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| Korry Franke |
Korry Franke was upset that McClure failed to explain in detail the criteria he used to choose commissioners. "The most important criteria we used was hope," tweeted McClure. "The hope that these volunteers would agree to accept the appointment and serve."
Franke called this answer "unacceptable and irresponsible." He called on Council to require nominees to state whether they agree that voting at schools creates an additional risk to children. He wants them to agree to use schools as an election site only if there is no acceptable alternative. Finally, he wants Commissioners to agree to move voting from Butz Elementary because the Bushkill Volunteer Fire Co. has agreed to make its facility available. Franke said that McClure should be relying on more than mere hope. "Otherwise, we're left to wonder whether these selections might have been made, perhaps,out of personal or party loyalty," he said in a prepared statement. He added that "the outdated practice of using schools as polling places needs to end."
McClure made no attempt to defend himself. So let me. As I told Franke at the meeting, he needs to read the Home Rule Charter. If he did, he'd know that Executive McClure has very little discretion with these nominations. The Executive receives three names from the party that gets the greatest number of votes, and two names from the party having the second highest vote total. He can make his own nominations only if the party chairs refuse to provide him with a list. It is completely political because that is what the Charter provides.
I happen to believe the Charter is wrong, and this is one of the many reasons why I advocated a home rule charter study. But we're stuck with it.
One of the names that McClure received, Maude Hornick, happens to be the sister of GOP county chair Lee Snover. I am sure she was selected precisely because of her party loyalty. Another nominee, George Treisner, is a long-time Dem Committeeman. It's all about party loyalty.
Though it's hard for a politician to ignore a petition signed by 1700 people, I see nothing wrong with voting at a public school. I see no public safety issues and in 2007, a Northampton County Court ruled that a school district must make its facilities available for voting.
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ReplyDeleteStop posting here, Mezzacrazy.
ReplyDeleteThe Bushkill School is fine. People can be shot anywhere. Why are kids’ lives more valuable than adults?
ReplyDeleteThis is a waste of time, energy and propriety. There is nothing wrong with the current system, supported by the courts, so leave it alone.
ReplyDeleteI suppose an alternative place to hold elections are churches. That way people can pray to God that they vote for the best candidate.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this guy has political ambitions and is trying to make a name for himself, but I'll take him as being on the level here. A few thoughts:
ReplyDelete1) I think wanting to move polling places from schools is an over-reaction. I think both can safely coexist, given some common sense measures.
2) Where possible, the voting area should be able to be locked off from the rest of the building, preferably with its own outside access door. This allows the school to "lock down" (with respect to the voting area) and allows the school to carry on as normal except for access to whatever the voting area is normally used for.
3) I'm not familiar with Butz Elementary, but the petition website notes that "...a gunman would not endure any barrier to entry given the accessibility of the gymnasium to the rest of the school". If that's the case, that is a security problem whether or not there is a polling place operating that day. I can think of many other - and more likely - scenarios where a school would want to be able to secure a gymnasium from the rest of the school building. In short, this is a school-specific, and school district, problem - not a county/election problem. The petitioner solution might solve one scenario that could be a problem for two days out of the school year, but leave the school vulnerable to many other scenarios for the remainder of the school year.
4) I'm happy to listen to actual statistics from across the state as to incidents or problems that have caused threats or harm to students because polling places are located in the schools. If there's a way to improve the system, I'm all for it, but I don't think the solution has to be banning polling places in schools.
7:20 -
ReplyDeleteI think God got out of politics years ago.
This is a REAL EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER....... There is NO SCHOOL in session on Election Day Both in May & November (WHATS THE PROBLEM IT's 1 DAY) schools used to be closed years ago on election days what changed I know TEACHERS CONTRACTS & UNIONS 100% Schools close up for more STUPID HOLIDAYS anyways like TEACHER IN SERVICE DAY... GIVE ME A BREAK so just add 2 more TEACHER IN SERVICE DAYS to the calendar (No Big DEAL) Than there is no concerns to worry about people
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ReplyDeleteAgree with 9:07 a.m.
So we need the bad idea of closing our schools on Election Day as the alternative to the other bad idea of moving polling places out of schools?
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's any evidence to show that criminals are targeting schools when there is MORE of an adult presence at our schools.
Let's not make the mistake of accepting a bad premise and designing a solution around it.
There is a simple solution to this issue:move an inservice school training day to an election day. No kids would be in school except for teachers. Most voters are aware of where schools are and can use the parking lots and take advantage of handicapped assesibility if needed. Schools belong to taxpayers not to a select few.
ReplyDelete"I suppose an alternative place to hold elections are churches. That way people can pray to God that they vote for the best candidate."
ReplyDeleteChurches are used as polling places.
If parents are concerned about the safety of their children, and there is an accessible alternative, I would accommodate those concerns. Though I think these parents are unduly concerned, these are their children. I believe McClure and Council have said the poll should be moved or there should be an in service day, and no doubt that is how elections commissioners will feel. But schools must remain an option for voting.
ReplyDeleteMaybe these NIMBY type parents should open their homes for us to vote. You can't force a place to hold the election booths, that is why many are at schools or churches. Beef up security or close the school for one day. Its that simple . I swear, society is getting dumber and lazier each year.
ReplyDeleteSchools are the perfect venue for voting in a democracy, not churches!! Election day should be a national holiday so working stiffs can vote too.
ReplyDeletePublic schools is where the machines should be placed IMO.
ReplyDeleteI can't edit my comment... or churches. Schools or churches. I vote in a church basement - I don't even think of it as a church.
ReplyDeleteWe had off from school on election day. I remember we would get the buttons. pins and hats from the people outside our school. I don't remember if it was just the General or all of the elections. Also the bars would be closed until the polls closed. I think they should revert back to that if they are worried about violence.
ReplyDeleteMy school hosted elections while school was in session. My civics class walked down to the polling area and we voted on demonstrator machines and learned about elections and democracy. The Bushkill (Butz) School polling place is accessed from outside the building into the gym. Gym access to to the rest of the school can be easily secured for a few bucks. Soft targets like schools should be hardened anyway. Retired police and military would be perfect for these duties. They should be there every day of the year; not just election day.
ReplyDeleteWow complain about where you vote while standing in line with your EBT welfare card.... Priceless....
ReplyDeleteNo person waiting to vote ever did what has happened in these recent school crimes
I doubt these parents from an affluent community even know what an EBT card is.While I think their concerns are misplaced, they are parents who care about their children. To the extent that the polling place can be moved, it should be.
ReplyDelete7:45, The law prohibits uniformed police officers from being within 100' of a polling place unless they are called in or are voting. It tends to suppress voting. They may want to exempt schools.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the problems schools are having across the country it's nice to see Butz Elementary School in Bushkill Township, doesn't have any real problems.
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