Access to [All] Candidate Information

We are in that slow period… The Primary Election is old news.  The General Election is still too far away to be newsworthy.

Nevertheless, some things are happening.

  • WXXI has recorded Candidate Free Airtime messages. Update: here is Willa Powell’s Candidate Free Airtime message. Our observation is that the School Board Candidates are buried in a long list of candidates across Monroe County, therefore, we will be posting the links for the 6 candidates that participated here as soon as they become available. Second update: WXXI announce that the School Board candidates will air at 5:50 PM on Nov 3.
    In alphabetical order:

    • More candidate forums/debates are on the calendar:
    • The League of Women Voters is gathering information about candidates (nationally no-less) and feeding visitors websit visitors (www.vote411.org)information about all the races in their district.  Visitors need to input their address, and it returns all the information available.

    • Mary Adams – Candidate Free Airtime message.

    Howard Eagle – Candidate Free Airtime message.

    Malik Evans – Candidate Free Airtime message.

    Mia Hodgins – Candidate Free Airtime message.

    Willa Powell – Candidate Free Airtime message.

    Wallace Smith – Candidate Free Airtime message.

    Thursday, October 13, 6:30 PM: NAACP sponsored debate at the Phyllis Wheatley library on Ford St.

    Wednesday, October 19, 6:00 PM: Center for Disability Rights sponsored forum at Stardust Ballroom, Edgerton Rec Center

    Wednesday, October 19, 6:00 PM: The Community Place sponsored forum at 145 Parsells Ave.

    Thursday, October 20, 6:00 PM: Delta Sigma Theta sponsored forum at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church on Adams St.

    Friday, October 21, 6:00 PM: Frederick Douglass Resource Center sponsored forum on King St. Oops, not really a candidate forum, or even a meet the candidate night. That will take place on the 28th.

    Monday, October 24, 6:00 PM: Rochester Parent and Community Coalition for Education Change sponsored forum at Third Presbyterian Church on Meigs St.

    Tuesday, October 25, 7:00 PM: Highland Park Neighborhood Association Change sponsored Meet the Candidates Night at 171 Reservoir Dr in Highland Park.

    Wednesday, October 26, 6:00 PM: Parent Council and the Bilingual Council are sponsoring a Candidates Forum at MCC Damon City Center, 228 East Main St.

    Frday, October 28, 6:00 PM: Voice of the Electorate In Rochester (VOTER) is sponsoring a Candidate Forum at Frederick Douglass Resource Center 36 King Street

    Monday, November 7, 6:00 PM: Frederick Douglass Resource Center sponsored forum on King St.

    The races are presented as they appear on the ballot: highest level of government first, with each race having their own “page”.  Because there are three county-wide seats, one county legislature seat, and one city council seat that all rate as higher levels of government, folks who want to see the school board candidates need to visit Page 6.

    Just want to see Willa’s responses? That would be a shame, because those candidates that have posted responses have done a pretty good job.   But, here they are:

    What are the top 2 or 3 priorities for the Rochester City School District? Why?

    As Chair of the Finance Committee my top two priorities are fiscal.

    My first priority is to focus our financial resources on what works and try to expand those; identify what doesn’t work, and stop funding those. Not all functions cost money, and not all solutions cost money, so the inverse process is also needed. What needs District attention, and how do we drive adequate funding to it?

    My second priority is funding RCSD generally. NY State has failed to live up to the Contract for Excellence Funding promised by Gov Spitzer in 2008. What institutions refer to as structural deficit is what I call structural disenfranchisement. Although all parties agree on the level of funding that high-needs districts require, the NYS legislature is not willing to provide that adequate funding. Furthermore, the City of Rochester’s commitment to school aid is flat (will not decrease by law). Between the two, there are no resources to cover rising costs.

    Do you believe the mayor should appoint the Superintendent of Schools? Why or why not?

    I oppose mayoral control as an antidemocratic proposal that will do nothing to improve our schools. We should be exerting our energies on what will directly improve our schools and our student’s performance. Mayoral control conversations, to date, have not even produced any interesting ideas about what we can do differently (besides putting mayoral appointees in charge).