Re “The Closest Look Yet at the School Board Election” and “Emphasis in the School Board Election Was on the Wrong Name”
I agree with much of what Susan Clarke says today in her opinion piece. But her analysis of last November’s School Board election asks the readers to completely disregard the official results and believe her unsubstantiated claims.
Ms. Clarke opines that “bullet voting may have played a small part in the election outcome, but it wasn’t the major factor.” If almost one-third of the ballots cast selected only one candidate is not thought of as being a major factor, what is?
Half of the ballots?
Is Ms. Clarke, perhaps, color-blind? She says that “voters were more likely to vote Zeidman-Chardiet than Goldberg-Chardiet.”
The official County Registrar’s published results do not support this view. Of the 11 precincts Nancy Goldberg won, Laura Chardiet finished second in 8 of those 11 precincts.
Incumbent Scott Zeidman did not win a single precinct, not even his home precinct of Culver Crest or Sunkist Park where El Marino is.
He only finished second in four precincts. One of the major factors, though, contributing to November’s surprising election results was due to Board member Steve Gourley’s decision not to run for a second term.
By not appearing on the ballot, Mr Gourley denied local voters the chance to express their anger with his seasons of Incivility. Instead, the voters took their anger out on his closely-associated Board colleague, the only incumbent running, Mr. Zeidman.
Weren’t they even called “Batman and Robin?”
This is not to imply that Ms. Chardiet was undeserving of the community's support or that she lucked in or backed into the Board by an election fluke.
Obviously, enough of local voters felt she was a deserving candidate and worthy of their support.
Only time will tell, though, if the voters were wise in their latest selections to the Board.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
