Editorial: Election choices

Written by The Ridgefield Press
Sunday, 01 November 2009 05:13

Voters have some tough choices Tuesday — a lot of good people are running for office, many in the five contested races.

The school board needs continuity through the “configuration” process begun last spring, but is currently weighted a little too much towards male professionals and needs some parents who’ve come up through the traditional PTA route, waiting at bus stops, serving on committees.

For continuity voters should return the three incumbents, all Republicans: For four-year seats, that’s IBM executive John Palermo, who helped negotiate the new teachers contract expected to save the town millions, and attorney Russell Katz, who’s shown a knack for bridging differences and helping the board move along; in the two-year race, it’s Sandi Rose, who is the board’s longest-serving member, a former paraprofessional working in the schools, and an ex-PTA president.

To restore some of parent-volunteer perspective that helps keep the board focused on kids, two remaining votes in the four year race would be well cast for Democrats Amy Shinohara, who runs a music pre-school program, and Irene Burgess, who has volunteered for over 30 school-related committees, most recently the configuration committee.

The finance board, too, needs continuity. It’s offered by longtime chairman Marty Heiser, the only incumbent in the race and one of the board’s moderates. The financiers could also benefit from the education-friendly outlook of Democratic write-in candidate Heidi Namiot.

For Police Commission, the three incumbent Republicans — Susan Craig, Carl Lecher and Tom Reynolds — have served the town well and deserve re-election. But Democrat Joseph Adams, who also has past experience on the commission, has worked as a 911 dispatcher, volunteered with the fire police, and as a paraprofessional at the high school would bring the outlook of someone actually walking the halls with town teens.

Pick your two favorite Republican incumbents and cast a third vote for Mr. Adams.

For Zoning Board of Appeals two men with construction experience are competing for the two-year vacancy. Democrat Sky Cole would be a voice for the folks who don’t wear suits.