments are sophistry.

"Falling behind", "failing", and "dysfunctional" may apply to other schools and districts. It is my opinion ("Opinion" is the qualifier.) that in most of these cases the community has failed the schools, and that is a much longer discussion than I care to have here and now.

I will admit that there are more pressures on schools than ever before, especially with regard to funding on the federal, state, and local level. The economy has affected almost everyone. I just hope we don't let it have a terrible impact on following generations. They will all need good educations for their, and our, future.

Our five children graduated from Lakewood High School from 1995 to 2007. 2007 is not very long ago. I think they were all well prepared.


Steve

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[Will Brown]

Since I don't watch Fox news, I must have gotten it somewhere else.

I do read a lot of newspapers, and this was reported, as I recall, in both the New York Times and the Washington Post, and likely elsewhere. Feel free to look it up if you missed it.

What was reported was a national trend found in both SAT reading and writing abilities.

As I have consistently written, I think the Lakewood schools are better than most; but that doesn't mean they are incapable of improvement. Since the federal government took over education, schools throughout the country have become more and more similar. Being among the best of a failing class is not really cause for celebration; it is cause for concern.

I'm glad your kids did well, but I would wonder if it was because of you and your children, or the schools, or both. Some kids do well even in poor schools. Some kids (many home schooled) do well without even a school or a certificated teacher. I think our schools would work better if most of the lessons were automated, freeing the teacher for more one-on-one time with each child to insure that child was doing his best, not just getting by.

[Bill Call]

As I have consistently written, I think the Lakewood schools are better than most; but that doesn't mean they are incapable of improvement. Since the federal government took over education, schools throughout the country have become more and more similar.

Lakewood schools are reaching a crisis point. If you would like to discuss school issues I'll be over here:

viewtopic.php?f=142&t=10403