Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Interesting Question

Last time out of the box, two of the three school board incumbents did not wish to run for reelection. However, no one else put their hat in the ring, so the two, at the last minute, got their names on the ballot.

I think the word has gotten out around here that serving on the school board is unrewarding. But there are still takers for the Board of Trustees and the City Council (although that does not look like much fun to me either).

Hey New Guy

Your best shot is to get hired as an engineer. The qualifications appear to be none in this town.

All you have to do is sign off on development and reap hundreds of thousands for being an idiot. It?’s been going on for at least the past decade.

JD

Start now!!

New Guy

I believe I have heard that Jim Brink doesn't want to run for school board again. If that is one of the elected positions you might consider I would suggest that you start now and get some people around you to help with the tasks of any campaign you might consider.

There are 39 precincts in the school district and about 600 to 700 voters in each precinct. You will need fund raising, workers and a trusted friend to serve as your treasurer. Waiting until August of 2007 will not give you enough time to get your word out.

I have also heard that Gary Weltlich is not going to run again for the township trustee position. I believe there are about 31 precincts in the township and the city you must cover. This will be nearly as hard as the school board.

To date I have not heard of the plans of anyone on City Council. I believe there are 13 precincts in the city and it would be a little easier to cover.

I would also suggest that if you run and lose don't give up. Your chance will come around again. In the meantime, I Would be working on issues and understanding where you stand on those issues. Clearly growth has been a problem. Just as clear is the lack of economic development in the school district. I think there is issues at the school board and with the districts teacher's contracts. Those contracts and staff pay make up 80% to 85% of the operating budget of the district. Then how would you deal with the over crowed schools?

The township and the City seem to be in some kind of negotiations with JEDDs and CEDAs. What do you know about that? If the building boom ends this years and the economic development picks up what would your issue be? Incumbents tend to find wonderful issues and pass them in election years.

I think the school board members are getting burnt out. No matter what they do or try they will be criticized by everyone. If you plan to run for school board I recommend that you have a very thick skin or at least grow some between now and then.

The City seems to have some divisions among the different members of the council and the Mayor. I suspect that the Republican Party and the local Republican club will try to seek revenge on some members of Council that didn't buy into the good old boy network. I would think by early next year we will see where the two sides stand.

I believe one of the easiest elected positions is the township trustees. They only provide fire service and nothing else. I also believe judging recent comments of the locals there may be a recall effort formed if the trustees approve the big box rezoning at Refugee and Pickerington Road. One interesting fact is that of the above 31 precincts that elect the trustees 13 of those precincts are in the city. So approx. 41% of those that vote for the trustees live in the City of Pickerington. THe trustee are facing some huge budget problems with the potential loss of local government funds. I have heard Strickland promises to protect those local funds. I wonder how that will play out this year with all of the ''R'' s in the township? I have heard some disturbing comments by current trustees about cooperation with the city and how the trustees will sue the city. Clearly the trustees have not worried to date much about their city constituents.







By Old guy