First of two parts
[img]2100|right|Vernon Taylor||no_popup[/img]Until yesterday afternoon, Vernon L. Taylor, the sixth of seven candidates to sign up for the School Board race, had been a mystery guest in the field.
Regulars throughout the School District said they knew little about the banker although he has been strongly involved, communally, in the education of his three children and in after-school programs in the School District.
Just over two months before the Nov. 5 election, Mr. Taylor held his formal coming-out event on Jasmine Avenue. Scattered “wows,” not a common reaction in School Board races, were discernible after the candidate spoke publicly and with individuals. They liked the way he emphasized preciseness rather than delivering generalities encased in banalities.
His banking background and extensive years in the financial industry stamp him as a rarity because no one with such qualifications has competed for the Board in recent memory. Four of the five present members were or are educators and the fifth is an attorney.
This professional lineage already separates him from the field, which is educator-heavy.
What prompted Mr. Taylor to enter the field?
“Making the decision wasn’t just a singular event. It has been a process coming on for quite some time. A lot of my interest has been in volunteering. I have been active in staying in touch with School Board issues, such as the bond financing, attending Board meetings and listening on TV to the meetings.”
What is his opinion of delaying the proposed bond measure until next June’s election at the earliest?
“I was one of the few folks invited to the hearing that was done over at Linwood Howe. Since my background is in banking and finance, I had questions that had to deal with ‘how do we cure the deferred maintenance?’
“As you know, you can’t use the bond financing for that. Another question, ‘how do we anticipate handling the potential salary increases or demands that will be made by the various unions because now their jobs will be expanded with newer facilities, expanded duties.’ Of course, the bond does not cover that as well.”
At this point, Mr. Taylor made it expressly clear where he stands on the temporary delay in putting a Bond measure on the ballot.
“These are questions I had,” he said, “and there weren’t any answers.”
(To be continued)
