Showing posts with label Ed Silverstone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ed Silverstone. Show all posts
Friday, June 12
Friday, June 5
Tie is broken: Fisher will appear on Rep ballot
The tie between Jack Fisher and Ed Silverstone for the last spot on the Republican ticket for 4-year school board term was broken today in Fisher's favor.
Fisher’s proxy, Bill Greenlaw, drew the number from a hat, placing Fisher on the general election ballot as both a Democrat and Republican. Silverstone will not appear on the ballot this fall.In accordance with state policy, the Pike County commissioners oversaw a “cast of lots” at noon on the second Friday after the tie was declared. The cast of lots involved random chance to break the tie, which remained after the votes were recounted and provisional ballots were counted.
Fisher chose not to participate in the cast of lots because of his opposition to gambling. Because the cast of lots would legally happen whether or not Fisher participated, Greenlaw offered to take his place.
| General election ballot this fall |
| 4 Year Term (vote for not more than four) |
| Jack Fisher - D/R |
| Bob Goldsack - R |
| Bill Greenlaw - D |
| Pam Lutfy - D/R |
| Sue Schor -D/R |
| 2 Year Term |
| Chuck Pike - D/R |
Greenlaw asked Silverstone to pick the straw first since he was an actual candidate participating. Silverstone pulled the shorter straw, so Greenlaw chose the first number. Keeping his fist closed until Silverstone selected his number, Greenlaw had selected number one (1), and so Fisher was declared the winner of the cast of lots.
In attendance were many members of the local press, Pam Lutfy, Sue Schor, Silverstone’s wife and a few members of the public. The cast of lots happened at noon in the commissioners’ office at the county administrative building.
LIVE: Cast of lots coverage
12:02 p.m.
Greenlaw picks number 1. Fisher will be placed on ballot.
12:01 p.m.
Silverstone picks first straw. Greenlaw has longer straw.
12:01 p.m.
Meeting called to order. Draw of straws to happen. Larger straw pulls from hat. Two numbers: 1 or 2. 1 is the winner.
11:59 a.m.
At the commisioners office, a baseball cap is placed on the table at the front of the room. Plenty of press, the commissioners, Bill Greenlaw, Ed Silverstone and family, Sue Schor and Pam Lutfy are in attendance.
11:25 a.m.
Stay tuned for live updates about the cast of lots taking place at noon today to break the tie between Jack Fisher and Ed Silverstone for the fourth spot on the Republican ticket for 4-year school board term.
Greenlaw picks number 1. Fisher will be placed on ballot.
12:01 p.m.
Silverstone picks first straw. Greenlaw has longer straw.
12:01 p.m.
Meeting called to order. Draw of straws to happen. Larger straw pulls from hat. Two numbers: 1 or 2. 1 is the winner.
11:59 a.m.
At the commisioners office, a baseball cap is placed on the table at the front of the room. Plenty of press, the commissioners, Bill Greenlaw, Ed Silverstone and family, Sue Schor and Pam Lutfy are in attendance.
11:25 a.m.
Stay tuned for live updates about the cast of lots taking place at noon today to break the tie between Jack Fisher and Ed Silverstone for the fourth spot on the Republican ticket for 4-year school board term.
Thursday, May 28
Tie remains for spot on Republican ballot
Cast of lots to happen next Friday
The final remaining overseas military ballot did not arrive in time to be counted, and lots will be cast June 5 to break the tie between school board candidates Jack Fisher and Ed Silverstone, according to chief clerk Gary Orben.
The election will not be certified until after the cast of lots.
The remaining military ballot remained to U.S. Navy sailor Ashley Lamac, whose father Bill Lamac read a statement at the commissioners' meeting, an attendee said in an email. Her vote was not cast before Election Day because she was in the Persian Gulf and didn't get back to port in time, sources said.
As previously reported, the final ballot would have given Fisher one extra vote over Silverstone, breaking the time 639-638.
Fisher initially expressed hesitation about casting lots, saying he was morally opposed to gambling of any form. But, he said in an email, "I ran as a team. I am a team player. I am going to take one for the team."
Fisher will have one of his running mates, Bill Greenlaw, participate in the cast of lots by proxy.
"It is shameful that a military members absentee vote was disallowed," Fisher said. "Mr. Silverstone can right this wrong by conceding and withdrawing. That would be the honorable thing to do and I call upon him to [do] such."
Update (2:26 p.m.)
The military ballot was received May 28th at 11:15 a.m., according to Orben. The cast of lots will still take place as scheduled.
The election will not be certified until after the cast of lots.
The remaining military ballot remained to U.S. Navy sailor Ashley Lamac, whose father Bill Lamac read a statement at the commissioners' meeting, an attendee said in an email. Her vote was not cast before Election Day because she was in the Persian Gulf and didn't get back to port in time, sources said.
As previously reported, the final ballot would have given Fisher one extra vote over Silverstone, breaking the time 639-638.
Fisher initially expressed hesitation about casting lots, saying he was morally opposed to gambling of any form. But, he said in an email, "I ran as a team. I am a team player. I am going to take one for the team."
Fisher will have one of his running mates, Bill Greenlaw, participate in the cast of lots by proxy.
"It is shameful that a military members absentee vote was disallowed," Fisher said. "Mr. Silverstone can right this wrong by conceding and withdrawing. That would be the honorable thing to do and I call upon him to [do] such."
Update (2:26 p.m.)
The military ballot was received May 28th at 11:15 a.m., according to Orben. The cast of lots will still take place as scheduled.
Tuesday, May 26
BREAKING NEWS: Military ballot that would give Fisher a Republican edge will not arrive today
The sole remaining overseas military ballot will not arrive today, according to an email from Future of Pike County PAC volunteer Nick Troiano. The ballot would break the tie between Jack Fisher and Ed Silverstone for the last spot for school board on the Republican ballot.
The sailor who received the ballot voted for Fisher and not Silverstone, according to the sailor's family, Troiano said in the email last night. If counted, it would place Fisher on the Republican ballot. Silverstone would not appear on the general election ballot this fall.
In order for the ballot to count, it needed to be postmarked by May 18 and arrive at the Board of Elections office by the end of business today, May 26, according to election officials.
The ballot was not received by the sailor until May 22, according to Troiano, and it was not mailed back until today.
Board of Elections director Yolanda Goldsack declined in an email to comment on any questions pertaining to the tie.
The sailor who received the ballot voted for Fisher and not Silverstone, according to the sailor's family, Troiano said in the email last night. If counted, it would place Fisher on the Republican ballot. Silverstone would not appear on the general election ballot this fall.
In order for the ballot to count, it needed to be postmarked by May 18 and arrive at the Board of Elections office by the end of business today, May 26, according to election officials.
The ballot was not received by the sailor until May 22, according to Troiano, and it was not mailed back until today.
Board of Elections director Yolanda Goldsack declined in an email to comment on any questions pertaining to the tie.
Saturday, May 23
It's all down to one vote; After canvass, Fisher/Silverstone tie remains
One overseas military ballot may determine the outcome of the tie between Jack Fisher and Ed Silverstone. The tie at 638 votes each from Tuesday’s election remains after county officials recounted votes and certified the election in a canvass of votes Friday.Neither of the two provisional ballots accepted in the Delaware Valley School District affected the Fisher/Silverstone tie for the fourth spot of four for the Republican 4-year term. The provisional ballots were counted for the first time on Friday, but they were both Democratic ballots.
One other opportunity to break the tie arose in the Matamoras Borough 2 precinct, where absentee ballots had been incorrectly tallied. The mistake only affected the Democratic totals, so the 638-638 tie remained.
The Republican totals were unchanged by the canvass of votes.
Only one ballot remains to be potentially counted. The county can accept overseas military ballots up until May 26. One ballot was mailed to a female Republican serving aboard a ship at an APO address. If she postmarked the ballot by May 18, one day before the primary election, and it arrives by the end of the business day on May 26, it will be counted. And if she voted for Fisher or Silverstone – just one of them – her ballot will break the tie.
Should the ballot not arrive, state election law says the candidates must “cast lots,” leaving the spot to random chance.
The information in this report is from firsthand observation or according to officials at the canvass of the votes on Friday.
See also...
UPDATE: Who said one vote doesn’t count? (Pike County Courier)
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 Marasa | 243 (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.
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.
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
JUST IN: "Canvas of the votes" to take place Friday, determine outcome of Fisher/Silverstone tie
A "canvas of the votes" will happen in the Pike County Commissioners Office on Friday at 9 a.m., according to an e-mail from board candidate Jack Fisher. The event will be open to the public. The tie between Fisher and Ed Silverstone is the biggest issue from Tuesday's election that has the potential to be settled on Friday.
All absentee ballots have been counted, according to the e-mail. Fisher received the information from the director of the Board of Elections, Yolanda Goldsack, he said. Mrs. Goldsack has not returned an e-mail from RB for DV.
See also:
All absentee ballots have been counted, according to the e-mail. Fisher received the information from the director of the Board of Elections, Yolanda Goldsack, he said. Mrs. Goldsack has not returned an e-mail from RB for DV.
See also:
Friday, May 15
Silverstone says he is not affiliated with TU despite his appearance in TU mailing
Incumbent school board candidate Ed Silverstone is one of "only four Taxpayers United candidates," according to a TU mailer sent out to residents of the school district.
Silverstone has publicized himself in the local newspapers as an independent candidate who was not affiliated with either Taxpayers United or Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor.
"I am an independent candidate," Silverstone said in an email. "I am not affiliated with either group."
⇒ KEEP READING
Residents of the school district began receiving the TU mailer on Thursday. It includes this letter posted on RB for DV Thursday afternoon. It also includes postcards titled "Take me to the polls" with a list of the Taxpayers United candidates and their places on the ballot.
Silverstone's name appears under the list with the heading "Vote for 'only' four Taxpayers United candidates." But Silverstone said in an email Friday morning that he is not affiliated with TU.
"I am pleased that TU decided to recommend me," Silverstone said in an email. "So I'm a candidate TU is supporting and they are saying I'm a TU candidate."
The following instructions to write-in Bob Goldsack also were mailed out to Democratic voters in the school district. Goldsack's name will not appear on the Democratic ballot as per a court order after his filing paperwork was challenged.
Silverstone has publicized himself in the local newspapers as an independent candidate who was not affiliated with either Taxpayers United or Fisher, Greenlaw, Lutfy, Pike, Schor.
"I am an independent candidate," Silverstone said in an email. "I am not affiliated with either group."
⇒ KEEP READING
Residents of the school district began receiving the TU mailer on Thursday. It includes this letter posted on RB for DV Thursday afternoon. It also includes postcards titled "Take me to the polls" with a list of the Taxpayers United candidates and their places on the ballot.
Silverstone's name appears under the list with the heading "Vote for 'only' four Taxpayers United candidates." But Silverstone said in an email Friday morning that he is not affiliated with TU.
"I am pleased that TU decided to recommend me," Silverstone said in an email. "So I'm a candidate TU is supporting and they are saying I'm a TU candidate."
The following instructions to write-in Bob Goldsack also were mailed out to Democratic voters in the school district. Goldsack's name will not appear on the Democratic ballot as per a court order after his filing paperwork was challenged.
Opinion: Lutfy says "0 percent" tax increase a political stunt
To the editor:
Following tonight’s Delaware Valley School Board meeting, I am compelled to compose this letter to the citizens of Pike County. I am ashamed that Board members who voted affirmatively for the 2009-2010 school budget believe the citizens of this county to be idiots!
⇒ KEEP READING
When you wake up tomorrow, you may hear that the DV Board passed a school budget with a “0 percent tax increase.” BIG SHAM!
This so called “0 percent tax increase budget” was calculated with “stimulus fund money” that has NOT yet been provided to our district and possibly may never be provided as pointed out by the very same members who voted for the budget! This is one of the biggest deceptions that I have yet encountered. To tell Pike County citizens that this budget has a 0 percent tax increase when in actuality it may cost the taxpayers anywhere between a 2.5 percent to a 4.0 percent in increased taxes is unconscionable.
I for one refuse to be associated with this ridiculous fabrication. Using stimulus money, which we do not have, to “balance” a budget is highly unprofessional and indicative of an attitude of profound indifference to a fragile business community and struggling homeowners.
DV Board incumbents (Silverstone, Goldsack) recently sent a letter to Pike County residents promising they will provide a 0 percent increase to the taxpayers. Gee, after the election, do you think they will raise taxes to balance the “real” budget? I remember this happening when a former Board member ran for the office of Commissioner. A week after losing the election, the budget was re-opened and the taxes were increased. Interesting how history repeats itself.
Our country is in its worst shape since the Great Depression and our local educational leaders and fellow Board members are the last to understand this! Locally, The Pike County food pantry has an alarming demand. Jobs in Pike County are disappearing daily. Businesses are closing their doors. Apartments sit empty. The department of Public Welfare has never been so busy. There are no summer jobs for college students.
And it’s a time to raise taxes??
How dare my fellow Board members show such disrespect to our community! There is no way to get around this con job! Citizens deserve the truth. The real facts of the budget must be revealed and citizens must demand transparency from all Board members. Budgets must be based upon real monies, not reckless gambling behavior.
NEVER have I been so embarrassed to be a member of the DV Board. Never have I been so insulted at the disrespect shown for the taxpayers in our county. So often I hear administrators and Board members lament that parents need to learn how to say no to their children. I think the time has come when Board members need to say no to the requests of the administration and more importantly public citizens need to say no! no! no! to Board member’s shameful actions.
I do NOT support a tax increase. But I would rather present an HONEST budget showing the hidden tax increase than to present a LIE to our citizens!
Citizens, according to Pennsylvania statute you have the right to view the budget during the next 30 days. Please request to view the budget. Ask about the funds and “absence of funds” so you may see for yourself what is happening here. You have a voice about this budget. Get involved and demand better representation. Together we can make a difference.
Fellow Board members, you call this budget an example of fiscal management? What a joke!
Of the Board members present, Pam Lutfy and Sue Schor were the only two members who voted NO for this charade called a budget.
I write this letter because my reputation is more important than an election. For those Board members, not running for re-election: Where is your thinking? Would not it have been less deceiving to simply present the true facts regarding the need for this budget? Give our constituents more credit!
Most sincerely,
Pam Lutfy
Delaware Valley School Board member, 2009 candidate
Following tonight’s Delaware Valley School Board meeting, I am compelled to compose this letter to the citizens of Pike County. I am ashamed that Board members who voted affirmatively for the 2009-2010 school budget believe the citizens of this county to be idiots!
⇒ KEEP READING
When you wake up tomorrow, you may hear that the DV Board passed a school budget with a “0 percent tax increase.” BIG SHAM!
This so called “0 percent tax increase budget” was calculated with “stimulus fund money” that has NOT yet been provided to our district and possibly may never be provided as pointed out by the very same members who voted for the budget! This is one of the biggest deceptions that I have yet encountered. To tell Pike County citizens that this budget has a 0 percent tax increase when in actuality it may cost the taxpayers anywhere between a 2.5 percent to a 4.0 percent in increased taxes is unconscionable.
I for one refuse to be associated with this ridiculous fabrication. Using stimulus money, which we do not have, to “balance” a budget is highly unprofessional and indicative of an attitude of profound indifference to a fragile business community and struggling homeowners.
DV Board incumbents (Silverstone, Goldsack) recently sent a letter to Pike County residents promising they will provide a 0 percent increase to the taxpayers. Gee, after the election, do you think they will raise taxes to balance the “real” budget? I remember this happening when a former Board member ran for the office of Commissioner. A week after losing the election, the budget was re-opened and the taxes were increased. Interesting how history repeats itself.
Our country is in its worst shape since the Great Depression and our local educational leaders and fellow Board members are the last to understand this! Locally, The Pike County food pantry has an alarming demand. Jobs in Pike County are disappearing daily. Businesses are closing their doors. Apartments sit empty. The department of Public Welfare has never been so busy. There are no summer jobs for college students.
And it’s a time to raise taxes??
How dare my fellow Board members show such disrespect to our community! There is no way to get around this con job! Citizens deserve the truth. The real facts of the budget must be revealed and citizens must demand transparency from all Board members. Budgets must be based upon real monies, not reckless gambling behavior.
NEVER have I been so embarrassed to be a member of the DV Board. Never have I been so insulted at the disrespect shown for the taxpayers in our county. So often I hear administrators and Board members lament that parents need to learn how to say no to their children. I think the time has come when Board members need to say no to the requests of the administration and more importantly public citizens need to say no! no! no! to Board member’s shameful actions.
I do NOT support a tax increase. But I would rather present an HONEST budget showing the hidden tax increase than to present a LIE to our citizens!
Citizens, according to Pennsylvania statute you have the right to view the budget during the next 30 days. Please request to view the budget. Ask about the funds and “absence of funds” so you may see for yourself what is happening here. You have a voice about this budget. Get involved and demand better representation. Together we can make a difference.
Fellow Board members, you call this budget an example of fiscal management? What a joke!
Of the Board members present, Pam Lutfy and Sue Schor were the only two members who voted NO for this charade called a budget.
I write this letter because my reputation is more important than an election. For those Board members, not running for re-election: Where is your thinking? Would not it have been less deceiving to simply present the true facts regarding the need for this budget? Give our constituents more credit!
Most sincerely,
Pam Lutfy
Delaware Valley School Board member, 2009 candidate
Tuesday, May 5
Opinion: Vote for leaders, not old school politicans
To the Editor:
Fiscal discipline is hard medicine. Fiscal discipline is unpopular. Fiscal discipline has no short cuts.
However, once fiscal discipline is exercised over a period of time it leads to financial good health, stability and lean financial muscle.
⇒ KEEP READING
Politicians seeking office and the power it brings to them have long loathed fiscal discipline. These power seekers have overspent (creating huge deficits), under invested (leading to failing infrastructure and wiping out long-term reserves) and made promises of future monies without proper funding sources in place (unfunded liabilities left to our children and grandchildren).
This lust for power is evidenced at the federal and state level. Massive new debt, trillions in new deficits. Lack of transparency and accountability.
Now the lust for power has come to the Delaware Valley School District.
DV School Board President Bob Goldsack has reduced reserve funding nearly 80 percent over his four year term. Reserves are the lean body mass needed for financial well being. Such unbalanced long term planning is seriously shortsighted. Bob Goldsack refuses to address the pension problem he helped cause when he voted to massively increase salaries. Ed Silverstone, Chairman of the Budget, Finance and Audit committee, recently commented on the "over 41 percent starting salary increase" at the Matamoras Meet the Candidates night held by my fellow Republicans. Pensions are a mathematical function of salaries. They too are a reserve. Increasing salaries increases the need for pension reserve funding increases. The pension funding issue is awaiting the next school board due to the Goldsack miscalculations and lack of understanding of the role of reserves.
The good folks who support Mr. Goldsack need to ask themselves: Why is spending overall increasing at the same time Mr. Goldsack is touting a single year level tax rate of 100.87 mils? How did the rate of the millage remain the same from the prior year, which by the way Goldsack voted against, when spending went up and student population went down? The answer is that years of fiscal discipline went into setting the rate at 100.87 mils. It did not happen by luck. Why would Mr. Goldsack vote against it in year one and then vote for it in year two?
Answer: He is an old school politician.
I ask the citizens of the DV School District to vote for "Directors" on May 19. Directors are leaders. We do not need more politicians.
Vote for leaders.
Vote for FISHER, GREENLAW, LUTFY, PIKE and SCHOR.
Best regards,
Jack Fisher
Candidate for Delaware Valley School Board
Fiscal discipline is hard medicine. Fiscal discipline is unpopular. Fiscal discipline has no short cuts.
However, once fiscal discipline is exercised over a period of time it leads to financial good health, stability and lean financial muscle.
⇒ KEEP READING
Politicians seeking office and the power it brings to them have long loathed fiscal discipline. These power seekers have overspent (creating huge deficits), under invested (leading to failing infrastructure and wiping out long-term reserves) and made promises of future monies without proper funding sources in place (unfunded liabilities left to our children and grandchildren).
This lust for power is evidenced at the federal and state level. Massive new debt, trillions in new deficits. Lack of transparency and accountability.
Now the lust for power has come to the Delaware Valley School District.
DV School Board President Bob Goldsack has reduced reserve funding nearly 80 percent over his four year term. Reserves are the lean body mass needed for financial well being. Such unbalanced long term planning is seriously shortsighted. Bob Goldsack refuses to address the pension problem he helped cause when he voted to massively increase salaries. Ed Silverstone, Chairman of the Budget, Finance and Audit committee, recently commented on the "over 41 percent starting salary increase" at the Matamoras Meet the Candidates night held by my fellow Republicans. Pensions are a mathematical function of salaries. They too are a reserve. Increasing salaries increases the need for pension reserve funding increases. The pension funding issue is awaiting the next school board due to the Goldsack miscalculations and lack of understanding of the role of reserves.
The good folks who support Mr. Goldsack need to ask themselves: Why is spending overall increasing at the same time Mr. Goldsack is touting a single year level tax rate of 100.87 mils? How did the rate of the millage remain the same from the prior year, which by the way Goldsack voted against, when spending went up and student population went down? The answer is that years of fiscal discipline went into setting the rate at 100.87 mils. It did not happen by luck. Why would Mr. Goldsack vote against it in year one and then vote for it in year two?
Answer: He is an old school politician.
I ask the citizens of the DV School District to vote for "Directors" on May 19. Directors are leaders. We do not need more politicians.
Vote for leaders.
Vote for FISHER, GREENLAW, LUTFY, PIKE and SCHOR.
Best regards,
Jack Fisher
Candidate for Delaware Valley School Board
Wednesday, April 1
Fisher compares Goldsack to CEOs of failing companies
To the Editor:
The financial collapse of AIG, and other major industrial companies, is the result of placing short-term popular fiscal goals over more stable long term objectives. The culture of getting the highest profit in the shortest period of time eroded the very foundations on which sound financial footings must rest. Instead of building reserves for the long-term and controlling costs in the short-term these "titans of industry" did just the opposite. They engaged in the unsound practices of having just minimal reserve funding, large scale debt and salary compensation contracts that were not tied to performance or merit. Of course these company Directors were wildly popular with their followers as they lavished them with moneys even as the enterprise began to become unstable. Like any great structure the erosion of the foundation will eventually topple the walls and the roof into a pile of rubble. The collapse of AIG , et al, was quick and sudden. Those who had raised the alarm and signaled the Captain to reverse course were scoffed and ridiculed.
The foundation of all financial footings rests with having, at all times, adequate and significant capital and reserves. This is the lesson we who are citizens of the Delaware Valley School District have learned and must abide by. However, the current Captain of our great community asset the Delaware Valley School District, Bob Goldsack, is steering the ship directly into an iceberg. His decision to significantly increase overall spending last year and again next year and again reduce reserve funding, while at the same time not increasing revenues to the school district are the type of unbalanced actions that left unchecked will lead to collapse. His decision to increase compensation contracts that are not tied to performance or merit was unsound. The taxpayer citizens must remove him from the helm at the May 19 primary election.
This will not be easy as I know Mr. Goldsack is feverishly popular with his TU adherents as he lavished on them the cherished idol of a zero tax increase. Now they want even more! His propaganda material now arriving in the mail is eerily reminiscent of self-promoting statements of fiscal greatness made by CEO’s at America’s largest corporations just last summer. Basically they are the pabulum most politicians have been spewing for years. The idea that spending can go up, up, up and tax revenues can be zero or reduced. It is an illusion. A fiscal dream nightmare created by the Captain who smiles wide eyed in the fog telling all how easily he can steer the ship.
Mr. Silverstone as the Chair of the DV Finance Committee needs to restore reserve funding cut in last years budget. The Chair needs to control spending and make realistic revenue projections. Mainly Mr. Silverstone needs to publicly speak out against his running mate Bob Goldsack and return to the course of fiscal responsibility and balance.
Best regards,
JACK FISHER
Candidate for Delaware Valley School Board
The financial collapse of AIG, and other major industrial companies, is the result of placing short-term popular fiscal goals over more stable long term objectives. The culture of getting the highest profit in the shortest period of time eroded the very foundations on which sound financial footings must rest. Instead of building reserves for the long-term and controlling costs in the short-term these "titans of industry" did just the opposite. They engaged in the unsound practices of having just minimal reserve funding, large scale debt and salary compensation contracts that were not tied to performance or merit. Of course these company Directors were wildly popular with their followers as they lavished them with moneys even as the enterprise began to become unstable. Like any great structure the erosion of the foundation will eventually topple the walls and the roof into a pile of rubble. The collapse of AIG , et al, was quick and sudden. Those who had raised the alarm and signaled the Captain to reverse course were scoffed and ridiculed.
The foundation of all financial footings rests with having, at all times, adequate and significant capital and reserves. This is the lesson we who are citizens of the Delaware Valley School District have learned and must abide by. However, the current Captain of our great community asset the Delaware Valley School District, Bob Goldsack, is steering the ship directly into an iceberg. His decision to significantly increase overall spending last year and again next year and again reduce reserve funding, while at the same time not increasing revenues to the school district are the type of unbalanced actions that left unchecked will lead to collapse. His decision to increase compensation contracts that are not tied to performance or merit was unsound. The taxpayer citizens must remove him from the helm at the May 19 primary election.
This will not be easy as I know Mr. Goldsack is feverishly popular with his TU adherents as he lavished on them the cherished idol of a zero tax increase. Now they want even more! His propaganda material now arriving in the mail is eerily reminiscent of self-promoting statements of fiscal greatness made by CEO’s at America’s largest corporations just last summer. Basically they are the pabulum most politicians have been spewing for years. The idea that spending can go up, up, up and tax revenues can be zero or reduced. It is an illusion. A fiscal dream nightmare created by the Captain who smiles wide eyed in the fog telling all how easily he can steer the ship.
Mr. Silverstone as the Chair of the DV Finance Committee needs to restore reserve funding cut in last years budget. The Chair needs to control spending and make realistic revenue projections. Mainly Mr. Silverstone needs to publicly speak out against his running mate Bob Goldsack and return to the course of fiscal responsibility and balance.
Best regards,
JACK FISHER
Candidate for Delaware Valley School Board
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
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
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)
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)
Friday, March 6
Fisher calls for greater transparency
To the Editor:
The ancient and perhaps wisest Jewish prophet King Solomon wrote " Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5). To renew and restore prosperity to our local economy and community will undoubtedly require "good planning and hard work" at every level of local government. This is especially true for the Delaware Valley School Board. With nearly $100 million in buildings, equipment and infrastructure and over 700 hundred employees the Delaware Valley School District is a local economic giant in Pike County. As stewards of this local economic giant the Delaware Valley School Board must be prudent and responsible simultaneously. It must balance the needs of students, maintaining a top flight educational program, with the needs of those who pay the bills , that being our local residential and business taxpayers. The DV School Board must always be sober in its analysis as well as informed of the impact spending has on the community. Should the School Board resort to hasty shortcuts in its educational programming or shortcuts in its fiscal budgeting the impact could lead to impoverishment of one or the other or both.
Thus the question must be asked of Mr. Silverstone the current Chairman of Budget ,Finance and Audit at DV: How will you deal with the additional $2 million increase in salaries and benefits contained in the budget segment you presented two weeks ago.? Where will the funds come from to pay for these annual raises of 3% to 7% this year, and again next year? An honest sober assessment must be forthcoming. It is simply not acceptable to wait until after the May 19th primary to provide the taxpayers with an answer. To be fair to Mr. Silverstone I acknowledge that he did not vote for these increases and called them imprudent but he did volunteer to be Chairman and thus the responsibility for candor and transparency rests with him. I also acknowledge that the current school board president Bob Goldsack, Mr. Silverstone’s running mate in this years primary, negotiated and voted for these raises. Perhaps Bob Goldsack can assist Mr. Silverstone as to the plan he has now or had when he negotiated these raises.
I would implore Mr. Silverstone not to take shortcuts. The Board must do the hard work that is required by the principles of good planning. Simply cutting one area of the budget to fill the gap in another may be politically advantageous but it is not the mark of those who profess to be leaders of integrity and wise public servants of the people . In these hard economic times we need not hardcore politicians like Bob Goldsack but rather the wisdom of Ed Silverstone who I once admired and whom I voted for four years ago.
Best regards,
JACK FISHER
Candidate for Delaware Valley School Board.
The ancient and perhaps wisest Jewish prophet King Solomon wrote " Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5). To renew and restore prosperity to our local economy and community will undoubtedly require "good planning and hard work" at every level of local government. This is especially true for the Delaware Valley School Board. With nearly $100 million in buildings, equipment and infrastructure and over 700 hundred employees the Delaware Valley School District is a local economic giant in Pike County. As stewards of this local economic giant the Delaware Valley School Board must be prudent and responsible simultaneously. It must balance the needs of students, maintaining a top flight educational program, with the needs of those who pay the bills , that being our local residential and business taxpayers. The DV School Board must always be sober in its analysis as well as informed of the impact spending has on the community. Should the School Board resort to hasty shortcuts in its educational programming or shortcuts in its fiscal budgeting the impact could lead to impoverishment of one or the other or both.
Thus the question must be asked of Mr. Silverstone the current Chairman of Budget ,Finance and Audit at DV: How will you deal with the additional $2 million increase in salaries and benefits contained in the budget segment you presented two weeks ago.? Where will the funds come from to pay for these annual raises of 3% to 7% this year, and again next year? An honest sober assessment must be forthcoming. It is simply not acceptable to wait until after the May 19th primary to provide the taxpayers with an answer. To be fair to Mr. Silverstone I acknowledge that he did not vote for these increases and called them imprudent but he did volunteer to be Chairman and thus the responsibility for candor and transparency rests with him. I also acknowledge that the current school board president Bob Goldsack, Mr. Silverstone’s running mate in this years primary, negotiated and voted for these raises. Perhaps Bob Goldsack can assist Mr. Silverstone as to the plan he has now or had when he negotiated these raises.
I would implore Mr. Silverstone not to take shortcuts. The Board must do the hard work that is required by the principles of good planning. Simply cutting one area of the budget to fill the gap in another may be politically advantageous but it is not the mark of those who profess to be leaders of integrity and wise public servants of the people . In these hard economic times we need not hardcore politicians like Bob Goldsack but rather the wisdom of Ed Silverstone who I once admired and whom I voted for four years ago.
Best regards,
JACK FISHER
Candidate for Delaware Valley School Board.
Wednesday, February 25
Jack Fisher on stability
This letter was submitted by e-mail to RB for DV. Anyone interested in contributing can e-mail ryan@ryanbalton.com.
During the years that I was a member of the Delaware Valley School Board I was Chairman of the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee. As a leader and Chairman of the BFA I knew it was my job to produce a budget and line up the finances of our school district so as to provide long-term stability and lasting strength to weather any financial storm.
Decisions I made which I knew to be beneficial to our community and our schools were not always popular. Popularity is fleeting. Financial strength, integrity of purpose and the honor that comes from speaking plainly is, for me, what lasts and meets the test of time.
So here we are in 2009 in the midst of what can only be described as a category five economic financial hurricane. Over and over I am gratified to hear that the balance sheet of the Delaware Valley School District is stable and holding firm. This stability comes from the lasting principle of a balanced budget with adequate reserves.
Perhaps at the top of all priorities of a school director is the physical safety of children and staff. With that comes the need to make sure that the significant campus infrastructure is maintained in top working condition and not let to fall into disrepair or become a danger or a hazard. One of the most immediate and pressing problems I faced was that of the water system at the Dingman -Delaware campus. Previous School Boards, more interested in zero tax increases than being responsible stewards of community assets, lead to years of Board neglect and/or band-aid repairs that had not come close to fixing the underlying problem. The system of water supply and distribution at the Dingman-Delaware campus needed a major overhaul. The price tag was estimated to be one million dollars.
I saw fit to increase the funding of the capital expenditures reserve to the amount of $950,000 per year, which represents just 1 percent of the estimated total district infrastructure values of $95 million dollars. I provided board members with documents that showed an annual contribution to the CAPEX Reserve should be between 1 to 3 percent of total values. Such a reserve when properly funded would provide a stable inflow of cash to meet the capital replacement needs of deteriorating roofs, furnaces and HVAC systems, crumbling roadways etc. etc., that make up the campus capital infrastructure, for years on end.
Now here is the fact to face. To fund the CAPEX Reserve you have to raise the funds from the General Fund which derives its funding from the taxpayers of the DV school district. Hence I recommended a tax increase which I do not regret to this day. I am fortunate to see that in the next few weeks the new water supply and distribution facility at the Dingman-Delaware campus will come online. Clean drinkable fresh water trumps a modest tax increase in my mind.
It has been disappointing , however, to see the $950,000 annual allocation to the CAPEX Reserve reduced first to $440,000 in order to bring the 2008-09 current year tax increase down to the politically correct amount of zero demanded by the Taxpayers United crowd lead by Bob Goldsack. Undoubtedly we have returned to putting politics above safety. Indeed many needed capital projects remain to be done. One just needs to ask to see the list of projects handed out at Long Range Planning Committee meetings. To make matters worse for the future is the fact that Mr. Silverstone ,who is now Chairman of BFA at DV has reduced the CAPEX Reserve funding for 2009-10 to zero. This is not only irresponsible but could prove to shake and unhinge the stability of DV finances. Thus a future DV School Board will be left once again to act responsibly and fund the CAPEX Reserve to an acceptable reasonable level so that student safety is never again compromised.
Best regards,
Jack Fisher
Thursday, November 27
Friday, November 21
Board goes back on word, now says there will be no new elementary school
According to an article on PoconoNews.net about Thursday night's school board meeting, the majority of the board has decided to pull plans for a new Delaware Valley Elementary School off the agenda, with no plans for "long range" planning for the next three to six months.
This contradicts a commitment by board president Bob Goldsack in January, at which time he publicly stated there would be a new elementary school built.
The decision is based on the poor state of the economy.
Courier roundup: New DVES, top students, thank you
- Elementary school debate continues
- Dingman Delaware Middle School (honor roll)
- October’s best at Delaware Valley Middle School
- On the recent seniors’ dinner at DVMS (letter to the editor about the DDMS senior citizens dinner; the title is misleading)
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