Voters need to do their homework
To the editor:
The upcoming School Board election is nonpartisan which means that candidates by law are not affiliated with, nor should they make decisions based on, any political party’s platform or beliefs. Nonpartisan school board members are elected to make educationally sound, not politically motivated, decisions for the students, teachers and parents in the district.
The primary on Aug. 18 will probably decide the make-up of next school board. Want to learn more about where the School Board candidates stand on the important educational issues facing our Lee County schools?
Good luck! An inquiring voter has a lot of leg work to do. Voters are basically on their own.
What about a district-wide candidate forum where each candidate answers the same set of questions? It’s interesting how the same question prompts very different and revealing information. However, surprisingly not one of the self-proclaimed “conservative” incumbent school board members running for re-election or a new candidate who says he is “conservative” showed up to answer questions at the WGCU/League of Women Voters candidate forum on July 9. Responses from those who attended could have been viewed in real time, but if you missed it, view it now on each organization’s YouTube channel.
What about Vote411.org the League of Women Voters candidate information site? Find candidate answers to thought-provoking questions. And, find out which candidates don’t even bother to respond.
Check out Lee.Vote to learn who finances and manages each candidate? As always it’s instructive to “follow the money.” Check out the candidate’s website for more about their educational approach, but, guess what, not all candidates even list a website. Facebook? Well some have a page, but as we know what you proclaim about yourself is not as educational as hearing responses to hard questions in real time. There used to be a spot on Lee.Vote for the candidates to upload a photo and a bio. Not any more — apparently the software wasn’t working properly — so voters no longer have that source of information.
I think I see a pattern emerging. What’s a voter to do in this critical important primary election? Why won’t some of the candidates show up and show us — the voters — the respect our democracy requires by answering hard questions?
Madelon V. Stewart, Ed.D
Samuel B. Stewart, Ed.D
Fort Myers