More BoE corruption coverage...
Hudson group alleges fraud
Coalition says petition for school board member was circulated improperly
By Lisa A. Abraham
Beacon Journal staff writer
Members of Hudson's Save Our Schools Coalition are saying fraud took place with the nominating petitions of Hudson Board of Education member James Hackney.
The Summit County Board of Elections listened to allegations by coalition member Stanley Ritter on Tuesday, and agreed to hold a hearing Monday.
Ritter told board members that one petition for Hackney was passed around by Patricia Picard, director of curriculum and instruction for the district, but Picard's secretary Donna Walling actually signed the petition as its circulator.
Ritter said he has evidence to support his claim -- a statement from Hudson High School math teacher David Spohn, who maintains that the petition he signed -- one bearing Walling's name as circulator -- was actually given to him by Picard.
Each petition contains a sworn statement, in which the circulator attests that he or she passed the petition around and witnessed each signature.
When contacted Tuesday, Walling said she had no comment. Picard did not return a phone call seeking comment. Hackney, who is seeking a second term, also could not be reached.
``We view this as an election issue and it will be handled as an election issue. We'll trust that the Board of Elections reviews this and makes the right decision,'' said Sheryl Sheatzley, communications manager for Hudson City Schools.
The elections board will ask all circulators of Hackney's petitions to attend the hearing. ``If we have a question on one, we need to check them all,'' board member Alex Arshinkoff said.
Spohn did not return a phone call seeking comment. Ritter submitted a copy of a letter from Spohn that detailed his account of the petition issue.
Spohn, president of the Hudson Education Association, sent the letter via e-mail to association members to explain the situation. In the letter, Spohn states that he was approached by Picard to sign the petition and did -- the same petition that Walling later signed as circulator.
Spohn states in the letter that he was asked by members of the community to sign an affidavit about the matter, but refused.
If the elections board finds fraud with Hackney's petitions, it can refer the matter to the county prosecutor and sheriff. Election petition falsification is a felony.
The board also could choose to reject the petition that Walling circulated and its 12 signatures. That could mean Hackney would not have the 75 valid signatures needed to be on the ballot.
Hackney submitted 107 signatures, 83 of which the board found to be valid.
Ritter also maintains there is an issue of school employees being involved in political matters on school district time.
The S.O.S. Coalition, a watchdog group, formed last spring in reaction to the district's decision to oust high school Principal Roger Howard. Ritter described himself as a concerned parent of a Hudson student.
School district policy states, ``Employees are not permitted to use district time, moneys, facilities, equipment or supplies to campaign nor are the employees to actively campaign while on duty.''
Schools Superintendent Maryann Wolowiec said she would examine district policy whether there were any violations.
``If we determine that there was a violation, there would be corrective action,'' she said.
Wolowiec said the district's policy typically is invoked to guard against students being used as a captive audience for political purposes, or someone using school equipment -- such as copy machines -- for campaign work. She was not sure that passing around petitions would rise to the level of violating that policy.
In his e-mail to the HEA, Spohn said he met with Wolowiec to discuss the situation.
``I have expressed to (Wolowiec) my concern that employees could have felt intimidated or coerced into signing to maintain good favor with their supervisors,'' he wrote.
Wolowiec said no employees have complained to her about feeling coerced.
Lisa A. Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or labraham@thebeaconjournal.com
© 2005 Beacon Journal and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.ohio.com
Coalition says petition for school board member was circulated improperly
By Lisa A. Abraham
Beacon Journal staff writer
Members of Hudson's Save Our Schools Coalition are saying fraud took place with the nominating petitions of Hudson Board of Education member James Hackney.
The Summit County Board of Elections listened to allegations by coalition member Stanley Ritter on Tuesday, and agreed to hold a hearing Monday.
Ritter told board members that one petition for Hackney was passed around by Patricia Picard, director of curriculum and instruction for the district, but Picard's secretary Donna Walling actually signed the petition as its circulator.
Ritter said he has evidence to support his claim -- a statement from Hudson High School math teacher David Spohn, who maintains that the petition he signed -- one bearing Walling's name as circulator -- was actually given to him by Picard.
Each petition contains a sworn statement, in which the circulator attests that he or she passed the petition around and witnessed each signature.
When contacted Tuesday, Walling said she had no comment. Picard did not return a phone call seeking comment. Hackney, who is seeking a second term, also could not be reached.
``We view this as an election issue and it will be handled as an election issue. We'll trust that the Board of Elections reviews this and makes the right decision,'' said Sheryl Sheatzley, communications manager for Hudson City Schools.
The elections board will ask all circulators of Hackney's petitions to attend the hearing. ``If we have a question on one, we need to check them all,'' board member Alex Arshinkoff said.
Spohn did not return a phone call seeking comment. Ritter submitted a copy of a letter from Spohn that detailed his account of the petition issue.
Spohn, president of the Hudson Education Association, sent the letter via e-mail to association members to explain the situation. In the letter, Spohn states that he was approached by Picard to sign the petition and did -- the same petition that Walling later signed as circulator.
Spohn states in the letter that he was asked by members of the community to sign an affidavit about the matter, but refused.
If the elections board finds fraud with Hackney's petitions, it can refer the matter to the county prosecutor and sheriff. Election petition falsification is a felony.
The board also could choose to reject the petition that Walling circulated and its 12 signatures. That could mean Hackney would not have the 75 valid signatures needed to be on the ballot.
Hackney submitted 107 signatures, 83 of which the board found to be valid.
Ritter also maintains there is an issue of school employees being involved in political matters on school district time.
The S.O.S. Coalition, a watchdog group, formed last spring in reaction to the district's decision to oust high school Principal Roger Howard. Ritter described himself as a concerned parent of a Hudson student.
School district policy states, ``Employees are not permitted to use district time, moneys, facilities, equipment or supplies to campaign nor are the employees to actively campaign while on duty.''
Schools Superintendent Maryann Wolowiec said she would examine district policy whether there were any violations.
``If we determine that there was a violation, there would be corrective action,'' she said.
Wolowiec said the district's policy typically is invoked to guard against students being used as a captive audience for political purposes, or someone using school equipment -- such as copy machines -- for campaign work. She was not sure that passing around petitions would rise to the level of violating that policy.
In his e-mail to the HEA, Spohn said he met with Wolowiec to discuss the situation.
``I have expressed to (Wolowiec) my concern that employees could have felt intimidated or coerced into signing to maintain good favor with their supervisors,'' he wrote.
Wolowiec said no employees have complained to her about feeling coerced.
Lisa A. Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or labraham@thebeaconjournal.com
© 2005 Beacon Journal and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.ohio.com
posted by Sebosmile @ 6:58 PM
2 Comments:
At Thursday, September 22, 2005 4:45:00 PM,
Maggie said…
Wow! Of course, I am not a huge fan of the Beacon Journal, but still! Big time city paper coverage!
At Thursday, September 22, 2005 6:48:00 PM,
Sebosmile said…
...Only if you consider Akron a "big time city", lol!
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