School Budget and Board of Election Results
- Category: Schools
- Published: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 23:31

Suzanne Seiden

Jill Spieler

Elizabeth Guggenheimer
Rain did not deter voters and the Middle School gym was busy all day. When the polls closed at 9 pm, a group of more than 100 people gathered to await the results. In the crowd were the School Board administration, current and past members of the School Board, representatives from the PT Council and PTA's, and campaign supporters. Due to the high number of absentee ballots, 47 in all, the counting was slow and suspense built as the group waited to hear the tally. Former Trustee Dan Hochvert announced the numbers, leaving the results of the Seiden-Harrison race to the end. District Clerk Lois Rehm put in a 15 hour day at the polls, from the opening at 7 am to the 10 pm announcement of the results.

Lewis Leone
This year, after Harrison threw his hat into the race, a local campaign was set in motion. Seiden was backed by Friends of Slate 2010, a committee formed to defend the non-partisan system and the candidates selected by the SBNC. The group wrote letters, sent emails, made phone calls and posted signs all over town. Harrison also campaigned hard, taking out ads, meeting voters at the train station, utilizing robo-calls and even taping a half hour television interview that appeared on cable television. The two candidates spoke at a forum presented by the League of Women Voters and the flurry of activity surrounding the election spurred discussion.
Harrison, a frequent speaker at School Board meetings contended that local school taxes are too high and prevent young families from moving in and force older people to move out. Citing high teacher’s salaries and high budget reserves, Harrison argued that the School Board needed a member with financial expertise. With 28 years at Goldman Sachs and his career as a financial advisor, Harrison argued that he could help the Board to make sound decisions.

Bob Harrison
The Edgemont School Budget also passed, with 764 yes to 222 no votes. The Edgemont budget passed by what is believed to be the largest margin in Westchester County. The Edgemont School Board Nominating Committee Slate won the four open seats. David Stern, David Chao and Tom McCormack were each elected to three-year terms and Gerry Stoughton was elected to serve the remaining two-year term vacated by Allan Pepper who resigned earlier this year. Chao, a former board president received 740 votes, McCormack was second with 710 votes, Stern received 689 votes and Stoughton received 660 votes. Independent candidate Caroline Tzelios trailed the SBNC nominees with 505 votes and failed to win a seat on the Edgemont School Board.

Seiden Campaign Team