School Board Candidates Finally Get Some Press

Finally, the school board candidates speak! I wasn't sure if the News-Herald was even going to run an article on the candidates.I'm glad to see that "fiscal prudence is a top concern for three candidates."

Click here to read the article: http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/MNH0101/803180371


Frances Bohon has been on the board for 12 years. The revenue caps, also known as "the broken school funding system" according to the yes'ers, was legislation that was passed about 15 years ago. The school district, school board, and the Yes Committee were quick to point their fingers at Madison and say that's where the problem is. So what has Bohon done in the past 12 years to help fix this broken system? We only hear about revenue caps when there is a referendum on the ballot, and my guess is we won't hear about it again until the next referendum. Remember, Superintendent Bruce King said the district will be back with another referendum soon if things don't change in Madison. So what is Bohon going to do during this term that she hasn't done in her previous 4 terms? She says the district needs to strive to do better. 'The board should remain vigilant in looking for cost savings through partnerships and grant money." If she is elected to another term, lets hold her to her words!

Amber Kiggens-Leifheit is an employee of the school district, and the treasurer of the Yes Committee. We already know what she stands for: more referendums and higher property taxes. She'll attend every school board meeting with her rubber YES stamp! She says "Board members need to continuously explore options to save money." But given the tactics of the Yes Committee and the deceptive information they gave to voters, I don't think I can take her on her word. Remember, the yes Committee said the recent referendum would only cost $40 for $100,000 home. That wasn't exactly accurate. It's closer to $126 per year for the next 5 years. That's a lot more than "the price of a cup of coffee a day" as the Yes Committee tried to spin it. They forgot to mention that taxes would have gone down next year. But the referendum raises them back up, plus that additional $40 a year. And don't forget their letter campaign to recent graduates. They mailed out letters and absentee ballot applications to young people who do not live in marshfield or pay taxes here, and told them to vote Yes. The motive and intent was to drown out the voice and choice of Marshfield's taxpayers. And they succeeded! (We asked Amber to provide the details on the Yes Committee's letter campaign, but so far she hasn't come forward). Amber represents the status quo and "business as usual." If you voted NO on the last referendum, or if you don't want to see more referendums on the ballot in the near future, you should not vote for Amber.

Christine Miller is definitely not a rubber YES stamper, and she has some interesting ideas about saving the district money. But she also has other agendas that I don't support. If she did make it to the board (highly unlikely), none of her ideas or plans would ever see the light of day. She'd be a distraction and a roadblock... but she'd make those meetings interesting, and more people would watch them.

So, here are the options: Vote for Bohon and Kiggens-Leifheit if you want the status quo and "business as usual." But for Pete's sake let's hold them accountable and make sure they do what they say they will when it comes to fiscal prudence.

Another option is to not vote for anyone.

A third option is to write in candidates that you think will do a better job at fiscal prudence. As of now, no one has come forward with an official write-in campaign.

In the end, no matter what your choice is, it's clear we need to keep our eyes on the school board. The school funding system is broken on both ends: in Madison and in Marshfield. Let's keep our school board on task and hold them accountable for fiscal prudence, for finding options for saving the school district money without simply relying on referendums that raise property taxes as the only solution.