Bloomfield Declines to Make BOE Run

And then there were four.

Daniel Bloomfield announced Thursday that he will not be seeking a seat on the Board of Education in the April election. Bloomfield had signed out a petition to run for one of three board seats up for election this year, but said that he would not have the time to serve if elected.

"As I talked to board members on what is involved it is remarkable how much time they spend," he said, citing committee work in addition to the full board meetings.

Bloomfield cited commitments to several non-profits boards as his main reason for not running for the school board this year. He currently serves on the board of Seed, a non-profit which works with other non-profit groups. He is also involved in church activities in the community.

Bloomfield said that professional commitments also played a role in his decision to not run this year. A pharmaceutical executive with Merck, Bloomfield said the time commitments involved with Merck's purchase of Schering Plough prevent him from make the race. Bloomfield said that his study of current Board of Education operations led him to believe that there was no need for change in the current board.

"I did not feel a lot of pressure that we need to put new board member on there," he said. "I was impressed by those who are doing it."

Board President Ginny Leiz and board member Richard Solomon have declared their candidacies for fourth terms on the board, while newcomer Mitch Slater has announced his bid for a board seat. Board Vice President Julia Walker has signed out petitions to run for her third full term, but has not turned them into the board secretary's office. Petitions are available at the board secretary's office on Elm Street and are due back to the board secretary by 4 p.m. on Monday.

Bloomfield said that while he is not seeking a seat this year, he is not closing the door entirely to one day making a race for the board.

"I could potentially be a candidate next year," he said.