Endorsements
In school board races in Uniontown Area, Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands school districts, voters are deciding between six candidates running for five, four-year seats. We invited all the candidates to speak with our editorial board, giving them an opportunity to share their views and voters a chance to get to know them.
Unfortunately, we only had four Uniontown Area School Board candidates appear and three each for the Laurel Highlands and Albert Gallatin school boards.
We can’t say enough about how disappointed we were with the candidates who chose not to meet with our editorial board. We even gave them a chance to answer questions from a reporter, but they declined that opportunity also. We think voters should take into account such action or inaction when they go the polls. After all, if a candidate won’t answer questions from us before an election, what makes you think he or she will answer your questions after being elected. You have to wonder what these candidates don’t want us to know about them.
It’s long been the policy of this board not to endorse candidates who choose not to meet with us, and we’re continuing that this election. If that results in some de facto endorsements then so be it. While we didn’t agree 100 percent with the views of the candidates who did meet with us, at least they showed up, and we heartily applaud all of them for letting the public know what’s on their minds.
We think voters would also be wise to keep that in mind when going to the polls Nov. 8. (If you’d like to view the video of the candidates’ forums, go online to HeraldStandard.com.)Uniontown Area School Board
Of the six candidates for the five four-year seats on the Uniontown Area School Board, only Democrat challenger Dorothy Grahek, Republican incumbent Philip Holt and incumbent Thomas R. George Sr. and challenger Susan Clay, who both cross-filed, met with our editorial board.
Among the no-shows were incumbents Kenneth G. Meadows and Vincent Winfrey Sr., who are both running on the Republican and Democratic tickets.
There’s really no hot button issue to divide the candidates this time around. In fact, outside of the high school’s renovation project, there really are not a lot of big differences between the four.
The challengers, Grahek and Clay, were both on the board before, and are seeking a return after being ousted over the renovation project. It’s hard not to think they’ve been somewhat vindicated by the troubles over the project. It’s been plagued by cost overruns and untimely delays and will probably result in some type of legal action.
Even Holt and George, who backed the renovation project, said they were unhappy with how things have gone and would’ve likely do things differently if given another shot at the project.
We also commended Holt and George for agreeing to review the results of the controversial consolidation study being undertaken by state Rep. Tim Mahoney. In fact, they both agree to serve on an advisory board for the study. We think it shows a lot of foresight and courage on their part and voters should give them both another four-year term on the board. They should be joined by Grahek and Clay, who showed during their past tenures on the board an unstinting willingness to do what’s best for the students and taxpayers.
There’s also a race for a two-year term between George and Clay. We feel Clay is the best choice, as she still has a lot to bring to the board. She deserves credit for sticking to her principles four years ago on the renovation project even though she knew the odds were against her.
Laurel Highlands School Board
Participating in a forum with us were Republican candidate Ira Chrise, Democratic candidate Lyn Andaloro and Jamie Miller-D’Andrea, who appears on both the Democratic and Republican slates.
Failing to meet with us were Melvyn Sepic, Tom Vernon and Norma Santore, all of whom won both the Democratic and Republican nominations. Sepic also won both nominations for a two-year term on the board.
All of the candidates we spoke with bring something to the table. Miller-D’Andrea has been an outspoken and ardent supporter of an anti-nepotism policy for the district, a cause we strongly believe in. She’s not shied away from the battle, and hasn’t hesitated to speak up.
Chrise has an education background and is well informed on the issues facing the district. However, we’re concerned that his wife is a school teacher and that could pose a potential conflict of interest when it comes time to negotiate pay increases and fringe benefits.
Andaloro has been on the board, so she brings valuable experience to the table. She deserves credit for putting in the time necessary to be a good school board member.
We urge voters in the Laurel Highlands School District to pick Chrise, Andaloro and Miller-D’Andrea.
Albert Gallatin School Board
Meeting with our editorial board were Republican incumbent Michael Dunham, incumbent Edward Colebank, running on both the Republican and Democratic ticket, and challenger Jeff Myers, who also cross-filed.
Not meeting with us were incumbents Janet Swaney and David Howard, running on both the Republican and Democratic tickets, and incumbent John Kopas, running on the Democratic ticket.
Dunham, Colebank and Myers impressed us with their grasp on issues facing their school, such as the state mandate that allows students and parents to pick the cyber school of their choice on the taxpayers’ dime at a cost much more expensive than educating other students in the school district.
Incumbents Dunham and Colebank seem to have a finger on the pulse of the school district, and were quite aware of the challenges facing the district in terms of declining enrollment. They are doing a good job, in our estimation and should return to the board. Meyers, meanwhile, seems to be coming to the board for the right reasons, and we see him as being an asset to the district.
Albert Gallatin has been flying under the radar, of sorts, humming along efficiently, particularly when it comes to school renovations that are tripping up other districts. Dunham and Colebank deserve credit for that, and we feel Myers will help in that regard. We encourage voters to cast a ballot for all three.