The Observation Deck

Well, this topic has reared its ugly head again. I actually had to buy a Lakewood Sun Post for the first time in years.

In the Sun Post March 1, article "Councilman leads charge for change", Staff Writer Lisa Novatny states that "Councilman Ryan Demro will come before council Monday in an attempt to amend the city charter provision that prohibits employees of Lakewood schools, residing within the city, the right to seek public office."

Here are a couple of quotes from the article.

"I led this effort because I believe everyone is entitled to run for office," said Demro. "And this charter restricts residents' civil rights."

"I deeply believe that we shouldn't limit access to public office," said Suzanne Metelko"



Allowing employees of Lakewood Schools to hold elected office in the city may sound like a wonderful idea. It would be easy to assume that allowing members of this well educated, and often community minded group could really bring a lot to city council.

Unfortunately, it would more likely put restrictions on voter representation in that elected body. I’m not willing to give up my representation for their “rightâ€Â

City workers are allowed to be on the school board and I believe school employees should be allowed to serve on city council. It seems logical that we allow all citizens an opportunity to serve. I feel that this issue should come before the voters, let us decide who we want to serve us.

Danielle,

Lakewood has home rule because of its charter, unlike Parma, for example. School Boards have their own set of rules that are defined by state law. We have the right to disallow school employees from serving on our city council. I would also be in favor of disallowing city employees from serving on our school board. We don't have that choice.

Steve

stephen davis wrote:Lakewood has home rule because of its charter, unlike Parma, for example.

Ok, so dumb question...

What is home rule?

sounds like there is someone who works for the school who wants to run for city council really really badly

Why not just say who it is? To paraphrase from another thread, why would they want a such a terrible, thankless job, anyway?

Doug

DougHuntingdon wrote:sounds like there is someone who works for the school who wants to run for city council really really badly

Doug,

On the contrary, Councilman Ryan Demro would stand to gain the most with this charter amendment. He is a teacher that I presume would like to work for Lakewood Schools.

If it comes to a vote, we could call it "The Ryan Demro Employment Act of 2007."

Steve

"The Ryan Demro Employment Act of 2007."

Now THAT is funny!


I suspect if it goes on the ballot, it will overwhelmingly fail.

"If it comes to a vote, we could call it "The Ryan Demro Employment Act of 2007."

Gee, that's a cheap shot and not really worthy of your usual intelligent wit.

I can name many fine teachers and administrators that live in Lakewood and work for the schools who are interested in this issue, many of whom would make really fine council representatives. Check the names on the petitions. And of course the entire school board has also signed the petitions.

What kind of society fears it's teachers?

Who fears the teachers?

The Republican party!

Teachers are a favorite whipping boy of the righties

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/20/boo ... errorists/

This whole issue is just dripping with irony.

I can name many fine teachers and administrators that live in Lakewood and work for the schools who are interested in this issue, many of whom would make really fine council representatives. Check the names on the petitions. And of course the entire school board has also signed the petitions.

What kind of society fears it's teachers?

When I spoke to teachers about this issue they were amazed that this restriction even existed. I am glad to hear that the entire school board has signed the petition.

I suspect if it goes on the ballot, it will overwhelmingly fail.

Grace, then what do we have to fear. BTW I only had one person refuse to sign my petition and that was because they had already signed another one. People I spoke to about this issue were overwhelmingly in favor of allowing their children's' teachers the opportunity to serve on council. I for one would trust our teachers to serve on council, I guess I have more faith in them than some do in this community.

Why is there this big fear about letting the community decide whether to change the charter or not? I say put it on the ballot and let the citizens vote.

If it comes to a vote, we could call it "The Ryan Demro Employment Act of 2007."

Steve, that is just rude and I'll leave it at that.

Suzanne Metelko wrote:And of course the entire school board has also signed the petitions.

Suzanne,

Do we REALLY want our Lakewood School Board and their administration to be hiring elected city officials?

I have talked with many people, including a school board member, that are glad that the schools are not in a position to have to do that.

The Lakewood Board of Education has, with few exceptions done an excellent job of keeping out of non-school politics. Their pragmatic, apolitical approach has served us all well. I’d like to keep it that way. If they have any extra political capital to spend, I prefer that it be used at the state level for funding solutions and reasonable standards.


Also…

Suzanne Metelko wrote:What kind of society fears it's teachers?

This is a comment that I just don’t understand.


Steve

Steve, my comment stands. The overriding concern that is most commonly expressed about this issue is that we could have TEACHERS in public office. That's just nuts. Nobody cares that I have the Mayor's assistant making school policy? Or that the police union has someone who is making school policy? Or that a member of the Presbyterian church is making school policy? Or a dog lover making school policy?

As for the school board avoiding politics, that's a function of the people involved and their determination to do their job appropriately. That board could very easily become just as political as any other. Just look across Cuyahoga County. What I really wish is that I could get politics out of city hall. Pipe dreams.

So the questions become, do we allow all of our citizens the right to elected office and do we hold those elected responsible for the job they do? Or do we try to micro manage the vote by restricting access to talented people who wish to run for election?

If we're so afraid of teachers then we could just refuse to vote for them.

"Afraid of teachers" equals "Why do you hate America" in my book.

Both sides have real points to make. I hope they make them.

Stephen Davis

Thank you for clearing it up. I was close...I just had it backwards, apparently.

Doug

DL, Thats a very 527 thing to say. When people say things like "keeping politics out of the classroom" I'm not sure what conclusion to draw. Are they concerned that students may be more political? Frankly if it weren't for teachers like Bruce Beebe and Jim Van Horn and Lou Cellini, I'm not sure how much I'd care about the politics. I am uneasy with the national campaign to choke off activist college professors. I just can't believe we are discussing limited access to public process in Lakewood.