Suozzi's Plan to Hold School District Elections in November

[The Ghost of Al D'Amato]

Recently, Tom Suozzi participated on a panel in Albany hosted by the New York State Conservative Party, and advocated Board of Education School District Elections in November. Suozzi wishes to promote greater participation in these elections, and take away the power of the Teacher's Unions to manipulate the outcomes in elections where turn out is 10%.

How do people here feel about this? Is this political suicide for Mr. Suozzi? Will he encourage the wrathe of the powerful NYS Teacher's unions. Will his goose be cooked in 2006 in a primary for Statewide office? Will he be challenged by a teacher's union back candidate in a 2005 primary for CE? Will the many activist teachers who are Democratic Committeepeople decide to sit out the November, 2005 general election, and send Tom Suozzi to a bitter defeat?

Do the Conservatives who Suozzi wished to pander to buy this proposal. Conservatives are traditional champions of local home rule. It should be the sovereign prerogative of the people of a particular village, town, or school district to hold elections when they want to. Local participation should also remain "non-partisan," such individuals may argue, that those motivated to participate in the low turn out election are a higher quality voter who is more informed about school district issues, as opposed to voters who vote once a year at the most, and who aren't really familar with the complex issues which beset our schools and our children.

The comments of this board would be appreciated.

He should follow the Commack trial going on in riverhead to see what is really at work in most school districts. This Schulman versus goliath show is just typical of what is going on throughout LI. He should only know how the unions and administrators work together to guarantee their contracts and keep the party going.

[nov 2005]

he is out in nov. the teachers will not bac k him you know the liberal teachers always back the lib dems he not one :twisted: :arrow: :twisted:

[Southpaw]

It won't happen. First of all, the budget votes will have to remain in May because that's the earliest the districts can plan for the next year. At that point they know how much they have already spent and have some idea of staffing and program needs for the next year. That's not possible in November. So, if Suozzi has his way, there will have to be 2 school district votes: one in November for Board candidates and one in May for the budget. That would be an additional expense for already overburdened districts.

[oopsy]

more votes against suozzi

[Not making sense]

His policies are antagonizing teachers and he's blaming school administrators and school boards for everything wrong on Long Island. What does he hope to gain by supporting November voting? If anybody should want that, it should be Greg Peterson. It would get more people to the polls in November that would vote against Suozzi. Does Suozzi think he can pull another Sidikiman type anomaly off by getting voters to go against their teachers and administrators by voting against them because they happen to be at the polls voting - I suppose Suozzi thinks - for him?

[do all]

do them all so we know what is going on :lol:

[We all don't know]

But you see that's the problem. People rely on Newsday and that means they don't know what's going on. People don't really know what's going. Those that do have got to spread the word.

[the man balls]

:twisted: :evil:

[Rosy Roslyn]

PLEASE_ CAN ROSLYN HAVE THEM ON APRIL 1. IT WOULD BE SO APPROPRIATE.

[It's Even Worse]

His policies are antagonizing teachers and he's blaming school administrators and school boards for everything wrong on Long Island. What does he hope to gain by supporting November voting? If anybody should want that, it should be Greg Peterson. It would get more people to the polls in November that would vote against Suozzi. Does Suozzi think he can pull another Sidikiman type anomaly off by getting voters to go against their teachers and administrators by voting against them because they happen to be at the polls voting - I suppose Suozzi thinks - for him?


Suozzi is playing to a small, activist, unrealistic element on the political right which blames the public sector teaching establishment for all the ills in society, including high taxation, corrupting the morals of the youths, and the leftward politicizing of some classroom teachings. Many social issues play out in sex education classes, or with the distribution of condoms in the schools which are offensive to conservatives.

Most conservatives are realists, and recognize that a full frontal assault against the public education establishment would fail, particularly in New York. They also remember Senator D'amato's defeat at the hands of the teachers' union.

Suozzi played to the right of even the most hard boiled conservatives when he floated this trial balloon recently at a conservative party conference in Albany.

The teachers union has an important choice in Nov. 2005. Do they support the County Executive, like they would usually rubberstamp a Democratic candidate. Or does the Teacher's Union reject Suozzi as someone who is trying to demonize the school boards in light of the Roslyn Scandal to deflect from his own problems.

Perhaps, the best idea for the teachers union is to reach out to the responsible elements of the Republican leadership and come up with some responsible solutions to what may or may not ail particular school districts, and to unite in kicking the demogogue Tom Suozzi out the door in 2005. It should also be remembered that Suozzi wishes to take his dog and pony show Statewide in 2006, and that 2005 would be an excellent place to either cripple his larger ambitions, or halt them completely.

[do all]

great deal :lol:

[Bondo-Boy]

Unbelieveable