Opinion - Why Voting is Important: Board of Education

 (COMMENTARY: Ed McKeon is a Democratic member of the Common Council, and a founder of the Middletown Eye.  He is not speaking for the Council, or the Democratic Party, but for himself .)

In my opinion, there might not be a more important Middletown Board of Education election for years to come.

Obviously, the district is struggling through some turmoil, with accusations of a toxic workplace, students attempting to get adjusted to in-person learning and socialization after eighteen months out, teachers dealing with burnout and parent groups demanding recess, relief from masks and "transparency."  What's more, an important Charter Revision questions asks that Middletown Schools become like nearly all other schools in the state, giving the Board of Education control of their own hiring and management of non-certified employees.

Layer on top of this the insidious threats from radical right-wing Republicans here, and across the country who hope to drag the curriculum back to the agrarian age.  Their inaccurate use of buzz terms like Critical Race Theory, reveals a deep vein of racism.

The Republican idea 
of curriculum improvement. 

You've got to listen to what the radical Republicans are telling us about themselves.  Steve Bannon, who was preemptively pardoned of his fundraising con by his ex-boss, Donald Trump, bragged that the right wing radicals would take over the country one school board at a time.

Here in town, radical republicans and members of the Trump cult, are trying to con parents into thinking they are concerned with your kids, teachers, administrators and schools.  These are the same folks who have been screaming "Cut, cut, cut," when it comes to school budgets, for decades.

Let me begin by thanking the teachers, paras, school administrators and staff for weathering the storm of the pandemic in an incredible fashion.  We hope things will return to "normal," soon.

Then let me recommend what may seem obvious if you've gotten this far in the essay.  Vote for Democratic Board of Education candidates.  The candidates, Susan Owens, Emily Jackson, Ian McMahon and Debra Guss are all more than qualified for the role. You can read about them here.  Three of the four Republicans are fringe candidates who have spent the campaign flinging mud, misinterpreting issues, lying and intimidating school employees.

There are two exceptions, if you feel obliged to vote for a Republican.  Charles Wiltsie seems to be a moderate Republican who wants to do the best for the schools. Laura Morello, who is a Republican, but running as a write-in candidate, might be a solution for you if you want to solve the issue of avoiding radical Republicans.  She comes recommended by people I respect.

Finally, I beg reasonable voters not to be distracted by the impeding investigation happening in town.  The Republicans are shamelessly opportunistic.  It would be unfortunate if voters elected them only to find out they will be our worse nightmare.

Vote Democratic, and vote for reason, because it can happen here.