2010 School Board Races in St. Joseph County

UPDATE: More information on the South Bend School Board At-Large Candidates:

Click Here

We apologize for the non-comprehensive nature of this information–it is difficult to pull together much about school board candidates.  However, for that very reason it is our goal, and as information has been requested specifically about the P-H-M School Corporation, we are endeavoring to bring together what we can.  If you are a candidate or have information from/about a candidate, please email us at citizensforcommonsense@gmail.com and we will update this post as soon as possible.

A South Bend Tribune article dated August 24th has a listing of all the St. Joseph County School Board candidates.

Aside from that, here is the information I have so far:

John Glenn School Corporation:

The best information out there is to read the article, otherwise all I have is this link to their official site that lists their names and offices:

http://board.jgsc.k12.in.us/

New Prairie School Corporation:

The best information out there is to read the article, I have not found anything more helpful.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation:

This is an excellent website about the current members and the candidates with links next to the candidates for a little further information:

http://www.phm.k12.in.us/schoolboard

Because I (“webmaster” currently posting to this blog) live in this school corporation I was able to grab some literature at their “Meet the Candidates” event.  The presence or absence of campaign literature in no way endorses or marks preference for any of these candidates.

Click on the name of the candidate below to view campaign literature, if available:

Harris District:

Larry Romero

For video footage from WBST, Click Here

Madison District:

Larry Beehler

For video footage from WBST, Click Here

Penn District:

Jason Critchlow

For video footage from WBST, Click Here

Karyn Jaye Galloway

For video footage from WBST, Click Here

At Large:

Marcel Lebbin

For video footage from WBST, Click Here

Shawn Todd

For video footage from WBST, Click Here

Chris Riley

he has a Facebook page here: Chris Riley for P-H-M School Board

For video footage from WBST, Click Here

South Bend School Corporation

UPDATE: See the Tribune’s October 29th article on At-Large Candidates,

Click Here

While the Tribune article still has the best accumulated information, this is the site fr the school board:

https://www.edline.net/pages/SouthBendCSC/School_Board

in the “Election Information” section there are maps to identify which districts are which:

https://www.edline.net/GroupHome.page

Union North United School Corporation:

Again, the best information out there is to read the Tribune article, other than that this is the link to their school board section which has options to view minutes and agendas, but not specific members or candidates:

http://www.unorth.k12.in.us/Admin/admin-schoolboard.htm

Selective Transcript from “Meet The Candidates Night” 9/28/2010

While creating a transcript for the entire night would be a very long process, we have been attempting to generate a transcript from the most requested portion–the exchange between candidate for State Treasurer Pete Buttigieg (D), current State Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R), and several citizens in the audience.

Beginning at  about 12:11, our transcript thus far reads:

(regarding fighting the bailout of Chrysler)

Peter Buttigieg

…and I know that point was heartfelt, and sincere, and its a lot to the Treasurer and it probably means a lot to you–but I would ask you to consider the importance of weighing  the-the wrecking ball that would have gone through Indiana’s economy in order to prove this point. A point, by the way, which is not as obvious to most as it is obvious to the Treasurer.  There is a reason all that the lawsuit was rejected, and there is a reason that the Supreme Court declined to even give the case a hearing.

Richard Mourdock

That’s not true—they took the case Peter, they took the case on December 14^th.

Peter Buttigieg

They remanded it for a…vacant—they vacated the summary judgment

Richard Mourdock

They took the case and they

Peter Buttigieg

Without at all weighing in on the merits of the case, as you know.  As you know, now here’s the other-

Richard Mourdock

…..egregious failure of due process

Peter Buttigieg

I believe the Supreme Court is entitled to say who had due process and in June, they didn’t think it was worth listening to—but I’m not- I’m not going to convince you, I know that.  I know that.  And I respect your passion.  And I’m probably not going to convince a lot of you.

Citizen Attendee 1

…

Peter Buttigieg

Well yes, and they and the Supreme Court-

Citizen Attendee 1

…

Peter Buttigieg

And the Supreme Court’s charged with upholding the Constitution.

Citizen Attendee 2

The whole bankruptcy-the whole bankruptcy went around the Constitution-WRONG. No matter what explanation you give me, listen that bankruptcy went around the Constitution. Game. Set. Match.

Peter Buttigieg

The Constitution-

Following this, the discourse was interrupted by virtue of a limited time allotment and unplanned crowd interaction–Citizens for Common Sense regrets that, upon reviewing footage, Peter Buttigieg may have had further to say on this issue.

Evan Bayh on the Fiscal Status of Washington

Check out this surprising piece by Evan Bayh in the Wall Street Journal!
If you find yourself wanting to write to Senator Bayh (perhaps to encourage him to vote accordingly on issues you are following), feel free to use this link:

www.bayh.senate.gov/contact/email

Published on September 18, 2009 Why Washington Must Restrain Spending By Evan Bayh America is on an unsustainable fiscal path that threatens our future. Changing course is imperative, and Democrats should lead the way. Last month the Office of Management and Budget predicted that the national debt will increase by $9 trillion over the next decade—$2 trillion more than forecast just four months earlier. Government net interest payments exceed $1 trillion in 2019, up from $382 billion this year. Because projected deficits exceed projected economic growth, the gap will be self-perpetuating. The consequences of all this will not be benign. A world saturated with U.S. currency will eventually look elsewhere to invest, causing the dollar’s value to drop; foreign creditors, their confidence shaken by our fiscal profligacy, will demand higher payments to keep holding our debt. The net effect will be “stagflation,” that pernicious combination of slower growth, higher inflation and interest rates, and lower living standards Americans suffered through in the 1970s. These events will diminish our global influence, because fiscal strength is essential to diplomatic leverage, military might and national significance. No great nation can rely upon the generosity of strangers or the forbearance of potential adversaries to meet its security needs. America is doing both. China uses its monetary reserves to curry favor in developing countries once in the U.S. sphere of influence; we must borrow to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Worst of all is the legacy we will leave. From the “Greatest Generation” we inherited an America that is the strongest, most affluent, freest nation on earth. On our present course, our children will not. We violate a fundamental part of our national character by taking from our children to satisfy our desires today. Congress’s initial reaction to our fiscal peril has not been encouraging. The $410 billion omnibus spending bill passed in March increased domestic discretionary spending by 8% and included more than 8,000 earmarks. This year’s budget contemplates domestic discretionary increases of nearly 9%, three times the rate of inflation. If the past is any guide, it will include thousands of new earmarks. Any serious effort to control the deficit must begin with spending restraint. Efficiency and frugality, common virtues in the private sector, must be incorporated into government. Congress should enact health-care reform that actually lowers the deficit. For the next fiscal year, assuming the economy has gathered sufficient momentum, we should freeze domestic discretionary spending, limit increases in defense spending to the rate of inflation, forgo pay raises for federal workers, and institute a federal hiring freeze. These steps alone won’t put our fiscal house in order; more difficult action is needed. But by showing common cause with middle-class families facing their own budget crises, we can send an important signal that Washington has the will to chart a more responsible course. In many ways, it is unfair to blame President Barack Obama for the magnitude of federal government’s fiscal problem and the urgency of dealing with it. He didn’t create this mess. According to a New York Times estimate, 90% of the deficit growth over Mr. Obama’s first term in office is attributable to policies and conditions he inherited. Regardless, if we wait for the markets to force corrective action, the danger to our economy will be greater and the correction more painful. Spending restraint will not come easily to the Democratic Party. Pent-up demand for investment in education, health care and the environment is understandable after the Bush years. But long-term progressive government can’t be built on a foundation of debt and deficits. We cannot indefinitely share with the less-fortunate resources we do not possess. Ultimately, a growing economy with increased revenues and a stable national balance sheet are the best guarantors of social progress. Fortunately, fiscal probity is not entirely alien to Democrats’ DNA. Andrew Jackson eliminated the national debt during his presidency. Harry Truman restored balance to the federal budget following World War II. John F. Kennedy cut taxes to stimulate growth. Bill Clinton left the nation’s finances so secure that some worried about the size of prospective surpluses. As Indiana’s governor, I cut spending during difficult times, balanced the budget, and didn’t raise taxes. When times improved and revenue increased, we used the surplus to invest in progressive priorities that made our state more humane. This approach found favor with people across the ideological spectrum. Conservatives were happy that budgets were balanced and taxes kept modest. Progressives ultimately saw the fruits of our discipline in higher funding for the things we cherish. The choice is clear. We can take the path of least resistance and ignore the impending day of reckoning. Or we can do what is necessary to right the fiscal ship of state and lay a foundation for prudent, progressive government for a generation. I believe Barack Obama will choose the responsible course. If he does, he will find kindred spirits in our party prepared to help. Mr. Bayh is a Democratic senator from Indiana and a former two-term governor of that state.

Citizens for Common Sense, Inc.
PO Box 226
Granger, IN  46530

Ph. (574) 272-7606

CitizensforCommonSense.info

9/12 March

Missing the 9/12

March on Washington?

You can be a part of it right here in Michiana!

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009

do these two things:

1) Watch Glenn Beck’s coverage of the 9/12 March on DC from 1-3 pm at any location where you can view it, and

2) Come March on South Bend 4-5 pm!

Wear patriotic shirts, bring flags, bring signs!

We’re going to carry on the march here at home – where these issues apply at the local level, too!

Meet at Leighton Plaza (130 S. Main),

march past Sen. Evan Bayh’s office,

then past Rep. Joe Donnelly’s office,

and past the County-City Building

(with Obama HQ across the street).

Parking available along streets or in parking garage on S. Main.

Keep abreast of announcements at www.citizensforcommonsense.info

or call Kelly Havens at 272-7606.

Citizens for Common Sense, Inc.
PO Box 226
Granger, IN  46530

Ph. (574) 272-7606

CitizensforCommonSense.info