Showing posts with label Chuck Pike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chuck Pike. Show all posts

Saturday, May 23

Canvass slightly widens Democratic lead for Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor

Three Democratic ballots were counted for the first time at Friday’s canvass of the votes, widening the Democratic leads for Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw, Pam Lutfy, Chuck Pike and Sue Schor.

Two provisional ballots were accepted by the Board of Elections and counted on Friday. One provisional ballot was in Delaware Township 2 and one was in Dingman Township 1. Fisher, Lutfy, Greenlaw and Schor’s Democratic totals increased by two votes, and Pike’s by one.

An error in tallying absentee ballots at Matamoras Borough 2 resulted in one more Democratic vote for Fisher, Greenlaw, Pike, Schor and Ed Silverstone. The error was made because the original counters did not realize the school board races appeared on the back of the paper absentee ballot.

The certified totals are:

4 Year Term (D)
Pam Lutfy* 600
Susan Schor*560
Jack Fisher* 497
Bill Greenlaw* 479
Ed Silverstone 337
Benny Marasa243 (unchanged)


4 Year Term (R) – ALL UNCHANGED
Pam Lutfy* 739
Susan Schor* 712
Robert Goldsack* 674
Jack Fisher* 638
Ed Silverstone* 638
Bill Greenlaw 630
Benny Marasa 593


2 Year Term (D)
Charles Pike* 510
Patty Wright 268 (UNCHANGED)


2 Year Term (R) – BOTH UNCHANGED
Charles Pike* 732
Patty Wright 545


The canvass started at 9 a.m., and by 3:30 p.m. officials had only counted votes for the precincts in the Delaware Valley School District. Six people assisted in the canvass of the votes, including Taxpayers United supporter DeAnna Margiore, who was one of two people recording votes in books.

Candidates present for part of the canvass were Greenlaw, Lutfy, Schor and Silverstone. Fisher said in an email he was not able to attend because of a personal obligation. Also present for part of the canvass were school board solicitor Mike Weinstein, members of the Support Professionals union and reporters from the Pike County Courier and Pike County Dispatch.

Board of Elections head Yolanda Goldsack and the county commissioners were not present for the canvass.

All of the information in this report is from firsthand observation or according to officials at the canvass of the votes on Friday.

Friday, May 22

LIVE: Coverage of the canvass of the votes

Here are the live updates from all today, at the canvass of the votes, which started at 9 a.m. and was held at the Pike County Administration Building. Stay tuned for a full report.

3:31 p.m.
No changes in the Fisher/Silverstone tie. The tie remains. All Republican votes remain unchanged.


3:09 p.m.
Only Westfall remains to be counted.
Tie still remains after all precincts but Westfall have been counted.

SEE MORE OF THE LIVE COVERAGE


1:42 p.m.
The back of the lone Republican absentee ballot for Matamoras 2 was properly counted on Tuesday night. The Republican totals stay the same. The tie still remains between Fisher and Silverstone for the last 4-year Republican spot.
2 COMMENTS:

MAY 22, 2009 3:12 PM - Bill Greenlaw said...
Thanks for providing the only source for these election results. The final results will be posted on the county site, but now we know why some of the numbers changed.

Fisher and Silverstone remain a tie.

I wonder where that military ballot is now, and how we ill know if it is received and counted.


MAY 22, 2009 4:26 PM - Sue Schor said...
Bill, According to Mr. Orben the military ballot must be post marked by May 18th and in by the end of the day May 26th.


1:30 p.m.
Still canvassing after a lunch break. Now on Matamoras 2.
Backs of absentee ballots were not properly counted in Matamoras 2. As a result, Silverstone, Schor, Fisher, Greenlaw, Pike each received one additional Dem vote.

Republican ticket at Matamoras 2 and the remaining precincts of Milford Borough, Milford Township. Shohola and Westfall to follow.


11:41 a.m.
Military ballot is a Republican ballot. If that person votes for either Fisher or Silverstone, the tie will be broken. The ballot is due by May 26.
No other provisional ballots were accepted in the school district. The rest of the results will likely stay the same.


11:26 a.m.
Provisional ballot in Dingman 1 added one vote each to Fisher, Lutfy, Greenlaw, Pike, Schor on the Dem ticket.
Bob Goldsack got the following write ins for Dem 4 yr term:
Delaware 1 - 13
Delaware 2 -18
Dingman 1 - 25

Total 56 write in votes for Goldsack from those three precincts.

Of trivial note: Chuck Pike and Goldsack have each had write ins for sheriff. Our good friend Anthony Splendora had a Dem write in for 4-yr school board.


11:03 a.m.
Delaware 1 and 2 are done. Only changes to results: +1 Dem vote each for Schor, Fisher, Lutfy, Greenlaw.
The second provisional ballot is a Dem for Dingman 1. Won't affect the tie.

There is ONE (1) overseas/military ballot out. It can be accepted up until May 26. No word on whether it is D or R.


10:44 a.m.
First provisional ballot was a Dem ballot. Does not affect the Rep tie between Fisher and Silverstone.


10:43 a.m.
At the canvass of votes. Two provisional ballots were accepted in the DVSD.

Wednesday, May 20

Goldsack the only TU member to appear on ballot in fall; Fisher and Silverstone tie for 4th spot on GOP ticket; Pike sweeps 2 year term

Bob Goldsack, current school board president, will be the only Taxpayers United member to appear on the general election ballot this fall, as a Republican. His running mates Benny Marasa and Patty Wright took major losses to their opponents, and will not appear on the general election ballot.

Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw, Pam Lutfy and Sue Schor swept the Democratic ticket for the 4 year term. Lutfy and Schor won on the Republican side, with Goldsack taking the third most Republican votes.

Fisher and Ed Silverstone are in a tie for the fourth spot of four on the Republican ticket. The Board of Elections will recount votes to certify the election later this week to determine if one of the candidates garnered more votes than the other, according to Elizabeth Forrest, Pike Democratic party committeewoman. Both candidates can also demand recounts.

Chuck Pike swept both parties over Wright for the 2 year term. His name will appear on the general election ballot unopposed this fall.

Stay tuned to RB for DV for the latest developments over the Fisher/Silverstone tie.

Additional coverage

Sunday, May 17

Future of Pike asks for poll sitters

The Future of Pike County PAC is looking for people to poll sit on Tuesday and show support for its endorsed candidates: Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw, Pam Lutfy, Chuck Pike and Sue Schor.

To sign up, fill out and submit this form online.

"We're going to get information made up to pass out," said PAC volunteer Nick Troiano in an email Sunday evening. "We have 10 polling places to cover. We have about half that many student volunteers so far."

Participants can also RSVP on Facebook.

Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor release election materials

Pamphlets from "Leadership for Education and Economic Balance" were mailed out to voters in the school district late this past week. The double-sided sheet has information from the candidates Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw, Pam Lutfy, Chuck Pike and Sue Schor.


VIEW THE OTHER SIDE

Tuesday, May 12

Watch Future of Pike town hall meeting on demand


Watch Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw, Pam Lutfy, Chuck Pike and Sue Schor answer questions and explain their positions at the Future of Pike County PAC's Town Hall meeting from Tuesday night.

WATCH IT ON DEMAND



Monday, May 11

Opinion: Let's restore integrity and vision to our school board

To the editor:

On May 19 our community has the chance to restore integrity to the Delaware Valley School Board with five caring and passionate candidates: Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw, Pam Lutfy, Chuck Pike and Sue Schor.

KEEP READING

These five independent thinkers stand strong after months of Taxpayers United bullying.

TU's Goldsack, Marasa, Wright refused to meet with you, the taxpayers, at two Meet the Candidates events, one hosted by the hardworking volunteers in our PTAs. They refused to answer questionnaires posed by our students and by the union employees who keep our schools running. We voters haven't been worthy of any introduction from Marasa or Wright, yet they expect our votes.

All of the candidates in this election favor fiscal responsibility. Everyone feels the pain of the economic crisis.

The difference from TU is that Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor show they are much more in touch with the needs of taxpayers, students, teachers, parents – everyone in our community. They've volunteered for decades in our schools and community, with our PTAs, with special needs children, with Odyssey of the Mind, with our Warrior athletics, with the Rotary Club. They all have children attending or graduated from DV. They've been endorsed by the Future of Pike County and the DV Education Support Professionals.

Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor will keep your taxes low, but unlike TU, they will do so responsibly, with integrity, with accountability, with transparency, with careful attention to the facts, and with sensitivity to the many stakeholders the school board represents.

Instead of educating voters, TU thought it was a better use of their time to launch personal attacks on their opponents and, more sadly, on graduates from the school district they supposedly lead.

Their attacks have ashamed and hurt me. I am embarrassed at the circus TU has made of the school district I attended for 13 years.

But more importantly, their attacks have encouraged me.

They've encouraged me to major in education policy at the Maxwell School of Public Affairs. They encouraged me to intern at a New York City public school as a Participation in Government teacher this spring. The eye-opening experience of teaching in a high school where per-pupil costs exceed DV’s by thousands yet whose graduation rate is 50 percent, reinforced my position to always support educational leaders with integrity and vision.

The TU smear club has tried silencing me because I do not personally pay school taxes. They don't mention that my family proudly pays our taxes, in gratitude, to the school district that raised my brother and me. Through the tough financial times our family is also experiencing with college tuition bills and costly unexpected medical expenses, we realize the importance of good leadership for the future of Delaware Valley.

May 19 is our day to come together as a community and stop the madness. Please, let's restore virtue and vision to our school board by voting Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor.

Respectfully,

Ryan Balton
Milford, PA

Saturday, May 9

Opinion: All that glitters is not Goldsack

To the editor:

I am supporting Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw, Pam Lutfy, Chuck Pike and Sue Schor in the May 19 primary election for Directors of the Delaware Valley School District. These candidates, while varied in their experiences and priorities, will bring vision and transparency to a Board I’m embarrassed to sit on in this my 14th year of volunteer service.

Bob Goldsack says he and I have a “Love-Hate relationship." I told Bob that I don’t hate anyone, but I dislike many things that he does.

KEEP READING

I dislike that Bob removed me from the Negotiations Committee on the teachers' contract and then inadvertently increased starting teachers' pay by $15,000, matching what a teacher with five years of experience would earn. The Board as a whole didn’t learn of this until after the teachers' union voted to approve the proposed contract.

I dislike that Bob asked the Board to hire four school security officers at a cost of $250,000 per year, expecting that there would be Safe Schools money to offset the cost. We hired the staff – didn’t get the money.

I dislike that Bob ran for and won an election and held a position on the Pike County Republican Committee while holding the elected office of School Director, which violates the Pennsylvania School Code.

I dislike that Bob filed a petition to remove Pam Lutfy and Sue Schor from the 2009 primary ballot and then had his lawyer withdraw the petition. Noticeably Bob’s petitions had the same uncrossed T’s and un-dotted I’s as his opponents petitions.

I dislike that Bob said in a public meeting that, “It would be the happiest day of my life,” if I would resign from the Board. Imagine that, happier than the day he was married or the birth of his children.

I dislike that Bob repeatedly held meetings in violation of the Sunshine Law by either not announcing committee meetings or allowing Board business to be discussed with five or more Board members present.

I dislike that Bob told parents of students at DVES that he would not support moving the new elementary school off the campus, but would continue work on building a new school on the existing site. Then, Bob announced that Long Range Planning would not work on a plan to rebuild the school at all, due to the economy. To further offend these parents, Bob allowed the money borrowed to build the school to be spent on capital construction projects and the new water delivery system at the Dingman-Delaware campus.

I dislike that Bob boasts of the new $900,000 water delivery system as providing cleaner water at Dingmans. The water is no cleaner after the system went on-line than before. In fact, the pristine water that was delivered to the primary school now has chemicals added to it. How do the parents at the primary school like that change?

I dislike that Bob likes to take credit for bringing the NO-Bullying program to the District when the way he treats people, in my opinion, makes him the biggest bully in the county, to which Bob replied publicly, “If I have to be a bully to get what I think is right, then I guess I’ll be the bully.”

I dislike that Bob defended an outside contractor over the concerns of district employees and when the facts came into light, failed to tell the public himself the outcome.

Bob and I don’t always have to agree. It’s fine to agree to disagree. I have a right to hear what other Board members are hearing and I have a right to be heard.

I agree with Diane French’s letter to the editor, “It’s All About Character.” Bob Goldsack is a character alright. Not a character that should be re-elected.

I’d appreciate your support on May 19 for Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor.


Thank you,
Sue Casey
DV School Board director

Tuesday, May 5

PAC plans "online town hall meeting" and phone banking

The Future of Pike County PAC will host an online town hall meeting at Sunshine Station on Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. with its endorsed candidates, Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw, Pam Lutfy, Chuck Pike and Sue Schor, according to the PAC's blog.

The meeting will be accessible online at futureofpikecounty.org, where members of the public can ask questions and watch a webcast. It can also be attended in person at Sunshine Station on Route 6 and 209, according to the blog.

The PAC will also host a phone banking event at Sunshine Station on Monday, May 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. Anyone interested can RSVP to the Facebook event.

Monday, May 4

Opinion: Creative minds for Chuck Pike

To the editor:

In the upcoming primary election, Chuck Pike is one of the best candidates running for the Delaware Valley School Board.

Chuck is running for the two-year term and is an excellent choice to receive your vote. Chuck has been a resident of the Delaware Valley School District for 27 years. He has raised four children through the district and has been involved in nearly every aspect of their journey through education.

KEEP READING

Chuck has been a school board director in the past and is ready to take on the challenge again. Chuck has been involved in numerous activities including coaching Delaware Valley Babe Ruth baseball for 11 years, PAYAL football, Pop Warner football and organized the DVES PTA Basketball program for 6 years. He is also an active member of St. Joseph’s Church for 24 years, a Eucharist Minister of 16 years and currently serves on the Parish Finance Council.

My personal experience with Chuck is through Odyssey of the Mind in which he has coached several teams throughout my time at Delaware Valley. He helped guide my team the past two years to a state championship and a high school record placement at World Finals. The only time Chuck did not attend a meeting with the team was when he was on a business trip or on Thursdays when he attends board meetings; his dedication is impeccable, intriguing and inspiring. The guidance and support that he provided our team was invaluable.

Chuck believes the public education system is the cornerstone of our society and must be maintained as strong as possible. Chuck has a great understanding of the students at our school, whether it be our student athletes, students who are involved in extra/co-curricula’s or any student who is actively involved in the community and school, as well as teachers and support staff.

The dedication and experience Chuck has to our community and school district makes him one of the most qualified candidates who is most in touch with the needs of the taxpayers, the students and the district as a whole.

On May 19, I politely ask you to vote Chuck Pike for DV School Board.


Respectfully,

Richard Cheng
…and the DVHS OotM Structure Team
Milford, PA

Sunday, May 3

Opinion: Our school board should follow the DV Five, too

To the editor:

There is an old saying from Mark Twain that says, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

The DV Five specifically states to:
1. Be responsible
2. Be respectful
3. Follow directions
4. Keep hands and feet to self
5. Be on time and ready

We hold our children to these mandates from the time they walk into kindergarten until they graduate. Adults who are elected into such an important office as our school board set the bar even higher. Setting a good example should be second nature to those in a public school setting. A quick visit to a kindergarten classroom will remind a person that it always works for the best when we are nice to each other.

KEEP READING

A school board director must always keep in mind that the public is watching. They are the people who are casting the votes. A school board director needs to be held accountable for his/her behavior.

In the upcoming election for Delaware Valley School Board, there is a clear choice between the candidates to elect. The best candidates for school board are Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor because at the end of the day, character does matter. These honest, intelligent, and facts-based candidates grasp that our school district plays an important role in our community’s future.

Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor will renew a commitment to both taxpayers and quality of education. They understand our core values - that our children deserve an opportunity for a better future and taxpayers need to be a top priority. Additionally, they understand and most voters would agree that school board directors need to be transparent with the public on school district policies, financial decisions, and during school board meetings.

On Election Day, the voters of the DV School District have a great opportunity to make a positive change on the school board by voting for Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor. In the end, character does matter and serving on the Board is not a position of convenience. It requires honesty at all times while finding real solutions to our challenges. Vote for the candidates who care because everyone matters.

Linda Boyle
Delaware Valley Education Support Professionals Secretary
Milford, PA

Monday, April 27

Support professionals endorse Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor

The Delaware Valley Education Support Professionals Association is proud to endorse Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor for Delaware Valley School Board. We believe that Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor are the best candidates for the school board because they are committed to improving the educational programs and standing for educational excellence for all of our students. We believe these challenges will require a steadfast commitment and these candidates will provide that type of leadership. These are true leaders that want to conduct the school board’s business in a more open and forthright manner and make sure the Sunshine Act will be enforced to keep the taxpayers and community informed.

We believe that our school district will be made financially secure for years to come by these outstanding candidates because they plan to implement sound financial polices and pursue smart budgeting to fight rising property taxes. Managing the district’s budget appropriately and spending the district’s resources wisely is their priority. Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor will manage tax dollars more efficiently and they’re committed on being fiscally conservative by spending your tax dollars on tangible items that bring academic benefits to our students, while keeping the taxpayers a high priority.

It’s time for change on the Delaware Valley School Board and these candidates care because we matter. The students, support staff, teachers, administrators, and taxpayers matter to our endorsed candidates. Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor are prepared to be strong leaders in these uncertain times and they are the best candidates for school board on May 19.
Sincerely,


Fran Rosario, President
Delaware Valley Education Support Professionals Association

Printable campaign flyers for Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor

Show your support by hanging these flyers in your car window. Click on an image to download a printable .PDF file.



Click to download this flyer




Click to download this flyer

Monday, April 20

"Future of Pike" endorses Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor

The Future of PIke County political action committee (PAC) announced its endorsements for the Delaware Valley school board race in a blog post on Saturday.

The PAC "highly recommends" Jack Fisher, Bill Greenlaw and Pam Lutfy and "recommends" Chuck Pike and Sue Schor. The Taxpayers United slate did not even respond to a survey that the PAC issued.

UPDATE:

Read the candidate surveys (.PDF files)
All endorsements

Sunday, March 29

Order of candidates on the primary ballots

According to an e-mail from candidate Jack Fisher, the school board candidates' names will be in the following order on the primary ballots:

Democrat
Two-Year Term
1) Wright
2) Pike

Four-Year Term
1) Silverstone
2) Schor
3) Fisher
4) Marasa
5) Lutfy
6) Greenlaw

Goldsack will not appear on the Democratic ballot.

Republican
Two-Year Term
1) Pike
2) Wright

Four-Year Term
1) Silverstone
2) Fisher
3) Schor
4) Greenlaw
5) Lutfy
6) Marasa
7) Goldsack

Monday, March 16

Opinion: We don't deserve the political games

Here's a letter I sent out to the local newspapers to be printed hopefully in the next week or two.

To the editor:

Petty politics and education should never mix. That is something five candidates for Delaware Valley School Board understand: Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor.

Sadly, Bob Goldsack’s Taxpayers United regime makes political games routine at DV.

Goldsack and TU take all the credit for the zero tax increase, when in reality, the finance committee is not even headed by a TU board member.

Goldsack fails to thank former finance chair Jack Fisher for putting the district in its secure position. Goldsack fails to discuss the state funding increase from gambling revenue. Goldsack fails to mention that the capital expenditure budget was cut drastically, meaning taxpayers will pay a ton later when a new school is needed.

Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor will not cut corners. They will budget and set policy in the best interest of taxpayers and students.

While taking credit for revamping curriculum, Goldsack fails to mention that last year only 84 percent of students sought higher education. This is the lowest percentage since 1999. Goldsack fails to mention that since the last election, DV High School has fallen to a “warning” status from the PA Dept. of Education.

Working to improve education is a battle fought by administrators and teachers, not by Bob Goldsack. The teachers deserve the credit, as they work in fear wondering how TU might mess up our schools.

Come see Goldsack’s “leadership” at a meeting. Be warned: he schedules some of the “public” meetings secretly – so secretly that not even the entire board always knows when they are happening. Prepare to see Goldsack and TU divulging private student information and ignoring questions from the public. See Goldsack degrade students and use profanity.

Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor respect all students, parents and community members. They have been active volunteers in our community for years. They stand for complete transparency.

Under Goldsack’s “leadership,” the board was brought before a judge for violating policy in October. When a TU board member resigned, the vacancy wasn’t filled within 30 days.

Goldsack was holding out for his friend Benny Marasa, who was MIA when the board was to appoint him. How many meetings has Marasa ever attended? How often does he volunteer at DV? Marasa has no public education experience and now he expects our vote, too.

We deserve better. We deserve leadership for economic and educational balance: Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor. We matter and they care.

Sincerely,

Ryan Balton
Delaware Valley ‘07
Milford

Thursday, March 12

Official list of candidates

According to a forwarded e-mail from Pike County board of elections director, Yolanda Goldsack, these are the people who have filed for candidacy in the DV School Board race. There is one two-year seat up for election and four four-year seats. 

PATTY WRIGHT, DEM/REP ( 2 YR TERM)

CHARLES PIKE, DEM/REP, (2 YR TERM)


BILL GREENLAW, DEM/ REP ( 4 YR TERM)

ROBERT GOLDSACK, DEM/ REP (4 YR TERM)

BENNY MARASA, DEM/ REP (4 YR TERM)

ED SILVERSTONE, DEM/ REP (4 YR TERM)

PAM LUTFY, DEM/ REP (4 YEAR TERM)

SUSAN SCHOR, DEM/ REP (4 YEAR TERM)

JACK FISHER, DEM/ REP (4 YEAR TERM)

Wednesday, March 11

Endorsement letter appears in this week's Dispatch

Along with other letters to the editor, my endorsement letter of Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor below appears in this week's Pike County Dispatch. (Unfortunately, the letters are not posted on the Dispatch's excuse for a Web site.)

I also submitted the letter to a few other newspapers. Be sure to write in your letter of support to the local newspapers.
To the editor:

Five seats on the Delaware Valley School Board will be up for election this May. The five candidates who will best serve our community and our students are Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor.

Jack Fisher and Chuck Pike have both served on the board before. Jack and Chuck are active volunteers in our community and our schools.

Bill Greenlaw regularly attends school board meetings. With a wealth of policy knowledge, Bill has been tirelessly pushing for better communication between our schools and the community.

Pam Lutfy and Sue Schor currently serve as school board directors and committee chairs with distinction.

This team for economic and educational balance will serve all of us well – taxpayers, parents and students alike.

As a 13-year student at Delaware Valley and lifetime member of our community, I endorse Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike and Schor. They are the best candidates to efficiently improve education in our community.

Ryan Balton
Delaware Valley ’07
Publisher, http://rbfordv.blogspot.com
Milford