However, I always find generalizations about what Democrats and Republicans want and fight for offensive. As a life-long Democrat, I signed petitions, wrote letters, and spoke at meeting in favor of an elected school board. Was I not supposed to do this because I am a Democrat? Every time the governor sent a solicitation for money (after I wrote a letter about supporting the elected school board), I would respond with: “Please sign Harford County’s elected school board bill.” I did not realize that because I am a Democrat I could not support the elected school board. Many of my friends, who are also Democrats, will be surprised to learn that they should not have supported the elected school board because of their party affiliation.

And, as Del. Riley stated, the governor did appoint a Republican in the last round. At that time, I was hoping that Nancy Reynolds would be appointed because she is also a straight-shooter. However, the powers that be in Harford County only sent forward two names for two vacancies and I found that supremely arrogant on the part of those making nominations. Two names for two seats did not give the Governor choices, so he made his own.

I guess we can wait and see who the next appointee is to fill Mr. Hess’s seat.

No one is judging Osman – we are judging the system that gave him the position.

I hope the elected board works out but to proclaim it a victory for education is to early. It could turn out to be worse then before. Elections are every bit about connections and politics then appointments. Lynch mob mentalities could give us horrible BOE members.

I hear good things about Mr. Osman and ferventyly hope that he is responsive and collaborative with all the stakeholders.

But let me state what everyone knows already. The arrogance of the political insiders here is an absolute disgrace. Everyone knows that Mr. Wolkow and Delegate James, with a few others, pulled the strings here in firing Mr. Merrell (just as they were the main players in ignoring the best nominees while deciding who got the last 2 appointments). It doesn’t matter to James or Wolkow that they were made fools of, by themselves and by others, during the fight over board elections. For the time being, they have the power, thru the governor, to make these appointments, and they are wielding that power. That is why they fought so dishonestly (and, thankfully, so incompetently) to maintain that power. They lost; and their loss was education’s victory.
But this proves more strongly than ever why the political appointment process is so bad for our kids and why elections of school board members cannot come soon enough! On this Independence Day, God Bless Democracy. Thank you to our Delegates McComas, Riley, Jennings, Norman, McDonough, Impallaria and Stifler; And our Senators Glassman, Harris and Jacobs.

It is because time is of the essence these days and folks are sick and tired of the political games a chosen few play with our future.

Let’s pray you are right.
However, Can you understand why folks are suspicious of political appointees these days?

My kids are grown and out of the public school system.
I can see both side from the fence I sit.