East Ramapo Board President says Activist Cause is Old News

LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM ERCSD BOARD PREZ

Dear Editor,

Peggy Hatton’s dissatisfaction with the East Ramapo School District vote (Letter to the Editor: Hatton Not Happy With E. Ramapo Vote, Posted May 23, 2013) is not news. We have all seen this movie before. Ms Hatton has been complaining about the ERCSD election results for several years. Hatton’s problem is that none of her chosen candidates can get enough votes to get elected. Each year, the district’s voters choose other than Hatton-favored representation for the School Board. And then, of course, Hatton complains.

In what has now become a yearly dance, Hatton and a group of other self-appointed “community activists” search for and promote a slate of candidates for available seats on the East Ramapo School Board, and then Hatton and her “activist” friends campaign for her candidates on a promise of change and of a renewed commitment to the educational well-being of the school system. Her candidates routinely lose. Hatton then complains about the result, implies wrongdoing by or improper motives of those who prevailed, and begins another campaign to challenge the Board, and to promote the candidacy of new candidates.

The repetitious nature of Ms. Hatton’s activities has become tiring. Ms Hatton needs to learn a very fundamental lesson in civics: The democratic process entrusts election activities to the voters. If the voters repeatedly reject Hatton’s candidates and her challenges, it may be time to take a careful look at her approach. Hatton’s effort to dismantle the ERCSD Board’s leadership and challenge its decisions have not been successful. Her negativity and constant complaining has been repeatedly rejected by the voters. Perhaps more community building activism is in order.

Sincerely,

Yehuda Weissmandl
President, ERCSD School Board

(Photo: Christopher Anderson/Magnum Photos/New York Magazine)

  East Ramapo Central School District., Peggy Hatton, yehuda weissmandl