Speakers stood patiently in line for an opportunity to quiz, challenge and vent at the Board of Ed and Superintendent Steve Gallon over the personnel mess that has drawn unflattering attention to Plainfield -- first from the media, and now from Gov. Chris Christie himself.
Though laced with bitter humor that drew bursts of laughter from the audience -- there were references to Dr. Gallon as a 'criminal' and 'the fox in charge of the henhouse' -- the gist of speakers' comments was dead serious.
The months-long tussle over the hirings of uncertified Florida colleagues of Dr. Gallon as top administrators in the district culminated in a damning state report (the OFAC report, see here [PDF]), making the issue -- rightly or wrongly -- the touchstone for the election.
Speaker after speaker lambasted the Board of Ed for its perceived foot-dragging on the issue, and called for voters to reject anyone who supports Dr. Gallon's policies, personnel decisions, corrective action plan or other proposals.
If it is a 'throw the baby out with the bathwater' moment, the blame rests squarely with Dr. Gallon for both his management of the crisis and his personal style, considered haughty and dismissive.
Though the Board finally made some personnel decisions (after I left at 10ish), as reported on Maria's blog (see here, and here), these may be seen as too little, too late by residents who feel the Board has equivocated for months.
In any event, all this is warmup for tonight's League of Women Voters forum, at 6:30 PM at the Emerson Community School.
This will be the last opportunity to see and hear all fourteen candidates, and to pose any question you think is important.
2010 marks the 90th anniversary year of the Plainfield chapter of the League (one of the earliest formed), and attendees will see why the organization has had such staying power: no soap opera, no drama, just hard but fair questioning of the candidates with all given an equal opportunity to persuade voters of the justice of their cause.
See you there!
League of Women Voters: Board of Ed Candidate Forum.
Wednesday - April 14
6:30 - 9:00 PM
Emerson Community School
East 3rd Street and Emerson Avenue
All fourteen BOE candidates have been invited to take part in the League's candidate forum.
The LWV, an organization open to women and men of all political parties,
maintains the 'gold standard' in candidate forums, with a trained volunteer moderator
from outside the community and the opportunity for all attendees to submit written questions
to one or all of the candidates. More information at the LWV website here.
Wednesday - April 14
6:30 - 9:00 PM
Emerson Community School
East 3rd Street and Emerson Avenue
All fourteen BOE candidates have been invited to take part in the League's candidate forum.
The LWV, an organization open to women and men of all political parties,
maintains the 'gold standard' in candidate forums, with a trained volunteer moderator
from outside the community and the opportunity for all attendees to submit written questions
to one or all of the candidates. More information at the LWV website here.
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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2 comments:
Here is the only good thing about this mess. It is now on Christie's radar and one can only hope that other Plainfield shenanigans will peak his interest as well. To coin a phrase, "it is time to take our City back!" Grab your pitch forks and get to the polls on Tuesday and vote them ALL out!
The current BOE should resign and give up any ballot slots they have for next Tuesday's elecion...they hired Gallon and his cronies and collectively they (including the BOE) should all be shown the door.
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