By Andrew Coen
The outcome of the two races could have a major impact on the future ideology of the board. The races in the May 17 election feature two candidates from the private-school community, Murray Forman and Shlomo Huttler, who are running against incumbent Trustee Rose Harris and Stanley Kopilow, respectively. The Huttler-Kopilow race has stirred the most controversy thus far, as they vie for the seat that will be vacated by Anthony Licatesi, who will retire at the end of the school year after serving one three-year term on the board.
Kopilow and Huttler both lost bids for the school board last year. Kopilow lost to trustee Dr. Asher Mansdorf by 320 votes, 4,005 to 3,685, while Huttler fell to incumbent Pamela Greenbaum, 4,047 to 3,548.
Kopilow ran ads in the Nassau Herald and the Jewish Star last week claiming that Huttler would only represent the private-school community. Kopilow said that he would work for both the public- and private-school communities if elected.
In a prepared statement, Huttler blasted Kopilow's campaign tactics. "Our opponents foment hatred because they know they are responsible for, and have no answers to, the education failures, financial mismanagement and community hatred that are the hallmarks of [their] policies and campaigning style to stay in power," said Huttler, an attorney from Lawrence whose children attend private schools and whose niece attends public school in the district.
In response to Huttler's attacks, Kopilow defended the ad and his campaign style, saying it's the truth, and that he is making an appeal for votes from all people in the district. "[Huttler's] out to run for a part of our community and I'm out to serve the entire community," said Kopilow. "By [Huttler] not going to the community and soliciting their vote, he undercuts any idea that he would represent the entire community."
Kopilow, who is backed by the Alliance for Lawrence Public Schools (ALPS), also emphasized that, like last year, he will run a very public campaign that caters to all groups, while Huttler ran a quiet race last year that Kopilow claims did not seek votes from the entire community. "I understand that I can only get elected if I draw from the private-school as well as the public-school communities, so if I am lucky enough to be elected, I will have to be responsive to the entire community and consider the viewpoints of the entire community," said Kopilow.
Huttler claims that he and other school board candidates from parochial schools have run quiet campaigns in the past because of the fear of being attacked for their views by ALPS, but that this year that will change. "Unfortunately, these bigoted tactics have been so successful that candidates from my part of our community have run low-key campaigns simply because they are afraid of the divisive backlash that we have seen in prior campaigns," said Huttler. "However, it is no longer time for silence on these points."
Views on Dist. 15 budget
With District 15 facing a possible third straight year of austerity if the proposed budget is rejected by voters, Kopilow accused Huttler of not supporting last year's budget revote in June after the school board elections had simmered down. "I didn't hear Shlomo Huttler come out and say, 'I lost but we need to pass this budget,'" said Kopilow.
Huttler said in a phone interview that he did not support last year's budget because of the large tax increase that would have resulted, and added that he is undecided about whether he supports the current budget increase of 4.54 percent. He criticized the school board for not completing a sale of the now-closed Number One School property in Lawrence, which would have meant millions of dollars for the district. If there had been a sale, he said, the district could have avoided the cuts in programs that would likely occur if the budget were defeated. "It's a complete lack of transparency for the process," said Huttler. "There is no reason why we can't have tax relief and have every program."
Goals for the district
If elected, Huttler said, some of his goals for the school board include increasing academic performance, improving community harmony and working closely with the Peninsula Public Library for a safe and adequate driveway exit with adequate parking.
One of Kopilow's chief goals would be to improve the budget process so taxpayers would have a better understanding of how their money was spent. "You have to be almost a Rhodes scholar to get through the intricacies of [the budget] process," said Kopilow, an attorney from Lawrence who graduated from Lawrence High School in 1965. "I think I have the experience and I have the aptitude [to serve on the board]."
Licatesi said he decided not to seek another term mainly for family reasons. "After three years of balancing work and family with the school board, it took its toll," he said. "The three years I was there it was at the sacrifice of people here at home."
Rose Harris vs. Murray Forman
The other District 15 race, between Harris and Forman, has not generated as much fireworks thus far. Harris, who was backed by ALPS three years ago, is running as an independent this year.
Three years ago, Forman, an investment banker from Lawrence, was president of a group called the Association for Learning and Education with Responsible Taxation (ALERT), which backed two private-school candidates, Jay Gelman and Mel Lifshitz, against Harris and Licatesi. The races turned into a nasty campaign. Harris ended up defeating Lifshitz and independent candidate Vicki Fishof with 59 percent of the vote in an election that drew more than 10,000 voters to the polls. "I do not want a repeat [of 2002]," said Harris of that divisive campaign. "I will not let other people dictate how I act."
Harris said she was hoping for an uncontested race, which almost took place after an offer was made by Huttler and former leaders of ALERT to leave her seat unchallenged if Kopilow opted not to run for Licatesi's open seat against Huttler. But the proposal was rejected by ALPS, according to the group's founder, Bruce Scher. "We offered to run with [Harris], and that offer remains," said Huttler.
Harris, who was elected school board vice president last year, said she has tried to be an independent trustee when voting on key issues. She was one of four trustees who voted to close the Number One School last June as part of a consolidation plan to save the district money. "I try to be very objective," she said. "I'm an independent thinker."
Harris, who has lived in Inwood for 35 years, is active at St. Joachim's R.C. Church in Cedarhurst and also serves on the St. John's Episcopal Hospital local governance board.
Forman could not be reached for comment, but Huttler outlined in his prepared statement what the two would bring to the board. "Together with Murray Forman, who I am running with, we offer the community truly the only choice for resolving the community's educational failures, social ills and hatred, and severe financial difficulties," said Huttler. "With our background and credentials, we are the only candidates who can realistically address these issues through real leadership experience, business and financial acumen, and ecumenical experience in talking with people across the fault lines in our community battles."
Peninsula Library board race
On the District 15 ballot, Joan Lepelstat is running unopposed for the only available Peninsula Public Library board seat. Lepelstat, who is retiring from her position as assistant library director, is vying for the seat held by Trustee Patty Regan, who decided not to seek another term after first getting elected in 2000.
"My goal is to keep the fiscal responsibility of the board to the community," said Lepelstat. "We run a tight ship here, and I'd like to keep it that way."
Lepelstat also said she would continue to press for improvements to the current facility, with more parking and possible expansion. "I hope under my tenure we will see a new updated physical facility," she said.
Comments about this story? ACoen@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
