Scarsdale 10583

I have been reading with great interest the recent articles posted here on nominating committees in Scarsdale and was not surprised to read that many intelligent and well educated people do not understand why Scarsdale elects a “non-partisan” committee of nominators to nominate candidates for a “no-contest” election. As Scarsdale residents debate whether their non-partisan system needs revamping, I asked Edgemont residents about Edgemont's own nominating system: the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) sponsored by the Edgemont Community Council. The purpose of the SBNC is to put forth the exact number of candidates for the vacant seats on the Board of Education each year.

One longtime resident said: I never really gave it much thought but I think a Nominating Committee runs contrary to what a democracy is all about. Why should a few people get to decide who they think are good candidates for the School Board as opposed to letting the community as a whole decide? Every person's vote should count the same. And, in a way, the Nominating Committee probably tends to perpetuate the status quo as I suspect they are inclined to favor similar-type people.

Laura Cooperman, another longtime resident and former member of the SBNC, said: The idea of the nominating committee is a good one - the community is asked for names of candidates, those candidates are vetted in private by the nominating committee (who have been elected by their civic associations), therefore eliminating campaigning and the mudslinging so often seen in politics, and then the most qualified candidates are presented to the community for election. Hopefully those who are not given the nomination are told what they can do to become stronger candidates, and are encouraged to considering running again in the future. The dark side to the current nominating committee process is that it could potentially be manipulated, and private agendas could be disguised as "what is best for the community." To maintain the integrity of our current process complete transparency is necessary, meaning absolutely no private conversations or emails among nominating members regarding any of the candidates. Any discussion about candidates, whether electronic or otherwise, need to happen in the presence of the full committee. Further, it is the right of community members seeking a position on the BOE to run outside of the nominating process; and while not ideal, it should be remembered that candidates running outside the system are our neighbors and are attempting to volunteer in a meaningful and important way.

Another resident expressed confusion at the system and questioned what is wrong with having a choice on election day the way they do in his former neighborhood of Eastchester. He feels that contrary to beliefs that contested elections can get "dirty," contested election candidates get to express their views and opinions on the issues facing the schools and everyone knows where they stand on important issues. He used to vote for whomever he thought would be the best candidate. Last year, he voted in Edgemont for two residents because they were the only two names on the ballot and he was supposed to pick two. But he had no idea where either one of them stood on any issue, especially class sizes which his family is very concerned about.

As for my opinion: I ran in the May 2010 Edgemont BOE election without the SBNC's endorsement and am proud of doing so. Even though I lost the election, I won the respect of many people and helped educate people about nominating committees. Voter turnout was very high that year and I recall that the Edgemont budget easily passed. Residents were fine with a contested election and Edgemont did not fall apart because of it, rather I think it made Edgemont stronger with more interest in the school budget and BOE proceedings.

See a response to this piece from SBNC Chair Marc Ackerman here:

Caroline Tzelios is a "stay at home" mom of three kids who never stays at home. She has spent the past thirteen years volunteering in the Edgemont Schools and recently completed her two year term as PTSA co-president of Edgemont High School. She is the current co-chair of Edgemont's ACE Theater Committee and serves on the Edgemont School Foundation and E Club boards.

Comments (6)

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written by Just curious, October 28, 2011

Does anyone know if there are other schol districts besides Scarsdale, Edgemont and Chappaqua that have school board nominating committees in Westchester?

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written by Mark Rosenblatt, October 28, 2011

Marc Ackerman, Chair of the Edgemont School Board Nominating Committee, has posted an excellent response to this - but is hard to see and get to. Here is the link:

http://scarsdale10583.com/201110272018/what-do-you-think/nominating-committee-encourages-the-best-candidate-to-serve.html

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written by Edgemont Resident, October 27, 2011

While I must say that we have had many wonderful, devoted and dedicated BOE members in just the few years I have resided in Edgemont, I do feel the nominating process is not ideal. While we would like to believe it is a wide open process, part of the trouble with the SBNC system, as it stands in Edgemont, is that some areas of Edgemont do not even seem to have an active civic association. Then, the areas with civic associations vary dramatically with their activity, communication to members, and participation. Most residents are probably not part of the selection process or even know who their SBNC representatives are.
Residents do not seem to want to be considered for a BOE position unless they know they will run unopposed. However, when voters are presented with an unopposed slate the average voter feels even more powerless. There may actually be more participation, greater turnout at the "Meet the Candidates" panel, and interest in the process if we do not continue to have these selections leading to unopposed slates by a small group of residents.

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written by Geoff Loftus, October 27, 2011

What Caroline and the comment from "Scarsdale Resident" seem to be missing is that this is a wide open process. The public is invited to participate at multiple stages -- including, as Scarsdale Resident suggested, an evening where all the candidates have an open discussion. (This evening is usually attended by a few dozen people at best, suggesting that many voters aren't too excited about all of this.) And, of course, there is coverage in the local papers and the vote itself. The public is included.

What's important about the SBNC process is that it allows for a rigorous, honest, face-to-face screening of candidates with detailed answers by the candidates as opposed to sound-bite debates in a campaign forum. As someone who was on the SBNC, I think most people would be very pleased if they saw the way it worked -- and I invite them to join up -- next year. (Sorry, this year's process is already in motion, but check with your neighborhood association and see if it needs a rep on the SBNC.)

Geoff Loftus, ECC President

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written by Something is Rotten in Scarsdale, October 27, 2011

Nice balanced article.

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written by Scarsdale Resident, October 27, 2011

Thanks Caroline for this rather excellent article.

I think the nominating committee is really an excellent idea if there is a change. What the nominating committee should be limited to is checking the credentials and background of all the candidates that want to stand and then put all that pass on the ballot. (Not limit the number of candidates to the number of vacancies). Then the nominating committee can schedule an evening where all the candidates have a open discussion. If they publicize it, they could get the community to send in questions. Moderated by a non nominating committee well known person.

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