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Is Campaigning as a Bloc in School Board Elections Ethical?
Letter reprinted at the request of the author To: Richard P. Mills, Commissioner of Education Dear Commissioner Mills,
I respectfully inquire if the Department has any existing policy in regards to the issue of school board candidates campaigning as a bloc against individual candidates, during an election cycle. This question pertains to recent electioneering procedures at the Garrison Union Free School District, located in Putnam County.
The two incumbents, Fran DiSarro and Marilyn Palefsky, along with newcomer Carol McCullough, formed a coalition and publicly campaigned as such for the three open seats. The other two candidates, Nancy Wareham-Gordon and Christopher Simone, conducted individual drives.
The trio's success was overwhelming: Palefsky, 274; McCullough, 269 and Disarro, 265. Gordon and Simone garnered 141 and 157 votes, respectively.
While the exact same returns may well have occurred otherwise, I for one cannot help but question their utter conclusiveness. Because of this uncertainty warranted or not it would be my preference that slate-style politics not take place on the school board level.
Thanking you in advance for your response, I remain...
Goldee Greene
Garrison
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