Candidate Endorsements

Give Parisi a second term
      In the three-way race for Joe Parisi's seat on the Board of Education, where the incumbent faces off against educator Peggy McQuade-Kaplan and software designer David Rosenberg, the Herald had a difficult decision to make. In the end, however, we opted to endorse Parisi.
      He has valuable experience as a board member and as chairman of the district's business and technology committee. During Parisi's tenure, the district has agreed on new long-term contracts with five unions and won an award for its financial reporting. His experience as a senior vice president at Citigroup, working with markets and securities technology, has proven useful to the district, which is always looking for investment ideas and extra funds in order to keep taxes down.
      No matter the outcome of the board elections, the district is guaranteed two new trustees, who will need training and to be brought up to speed on the issues the district faces - especially the ongoing negotiations on a teachers' contract, which will enter their fourth year in August. If he wins a second term, Parisi would be among the senior board members, and would be able to provide guidance and assistance to new members.
      But his most admirable quality is his zeal for community service. Parisi is president of the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations, Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 362, a member of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the McVey Planning and Management Team. And he's done all this with four children enrolled in the district. He clearly deserves another term on the East Meadow school board.

Elect Steven Wallstedt

      I n the race for Debra Kirsh's vacant seat in the Board of Education, two East Meadow residents have emerged as viable candidates, Abby Rothschild-Kaplan and Steven Wallstedt. Although both would make great board members, the Herald is endorsing Wallstedt.
      In his professional career, Wallstedt is a senior vice president at Citigroup whose responsibility is to ensure compliance to rules and regulations that govern financial institutions. This role has provided him with experiences in managing budgets and staff. This comes in handy for Board of Education trustees, who strive to adhere to strict state guidelines in managing taxpayer's money.
      Wallstedt is involved in the community as a member of the board of directors of the East Meadow Baseball/Softball Association, and coaches his son's baseball team and his daughter's softball team. And his commitment to children doesn't end there. He is a member of the Parent Teacher Association at McVey and has volunteered for school activities, such as the year-end barbecue.
      In addition, as a member of the Spartan Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, he serves as a trustee of the Spartan Masonic Education Foundation, which raises money to provide scholarship to Masonic youth going to college.
      Most important, when it comes to the district's ongoing negotiations with the teachers' union, Wallstedt knows that it will take true cooperation between the district and union representatives to find a solution.

Dona Davis has earned your vote

      I n the board's last vacant seat, which was held by Barry Rubinstein, residents will choose between Dona Davis and Steven Jacobs, our endorsement goes to Davis.
      For starter, Davis has been involved in the district's Parent Teacher Associations for the last 11 years. She is currently co-president of McVey's PTA, and has held a number of positions: vice president, treasurer and parent delegate. In addition, her participation in the PTA has led to positions on a number of the committees: nominating, facilities, budget, audit, bylaws and yearbook.
      Secondly, Davis feels that her membership on the board will be vital in the selection of the new superintendent, who she says must put children first and be skilled in collective bargaining and public relations.
      Lastly, Davis's many years in the PTAs have given her a unique perspective on the needs of parents, teachers and district administrators. She understands that the only way to end the three year old contract dispute between teachers and district officials is to find an agreement that is fair to taxpayers, children, teachers and administrators.
      This will be a very difficult task, but we are confident that Davis can play an important role in bringing together the teachers and administrators and putting an end to their dispute.