Candidates' Forum

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="044005a0exvipq.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastside Republican Club"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B>  </B><B> </B></FONT><B>  | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><B>Eastside Republican Club</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B>Events</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="eastside_republican_review_summary.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ERC Review"><U><B>ERC Review</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><B>Congressional District News</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="civic___governmental_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="erc_officers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Candidates' Forum</B></div> <div> <A HREF="link_to_michigan_gop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michigan Republicans"><U><B><IMG SRC="05358580.gif" border=0 width="88" height="88" ALT="Michigan GOP" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/"><U><I><B>Your Sample Ballot</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><I><B>Congressional District News</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_testimonials.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Theyre Saying About Us"><U><I><B>Read what they've said about us</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B><IMG SRC="81b871f0.gif" border=0 width="135" height="31" ALT=">>Events" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <A NAME="top_of_page"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <I><U>Other Races Discussed</U></I></div> <div> <B>Public School Board Candidates</B></div> <div> <B>Featured at October ERC Forum</B></div> <div>   by Rosalie Wattrick</div> <div> “Here's why you should vote for me,” was the message from candidates appearing at the October 20, 2009, Eastside Republican Club Forum held at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.</div> <div> Three seats on the seven-member <A HREF="http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/1767101013113612847/site/default.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/1767101"><U>Grosse Pointe Public School System board</U></A> are up for election on the non-partisan ballot Tuesday, November 3, 2009.<IMG SRC="1917fac30.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="195" ALT="ERC chairman John Chouinard, left, with Public School Board candidates at October Forum." ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="6"></div> <div> Two members will be elected for a normal four-year term, and one for the remaining three years of the seat recently vacated by resigning member <A HREF="http://ahmedismail.typepad.com/points/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://ahmedismail.typepad.com/points/"><U>Ahmed Ismail</U></A>.</div> <div> For the pair of four-year seats, only incumbent Joan Dindoffer of the Park is seeking re-election. Others in the race for the two seats are Anthony Ambrogio of the Park, Tom Jakubiec of the Woods, George McMullen of the Woods, and Michelle Peabody of the Park. The two with the highest number of votes will be elected for a term expiring in 2013.</div> <div> Separately, two other candidates are vying for a single board seat with three years remaining in the term expiring in 2012. They are Cindy Pangborn of the Woods, and Karl Kratz of the Shores who was appointed by the Board in August 2009 to serve for five months.</div> <div> Each of the seven school board candidates was introduced and given a few moments to present his or her position.</div> <div> <I><B>School Board Candidate Snap Shots</B></I></div> <div> Dindoffer, an attorney spoke of the distinct importance of maintaining academic excellence in our schools, accomplishing large budget cuts in recent years, and the need for necessary cuts going forward. She emphasized her proven leadership on the board for the last several years.<A HREF="https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/"><U><IMG SRC="18ff644d0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="77" ALT="View your sample ballot" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="2" VSPACE="2"></U></A></div> <div> Ambrogio is running on the idea that we need to cut the budget again, but we also need to be reasonable in our approach. He said the board must maintain the quality of education in order to enhance the strength of the community.</div> <div> Jakubiec maintained that he is an independent thinker, and feels strong about residency validation, security in the schools, closing the test performance gap, and reviewing our overall spending.</div> <div> McMullen, a lifelong resident of the Pointes, touched on the importance of academic achievement in the schools, better communication with our citizens on school operations, transparency of finances, and residency issues.</div> <div> Peabody reminded the audience of her depth of experience, and her desire to address management and budgetary issues.</div> <div> Kratz stated that he is focused on reviewing and addressing issues such as the budget, residency, class size, security and transparency.</div> <div> Pangborn stressed her past experience on the board, and her plan to focus on security, residency and communication.</div> <div> <I><B>Three Grosse Pointe Park Council Incumbents Seek Reelection</B></I></div> <div> Two of the three candidates running for re-election to <A HREF="id383.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grosse Pte Park Council"><U>Grosse Pointe Park city council</U></A> also were briefly introduced.</div> <div> Dan Grano emphasized what he saw as a need for transparency on the budget and community redevelopment initiatives. Garno also covered his commitment to environmental issues such as proper trash handling and recycling.</div> <div> Shirley Kennedy, a Park resident since 1954, talked about her experience with the planning commission, and her zeal for selling the Park's reputation. She has been active in promoting the community's reputation as an excellent place to raise a family with the beauty of its municipal parks, recreational facilities, and the excellent public school system.</div> <div> Jim Robson was unable to attend, but has been a diligent advocate of keeping property values high and redeveloping the rental property areas of the Park.</div> <div> <I><B>Judge Jarboe Seeks Reelection as Park Municipal Judge</B></I></div> <div> Judge Jarboe highlighted four core principles that he follows in providing even handed decisions: equality of justice regardless of all other factors, respect for the citizen, right to be heard, and explanation of his decision. Judge Jarboe has served on the Park municipal bench for 15 years.</div> <div> The Eastside Republican Club Forum is held on the third Tuesday of every month from September through June at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Admission to the Forum is free and the public is always welcome.</div> <div> For more information about Eastside Republican Club programs, <A HREF="mailto:webmaster@eastside-republican-club.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:"><U>contact us</U></A>.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="6" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="709" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD > <tR> <tD VALIGN=BOTTOM HEIGHT= 65 WIDTH="695"><div> <I><B>View Your Sample Municipal Ballot Now!</B></I></div> <div> The Michigan Voter Information Center provides an assortment of information related to voter registration and election administration in Michigan, including an advanced look at a sample of your local ballot. >><A HREF="https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/"><U><I>U</I></U></A><A HREF="https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/"><U><I>se one of two search options for registration information or to view a sample ballot</I></U></A>. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="#top_of_page" TITLE="Candidates Forum"><U>back to top</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>