Election is Tomorrow, who are you voting for?

[The Watcher]

The election is tomorrow and it seems to me that the School Committee races have created more buzz than anything the City Council could muster, not offense to our City Council.

Who are you casting your vote for tomorrow?

I am voting for change. In fact, I may write in Frank D'Agostino so that we have a chance to remove the entire head table.

As for Ward 1, well I have only heard from one person and she seem cool, My vote goes to Melissa Cook

Ward 2, Jim Stors is enthusiastic and appartantly well educated but seems to attack alot. On the flip side, Shawn Moran has been absent for every campaign event and seems to be home tending to his stomach bug. My Vote Jim Stors

Ward 3...God bless you Bob Hill....you escaped the mayem

Ward 4...Tough on....The snacklady vs Tyrannasuarus Jax. The snack lady seemed a bit uncomforttable the the debate, but I might have too if I had the open meeting question weighing on my mind. TJax seemed very angry and loud. Tjax has made some nice contributions in her 14 years on SC but seems to have fallen into the Pia Durkin trap. This is a close one but I go with ...Snack lady

Ward 5...Probably the cleanest run of all the ward races. Fran Zito is her usual sweet self that everyone adores. David Sidman is unknown but seems very well spoken and on point with the issues. I love Fran but her comments about Advance placement grants helping the graduation rate and some responses to the AEA Questionnaire show she is out of touch. My Vote....the new guy

Ward 6....Tyler may not be the best speaker but he cares a qhole lot. Bruce Levine comes off as a pompous ass and was part of the 'team' that brought Pia here in the first place. gott go with Tyler

At Large-- All new blood here. Have to vote for DiCiaccio as he has heart. I see him as a leader on the School Committee for years to come. Teri Enegren is a good caring candidate who will serve well. I am not sure if I am casting a third vote for an at large candidate. The other 2 are both on the executive committee that formed the "group" and all unabately support the superintendent. If I had to chose, I think that Helen Johnson would be the lesser of two evils. I planed on voting for her straight out at the beginning but her alliance with Jackie and Robbie in their newspaper article made me look again,

Those are my picks, what are yours?

[sunshinesonfire]

Best of luck to you tomorrow David, I hope you get the most votes!

[The Watcher]

Wow, I am good at this, picked 7 out of 9. Glad to see the turnover, I feel that it will benefit the children and teachers of this city. I might even get 8 out of 9 if Sidman goes for a recount. Congrats to all those elected, I know that you will do a great job. Mr. Sidman, do not give up, you ran a great campaign and would make a great SC member.

Mrs. Moran, perhaps if Shawn was not camera shy, he would have done better. Jackie, thanks for all your service but it's time to move on. Robbie, good luck in the future and thanks for your service.

Maybe now we can pull the reins in on Superintendent and get our teachers back to teaching and not collectind data and doing studies to make Pia look good.

[sunshinesonfire]

I do feel sad for Michael Tyler - I really wanted him to get voted in. I agree, however, the turnover is nice breath of fresh air! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU!

[The Watcher]

Sunshine,

I agree, I would have liked Mike Tyler to retain his seat. Bruce Levine will not fit in well with the new blood as he is very similar to JAckie and Robbie. but the important thing is that the people have been heard (well, at least those that voted) and they change that they desired has taken place.

[sunshinesonfire]

I actually would not be surprised at this point if Bruce Levine declined to accept the spot! I was under the understanding that JR and RW were the reason he was running . . .

David Sidman did request a recount, I believe - do you know anything about that process? How long does that take and what happens if they are within 5 votes of each other? I think there is a special rule . . .

This was a victory, whether all or none got in - the whole process raised community awareness in regard to the school committee.

[The Watcher]

That would make my day if Levine backed out, he will be powerless anyways and that is what he thrives on. I also heard that he was running because of Jackie and Robbie. They wanted to do everything they could to keep the majority vote that would allow the superintendent to do what every she sees fit. Just what I have heard. Do you know if Sidman has formally requested a recount? I saw it mentioned in the paper but it said he was thinking about it I believe.

[whatisthetruth]

The recount was officially requested this morning at City Hall. Not sure how long it takes or the process involved.

[ricknkim]

Months . . . there will be lots of hanging chads and assumptions to be made of voter intention! Okay, maybe not . . .

[The Watcher]

Lmao ricknkim, Welcome to Florida.

[The Watcher]

whatisthetruth,

how do you know this? Are you Mr.Sidman?

[sunshinesonfire]

Mr. Sidman said he would be requesting a recount last night. I think it is the right thing to do at this point.

Here is something interesting to chew on. Ward 5 had a city council AND a school committee race. There were 684 votes total on the city council side and 651 votes total on the school committee side. For a grand total of: 33 missing votes, unless 33 people did not vote for the school committee election!!! Even more interesting: there is opportunity for a tie!

I think there is still a great chance that David Sidman made it!

What does anyone know about when two candidates come within 5 votes of each other???

[whatisthetruth]

Nope....just helped him with his campaign since I felt strongly he had the right qualities to be on the school committee.