Hartford: Elections TODAY for Board of Education

With all the media attention surrounding the national elections, citizens may have not noticed that there is an extremely important election here in Hartford: that for the three available seats on the Board of Education. There have been several forums around the city to educate voters on their choices between the status quo of the Democratic ticket, the constantly changing Republican ticket, and the Working Families Party ticket consisting of two incumbents and a CREC teacher, Robert Cotto, Jr.* Two blogs that have been doing excellent jobs following the campaigns and forums are Real Hartford and Hartford Cityline (who has profiles of the individual nominees).

If there is to be any change that will truly effect our school system, then we must VOTE ROW C, Working Families Party candidates Elizabeth Brad Noel (a long time advocate for the students of Hartford Public Schools since her days at Weaver High School), Robert Cotto (a product of the Hartford Public School system, teaching its students at a magnet school in Bloomfield who knows what teachers need to educate the students), and Sharon Patterson Stallings (a parent and grandparent of students in the system and advocate for change).

The Board of Education consists of 8 members, 5 appointed by the mayor and 3 elected by the people. For such an important role, that is horrendously disproportionate. It offers very little debate between political powers and the voice of the people. As an unaffiliated voter, I take no comfort in knowing that one political party mandates the single most important entity that is responsible for educating the future of our city and nation. Children in Hartford have historically been underserved in the education system. While the 3 members for the people may seem small, the voices of the people will be carried by the Working Families Party to make certain the children of Hartford and their teachers will succeed.

*(Disclaimer: I've known Robert Cotto, Jr. for several years and consider him a friend.)