I'm a frustrated voter! That is why I created this blog. I think the Board of Education is one of the most important offices in local government, and I have always tried to do my duty as a citizen to cast an informed vote. But, I've never felt that I was informed enough to live up to that duty.
Each year, I would search for information on the candidates but it was always hard to find and scant. Just a few days before the election I was usually able to find some sort of voter's guide - with a few canned questions that didn't really get to the hart of my concerns and that always left me wondering. Often I was still wondering as I approached the polls and had to engage in chit chat with the candidates' volunteers just before casting my ballot in order to get some sort of impression of where they stood.
This year, I've decided to start early and keep at it. And I've decided to make it a bit easier for other voters by putting together a blog to give us easy access to the information that is out there.
Following are the sources that I have found useful so far. As you read through these reports and the summaries I have put together, please remember that none of our candidates are professional politicians with big war chests and "spin misters" to help them keep "on message." Basically, they are just citizens like you and me who have taken the extraordinary step of volunteering to help us all out. Personally, I'd like it if they all could serve on the board, but unfortunately, we have to make a choice. So if their message is a bit rough and unpolished, treat that as a sign that they are genuine and authentic, and cut them some slack!
I would also like to hear what other voters think and encourage you to post your comments, remembering to do so in accordance with the commenting guidelines.
The Howard County Times, 2/7/2008
Unlike the questions-and-answer format provided in the other sources, The Howard County Times, on February 7, provided vignettes of each candidate, highlighting those issues the candidate is focused on. Interesting and thoughtful, but hard to summarize on a blog page! A must read for the informed voter!
Washington Post, Local Elections 2008
The Washington Post's Local Election 2008 Voter's Guide gives background information on each candidate and provides responses to the questions "Why should voters elect you?" and "What doe you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?".Each year, I would search for information on the candidates but it was always hard to find and scant. Just a few days before the election I was usually able to find some sort of voter's guide - with a few canned questions that didn't really get to the hart of my concerns and that always left me wondering. Often I was still wondering as I approached the polls and had to engage in chit chat with the candidates' volunteers just before casting my ballot in order to get some sort of impression of where they stood.
This year, I've decided to start early and keep at it. And I've decided to make it a bit easier for other voters by putting together a blog to give us easy access to the information that is out there.
Following are the sources that I have found useful so far. As you read through these reports and the summaries I have put together, please remember that none of our candidates are professional politicians with big war chests and "spin misters" to help them keep "on message." Basically, they are just citizens like you and me who have taken the extraordinary step of volunteering to help us all out. Personally, I'd like it if they all could serve on the board, but unfortunately, we have to make a choice. So if their message is a bit rough and unpolished, treat that as a sign that they are genuine and authentic, and cut them some slack!
I would also like to hear what other voters think and encourage you to post your comments, remembering to do so in accordance with the commenting guidelines.
The Howard County Times, 2/7/2008
Unlike the questions-and-answer format provided in the other sources, The Howard County Times, on February 7, provided vignettes of each candidate, highlighting those issues the candidate is focused on. Interesting and thoughtful, but hard to summarize on a blog page! A must read for the informed voter!
Washington Post, Local Elections 2008
The Baltimore Sun, Howard School Board Elections, 2/8/2008
The Baltimore Sun, on February 8, published an article that asked the candidates what distinguishes them and what the greatest need facing the school system is. This article is no longer available on line for free, but may be obtained from the Sun's archives for a fee. The candidates' answers were summarized for this blog.
The Baltimore Sun, on February 8, published an article that asked the candidates what distinguishes them and what the greatest need facing the school system is. This article is no longer available on line for free, but may be obtained from the Sun's archives for a fee. The candidates' answers were summarized for this blog.
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