Vote for Me (and Judy)

John Fielding

Well, Election Day is here at last.  Finally the end to people harrumphing through campaign speeches, pointing with pride and viewing with alarm.

I realize that the voters of the Antietam School District have about had it with the high taxes and dubious expenditures.  I realize also that it is tempting to turn out all incumbents and start fresh.  However, a few words with you first.

New people are, yes, new.  As such they are untried and, frankly, unpredictable.  After all, in 2008, America thought it wanted change and look how well that turned out.  With incumbency, you have the advantage of examining records.

I would urge you to consider mine.  I have voted against every single budget containing a tax increase.  There has only been one that has not had one.  There is a tendency in government to spend every dime because it is there.  Because there is no end of "wish lists."  And as it is in our own personal economies, at some point we must all say that we can't have it all.

Antietam has spent money for positions it did not really need because of artificial "requirements" placed on itself.  Some board in the past established some policy that said that our administrative staff salaries needed to be pegged at a certain amount relative to the rest of the county and many on the board have just gone along with it.  I have complained about it since I was elected.  You don't hear a lot about it because the discussion is in executive session because it comes under the heading of personnel.

We have decided that we "need" a certain student to teacher ratio, and, as a result, we must hire more professional staff to reach, once again, an artificial requirement.

I must say, this talk of executive sessions causes me to reminisce fondly regarding my first executive session on the board.  It was actually called for the express purpose of yelling at me.

I won in 2003, but did not take my seat until December, 2003.  The board had negotiated a new teachers' contract that called for an 18.4 percent salary increase over five years (not counting step increases).  However, the way the law is written, the public does not know anything or get to comment until the board votes to ratify the deal.  I didn't like that so after the teachers ratified the contract but before the board could vote, I leaked the summary of the contract to the Eagle.  Hoo boy.  Charlie Gerhart told me in the executive session that "we don't know if we can trust you."  I replied, "That's easy, Charlie; you've known me since 1997.  Of course you can't'"

They still can't, a fact of which I am proud.

Because I am not elected to get along with people or to be a team player.  I am elected to represent the interests of those that elect me as I see them.  The day that I don't do that the people have every right to throw me out.

But I believe have represented those interests and wish to continue doing so.

In my time on the board, I have always had an ally.  In my first term it was Lisa Iezzi and, for a brief period, Cliff DeFrees.  In this term, it has been Judy Swartz.  We don't always agree, but we do more often than not. If you wish to return me to office, I would appreciate your vote for Judy as well.

Well, that's about it.  Oh, about those signs.  Yeah, they're ugly.  But they fit my unofficial campaign slogan, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am that cheap."

And, as it turns out, they are the perfect signs to represent me (and Judy).

Please vote for us, John Fielding and Judy Swartz, for Antietam School Board.