Slater, Walker, Leiz Win BOE Seats, Budget Passes

Challenger Mitch Slater unseated incumbent board member Richard Solomon to capture a seat on the Board of Education, with a record turnout of voters re-electing incumbents Julia Walker and Ginny Leiz and approving the school budget on Tuesday.

Slater led the balloting with 3,694 votes followed by Walker with 3,428 votes and Leiz with 3,034 votes. Solomon received 2,860 votes. The school budget passed with 3,461 yes votes and 3,114 voters choosing to vote no.

Many BOE officials centered their attention on the passage of the budget. The budget had been considered a contentious issue in Westfield since Gov. Chris Christie announced on March 16 that he was cutting state aid to the school system by $4.22 million. The budget includes a four percent tax increase and 31 layoffs, a result of the state aid cut.

"I think the vote is a testament to the voters of Westfield," Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan said. "The voters voted for a budget to support the education of the students."

Dolan said that while the budget passed the discussions about the district's finances will continue and she expects more discussions to occur between the district administration and the bargaining units representing employees. Dolan and the bargaining unit leaders have been meeting regularly since the governor's decision to cut state aid. The discussions have resulted in administrators announcing $55,000 in give backs to the school district.

"Westfield values excellence in public eduction," Dolan said. "The board, staff and administration will redouble our efforts to make sure each of our children receives the best."

Leiz, who was re-elected to her fourth term on the board, put the budget passage ahead of her victory in her comments Tuesday evening. She said she was pleased by the budget's passage, noting that she saw the electorate valuing the Board of Education's work to create a lean budget.

Turning to her own re-election victory, Leiz said she is ready to start her fourth term.

"I'm ecstatic," said Leiz, the board president for the last three years. "I look forward to serving another three years. This is a real passion of mine. I am totally gratified."

Walker, who was elected to her third full term on Tuesday night, also placed the budget victory at the forefront of her thoughts. The finance committee chairwoman, Walker noted the budget shows that voters value education in town and that they wanted to see the budget implemented. She also stressed what she sees as the privilege she has in serving another three years.

"I am thrilled," said Walker, the current board vice president. "This is a privilege. I recognize the opportunity to improve the education we offer our children."

Slater, a first-time candidate who won an overwhelming victory in the Second Ward in order to place first in the election, was excited to capture a seat on the board. A financial adviser by profession, Slater ran a competitive race, knocking on doors, placing lawn signs around town and communicating via a Facebook group dedicated to his campaign. Centering his race on opposition to the recently ratified teachers' contract, a need to change the high school guidance department and increasing communication between the BOE and the public, Slater was one of the most visible local candidates in recent years. He was the only challenger to the three incumbents.

Slater credits his victory to the campaign he ran.

"I am overwhelmed and gratified that people heard my message and took action and gave me the opportunity to serve," he said. "I would say my victory is a combination of my campaign and my message. I represent change in a year of great unhappiness. People have not been satisfied."

Noting he was pleased that the budget passed, Slater said he believes that there are still financial needs that must be discussed in the budget. He renewed his call for a study of the contract and of a possible salary freeze for teachers in the coming year. While calling for continued study, he stressed his support for the budget passage.

"Though I felt it would not be Armageddon if it didn't pass, I believe the passing of the budget sends a message of how important educational excellence is to the people of Westfield," he said.

Solomon said that while he is disappointed that he will not be serving a fourth term on the board, he is pleased by the budget passage. The current facilities committee chairman and a finance committee member, Solomon lost in what was his first competitive political race.

"Nine years is a long time to serve," he said. "It was the most rewarding thing I've every done. I am happy to have served the community and I plan to remain involved."

Solomon was an outspoken defender of the teachers contract, which he helped negotiate. During several of the BOE budget meetings in March, he bore the brunt of resident anger for his support of the contract, which includes a 3.9-percent raise and increased health care give backs and co-pays for teachers. Solomon noted in public statements that the contract will result in a .8-percent increase for the district based on an analysis done by the BOE.

Solomon said he believes that his staunch defense of the contract, which generated opposition from residents townwide, along with Slater, played a role in his defeat on Tuesday night.

"Anytime someone is outspoken about something that fuels controversy it could play a role," he said.

Voter approval of the budget prevents a replay of 2005 when the budget was sent to the Town Council for review and likely cuts. Several Council members who were present at the vote count in the town clerk's office Tuesday night showed visible happiness that the budget passed. Acting Mayor Mark Ciarrocca said he is pleased the public voted the way that they did.

"The vote was the people's confidence in what the Board of Education has done," he said.

Westfield's voter turnout on Tuesday was the highest school election turnout in history, topping 1964 when slightly over 6,500 residents voted. Some 6,620 residents voted in Tuesday's election, or 31-percent of the electorate. According to Berman, typically 15-percent of the electorate votes in BOE elections.

During the 2009 election, one of the few competitive school elections in recent years, 4,815 votes were cast in the budget portion of the vote.