By Rebecca Shalomoff
Though Candidates Night, run by the non-partisan League of Women Voters, is conducted as a question and answer session, Lawrence candidates used the forum as a way to pump up their campaigns and as a last-ditch effort to get their message across. The candidates tossed both subtle and overt insults at their opponents, driving the already competitive election into a frenzy.
Halfway into the forum, the audience became rowdy when candidate Mel Lifshitz charged his opponent, Anthony Licatesi, with attending fewer meetings of the district's sub-committee on finance than he has. Both candidates are members of the finance committee. But the harsher blow delivered by Lifshitz came when he accused Licatesi of giving out false information about the number of people employed in his law firm. Licatesi did not respond to the comments.
Disapproving shouts were made by supporters of Licatesi, who apparently were angry with Lifshitz for turning what was supposed to be an informative session into a non-physical boxing match.
The tension building up at Candidates Night is reflective of the divisiveness in the Lawrence district between private and public school parents, which has been particularly evident the last few months. Lifshitz and his running mate, Jay Gelman, have children in parochial schools and are generally perceived as representing the private school community. They are endorsed by a community group organized during the past year, ALERT (Association for Learning and Education with Responsible Taxation), which has sponsored their campaign.
Alliance for Lawrence Public Schools, another community group formed this year, endorses Licatesi and Rose Harris, generally considered the more public-school oriented candidates, although Harris' children, now grown, attended parochial schools.
The fifth candidate, Vicki Fishof, is running independently. With children in both private and public school, Fishof said she understands all segments of the community. She has maintained that she could be the unifying force the community desperately needs.
Seated side-by-side on the Lawrence Middle School stage, the five candidates shared their views about issues facing the Lawrence district.
Lifshitz and Gelman propose at least $2 million more in cuts to next year's budget, starting with secretarial staff and unnecessary jobs. With their business experience, they said they can provide the district with a zero percent budget increase and help get the schools' finances in order.
While their opponents focus primarily on budgetary concerns, Harris and Licatesi are campaigning on behalf of student needs. They offer a plan to improve student performance in the district, including increasing test scores through accountability.
Though Harris said she feels an 8 percent budget increase for 2002-2003 is
