2011/12 Election Results

[Wantagh Parent]

Yes 2,353
No 1121

Cucci 2,161
Southeout 2,111
Zerner 1,590

[lilly]

Good, the budget passed.

And, congratulations to Mitch for running a clean campaign.

[Chris_Wendt]

Congratulations to Michael Cucci and Michael Soethout on their election to the Board of Education. Special welcome to Michael Soethout, our newest Board member!

As an active supporter of Mitch Zerner, I want to thank Mitch for the opportunity to have participated in his campaign.

Wantagh is fortunate to have such good people as Mike & Mike and Mitch who are all so interested, dedicated and involved in our school district to extend themselves through a such a challenging and hotly contested election campaign.

Sincerely,

Chris Wendt

[backintheday]

Just an observation: on election day for all the years I have been in Wantagh (12now), there is always some kind of activity going on at the elementary schools to get the parents out. Be it an art presentation, bake sale, kids playing their instruments, etc. These activities cause extreme chaos especially at Wantagh El. where I vote. You have to park a couple of blocks away and everybody knows how bad Beech St. is to drive through when cars park on both sides. My observation is that seniors will not come out to vote when all this chaos is going on. I am not a senior yet but I sure do not like to go and vote after work! Maybe to keep things honest and not stack the deck against the elderly, the school district should offer some special enticements to the elderly to get them out to vote. I am happy that budget passed so I am not bitter with results, just saying that I think the method of getting votes is a bit shady.

[Chris_Wendt]

backintheday opined:
"I am happy that budget passed so I am not bitter with results, just saying that I think the method of getting votes is a bit shady. "

Passing and failing school budgets is a serious matter. I am having a personal "crisis of wisdom", thinking on this topic since the voters in Seaford trashed their budget along with two ridiculous spending propositions. Seaford essentially threw out the baby with the bath water.

My crisis of wisdom refers to the Prayer of Tranquility:

"God give us the tranquility to accept those things we cannot change, the courage to change those things we can change, and grant us the wisdom to know the difference."
I don't think I know the difference any more. My crisis comes in trying to decide:

• continue tilting at windmills, trying vainly to change things that cannot be changed?
  
• resign myself to the confusion and dishonesty, and stop wasting my time and my resources...just stop trying and tend my garden?
  

I have come to one good understanding in my own mind, from deliberating through my crisis:

Forget "shady" when getting school budget votes!
Having school budgets subject to popular vote at all is a really stupid idea.
Keith
Chris Wendt

[lilly]

backintheday, they've purposely been doing Learning Fairs on budget vote days ro attract the parent votes as long as I can remember. Think about it, your kid takes you by the hand, excited to show you their classroom and all their work. On your way out, if you forgot it was voting day or were indecisive about budget vote, well here is a conveniently located polling machine and after feeling those warm & fuzzies with your kid, you vote ____. Found it as contemptuous then as I do now.

Was doing lots of gardening and yard clean up yesterday. Lots of good thinking time during those chores. I still come back to the same thought I had vote night. That is...

Why on earth would Wantagh chose to send in their B team given the economic climate and crisis in the public school system? When it comes to kids, their education and taxes/pocketbook/home values, BOE voting is a serious thing, not a popularity contest. A lifelong resident is not a qualification for BOE trustee. Can anyone who voted for the team in place, rather the incumbent, actually explain to me why they voted that way? Seriously... Not baiting anyone, but what were you thinking? I just don't see it.