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seabiscuit
Senior Forum Member
USA
1476 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 08 2009 : 3:43:56 PM
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I found out last night a few of the names that have picked up petitions to run for the two school board positions up for election this fall.
Ian Watson and Steven Hughes will be running again for their positions, also Paula Barone is planning to campaign.
Freshwater supporters, Steve Thompson and Darcy (Myron) Miller have also picked up petitions. Three add'l candidates planning to complete petitions that I think may be Freshwater supporters but am not absolutely positive are Robert Kirk, Chip Street and Joshua Kirby. There may be more but I will need to check further on Monday.
I will certainly have lots of questions for any candidate running. What I don't want to see are candidates with singular narrow agendas (i.e. getting JF's job back, making their religious agenda more important than anyone elses). There are a lot of issues facing our schools right now. Mr. Freshwater's issue may be the most financially costly to the district but there are other issues which are far more important to the education of the children of our city.
Before you vote this year, make sure you know exactly what the agenda is of each candidate. |
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seabiscuit
Senior Forum Member
USA
1476 Posts |
Posted - Sep 27 2009 : 11:53:51 PM
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Well I've seen Robert Kirk's notice of running as well as Steve Thompson's here on Knox Pages. I'm really concerned that their main reason for running is so that they can rehire Freshwater.
There's some agreement that the reason R. Kelly Hamilton might be stalling the hearing is to see what happens in the upcoming school board election.
I question Mr. Thompson's insinuation that our school district runs in a $3 million deficit. I'll need to follow up with this on Monday. If the district is that far in the hole, there would need to be some pretty drastic cuts within the schools or taxes would need to be increased to fix that big of a debt.
Apparently, the candidates will be available for the public to ask questions on October 13 at the Memorial Building, because I certainly have a few questions for them. |
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WONDERIN
Regular Forum Member
237 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2009 : 09:05:00 AM
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I had some questions as well.
1. Does anyone know the rules for running for school board? I would think Kirk has a conflict of interest. Isn't he the principal at the Career Center? The Career Center Board consists of board members from the county schools. Which includes MV. So he could potentially be on the board for the school he works at. Wouldn't that mean he could be his own boss? Or the boss of his boss? That doesn't seem right. Anyone know?
2. Steve Thompson is on the Community Council For Free Expression, Which the website says was formed to raise money for John Freshwater to "fight" the school board.
From the website:
"The Community Council For Free Expression is a non-profit corporation and has developed a Legal Defense Fund to help with John Freshwater’s legal expenses. Those wishing to donate to this fund can give via credit card on this web site or write your check to "
I think this is also a conflict. Be on the same board of educatoin that you are helping someone raise money to fight in court?
http://ncseweb.org/webfm_send/1091
It says on page 6:
"Without waiving this objection Defendent/Counterclaiment responds he has spoken to many people to include the following: R Kelly Hamilton, Robert Stoffers, Jason Deschler, Bill Kepko, Sherrie Phillips, Roger Weaver, Tom Collier, Don Matolyak, Steve Thompson, Andrew Thompson, Lori Miller, Wes Elifritz, Deb Strouse, and many school teachers, HR on Call, investigators, ........"
I believe that Freshwater is trying to make two school board members testify just because the family spoke to them. If they testify they may not get to re-vote on the issue. If Thompson was elected, I think the same would apply to him. He couldn't vote on the issue. Especially if he has to testify in the hearing. Which I would think would be highly likable since he is specifically mentioned in the answers to the suit as seen above and would have as much second hand information as the two board members would have. |
Edited by - WONDERIN on Sep 28 2009 09:05:46 AM |
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golfguy
New Forum Member
26 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2009 : 12:36:00 PM
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| Is Thompson a Freshwater supporter? What's the tie between them? |
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truthbknown
Regular Forum Member
171 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2009 : 12:39:46 PM
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| he has supported him from the beginning. he has spoken at school board meetings and is on his council for free expression. his son is an avid supporter too. |
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mtnmama
New Forum Member
32 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2009 : 12:57:40 PM
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golfguy:
Thompson is not only a Freshwater supporter, he serves on the board which is fundraising for his defense.
http://www.bibleonthedesk.com/communitycouncil.php
I've been searching the web for candidates' websites and have only found two
Paua Barone - http://www.paulabarone.com/Site/Home.html
Ian Watson - http://ianwatsonforschoolboard.com/Home.html
I've searched and searched and cannot find a site for Robert Kirk, Steve Thompson, or Steve Hughes. The only references I could find for Kirk and Thompson are the Mt Vernon News articles announcing their candidacies and from this event which was held September 8:
http://www.meetup.com/Knox-County-Ohio-912-Project/calendar/11304395/
"For those of you who believe that our current Mt Vernon school board members are going in the wrong direction, here is your chance to meet two of the challengers. Getting involved in the political process means you have a duty to be informed about the candidates and issues affecting our community. The meeting is at the Apple Valley club house on tuesday Sept. 8th at 7:00 PM.
The two candidates are Steve Thompson and Robert Kirk. They will be discussing what their vision is for the students of the Mt Vernon school system, what leadership lapses they feel exist in the present board and what changes they would make if elected. If you are not from Mt Vernon you should still attend this meeting. It will give you insight into the process and will allow you to ask questions of the candidates."
If anyone has links to other websites for the remaining candidates, please post them.
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truthbknown
Regular Forum Member
171 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2009 : 1:07:42 PM
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| just heard on the radio that there is meet the candidates night oct 8th, I think all candidates except Steve Thompson will be there. |
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Editor
Administrator
USA
2373 Posts |
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seabiscuit
Senior Forum Member
USA
1476 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 11:49:52 AM
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There may further be a conflict of interest with Mr. Thompson as well since he is on the Board of an organization which is raising funds so that Mr. Freshwater can sue the School Board. So in essence, he is organizing fund raising to sue the organization in which he wants to serve.
Sounds like a conflict of interest to me. |
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curious mind
Senior Forum Member
19921 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 12:04:45 PM
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Ought to be an interesting meeting on the 8th - wouldn't miss it for the world 
"You might have to fight a battle more than once to win it" - Margaret Thatcher
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maremayfuss
New Forum Member
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 12:29:26 PM
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| I believe Thompson is part of a group I refer to as the "Christian Taliban"; they are associated with Freshwater. They proclaim to be Christian, judge you, condemn you to hell for simply not agreeing with them, and smile at you while they are doing so. They believe they have the right to do whatever they want as long as they say it is done in the name of God. I would strongly encourage everyone to Google the name/movie/book Elmer Gantry. |
Edited by - maremayfuss on Sep 29 2009 12:33:10 PM |
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jacketcat
Regular Forum Member
655 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 12:33:31 PM
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| And didn't Mrs. Barone teach in the district with Freshwater? And didn't her son testify against him at the hearing? Sounds like everyone has a dog in the fight to some extent. Here's a thought. No politicians or zealots need apply. |
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seabiscuit
Senior Forum Member
USA
1476 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 12:53:56 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by jacketcat
And didn't Mrs. Barone teach in the district with Freshwater? And didn't her son testify against him at the hearing? Sounds like everyone has a dog in the fight to some extent. Here's a thought. No politicians or zealots need apply.
Mrs. Barone is not actively seeking to sue the school board and then wanting to be on it. Being called as a witness is an event preceded by a legal supeona. That's not a voluntary activity. I wouldn't consider Mr. Thompson coming to school board meetings to discuss his disagreement with the school board's action as a conflict of interest. What is a conflict is that he is actively helping in obtaining funds so that Mr. Freshwater has the money to sue the district. I think that's a bit different than working with someone, expressing your opinions or being called to testify in a court case. That's an active voluntary directed action against an agency........an agency in which you state you want to represent. That's kind of like speaking out of both sides of your mouth.
Kind of like filing for divorce but saying you are in a happy marriage. It just doesn't jive. |
Edited by - seabiscuit on Sep 29 2009 12:55:58 PM |
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maremayfuss
New Forum Member
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 1:11:05 PM
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| I agree with Sea on this one. It's also like having an affair and pretending you are happily married for the sake of appearance. It doesn't make sense. |
Edited by - maremayfuss on Sep 29 2009 1:14:16 PM |
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truthbknown
Regular Forum Member
171 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 3:10:07 PM
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| Mr Thompsons son testified as well. |
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ClockStopper
Regular Forum Member
118 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2009 : 8:10:59 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mtnmama
http://www.meetup.com/Knox-County-Ohio-912-Project/calendar/11304395/
"For those of you who believe that our current Mt Vernon school board members are going in the wrong direction, here is your chance to meet two of the challengers. Getting involved in the political process means you have a duty to be informed about the candidates and issues affecting our community. The meeting is at the Apple Valley club house on tuesday Sept. 8th at 7:00 PM.
The two candidates are Steve Thompson and Robert Kirk. They will be discussing what their vision is for the students of the Mt Vernon school system, what leadership lapses they feel exist in the present board and what changes they would make if elected. If you are not from Mt Vernon you should still attend this meeting. It will give you insight into the process and will allow you to ask questions of the candidates."
What's funny about that is that they didn't even bother to hold it in the school district they're running for. Apple Valley is in East Knox. |
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