Maloney candidacy insults Republicans

I would like to thank The Sun for its excellent and revealing feature on the supporters of the late Councilman Cliff Roop ("'Roop Troop' eyes Arundel race," June 3). It reveals the problem the GOP faces in Anne Arundel County in that it seems to attract "Republicans" of the ilk now supporting George Maloney.

One wonders to what lengths they and their sort will go to "bring home the bacon." To what theory of government does this "Pork Troop" subscribe? I wonder where they draw the line between bringing home the bacon and bankrupting the state treasury? And how many brain cells does it take to connect the dots between "the bacon" and "the taxes"? One wonders why they even bother to call themselves Republicans.

What part of the Democratic agenda could they possibly find offensive? Do us all a favor, gang, and get out. The GOP is in bad enough shape in this county without having to explain you guys.

Mike Netherland

Severna Park

Choice of Wayson shows Owens a leader

As a supporter of the School Board Nominating Convention process, I recognize it as the primary independent source of recommendations. On a few occasions over the past four decades, local elected officials have found it necessary to advise governors to appoint outside this popular process to assure diversity of representation or skills critical at that time. This is one such occasion.

I commend Janet Owens for having the courage and integrity to recommend Konrad Wayson in an election year, when the wisdom of her recommendation may not be fully recognized by some until after the election. That's leadership!

Vaughn Brown

Millersville

The writer is a departing at-large member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education.

Wayson appointment a slap in the face

Gov. Parris Glendening recently appointed Konrad Wayson to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education, in defiance of the public nominating convention that recommended someone else.

Apparently, the Governor made the appointment as a political favor to Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens, who asked that Wayson be appointed.

The appointment is a slap in the face to residents of the County, who through the nominating convention system, at least had a little say in who would run their school system.

The appointment made the convention process a sham. It embarrassed the individual nominated by the convention and again showed the true colors of our one-party ruled state in which politicians of the governing party answer to no one but their own party. The actions of Glendening and Owens are vivid examples of that kind of plain political arrogance.

Their actions also make the case once again for elected school boards that keep the decision making local and in the hands of the people who are most affected.

Parents deserve better than what the Governor and the County Executive are delivering.

And, clearly, given the autocratic authority to make these decisions, the Governor and County Executive do a lousy job of it.

Mike Johnson

Davidsonville

Applauding Owens for Wayson choice

I applaud the County Executive Owens for her courage in making such a crucial decision as to who should sit on the School Board. This is why I voted for her before and why I will vote for her again this fall.

These are exactly the kind of decisions she should be making. Education has been one of her top priorities since she was elected and this proves once again that she is willing to take a stance.

The only difference is that I would have recommended to her to choose all three of the appointees. I understand why some people may be upset as they did not get their way; I understand why others are vocal as they are Ms. Owens political adversaries; but what I do not understand is why the public is not cheering the appointment of a successful business person.

Maybe a little business savvy will go along way on a Board that has proven it can be very creative in finding ways to spend money.

Sandra Cassidy

Annapolis

Praise for Wayson as businessman

It seems like every other year this same scenario is reported - the School Board Nominating Convention recommends candidates for appointment and the Governor chooses someone else. We all remember that every School Board appointment made while Bobby Neall was County Executive was someone other than the top choice.

If anything, I would think the public should be upset over the salary for the new superintendent. $197,000 plus bonuses? Oh, but that's right, members of the Board of Education are not answerable to the taxpayers.

As a professional educator myself, I believe the focus needs to be on what's right for the children.

As reported in Education Week, the percent of students in Maryland that are testing at or above the proficient level is abysmal. Only 22 percent are proficient in math and 29 percent in reading. A recent study on school readiness reports that just two in five Maryland children are fully prepared to enter kindergarten.

Something is obviously broken in our current system. Councilman Klosterman is working on a resolution asking the General Assembly to change the current selection process, doing away with the School Board Nominating Convention. Why? Could it possibly be because it does not work?

In Maryland we are spending $328 million in state and federal money this year on remediation alone and $6.6 billion on K-12 expenditures. With a budget like this, it makes sense to have a successful businessman like Konrad Wayson on the team.

Albert Einstein observed, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Konrad Wayson adds a new level, a deeper level of thinking.

Eric Cotton

Annapolis

Let citizens choose the school board

Ordinary taxpaying citizens must be flabbergasted and frustrated and perhaps amused as they witness the ongoing scrap between the School Board Nominating Convention politicians and the professional politicians. The former want Jim Snider on the Board, the latter, Konrad M. Wayson.

Who do our citizens want on the Board? They want neither of the two choices of the politicians. As the latest polls and other evidence suggests, at least a plurality and probably a majority of our citizens wish to make the choice at the ballot box.

The only entity of elected officials that appears to support the people having a choice is the County Council.

The Council resolution urging the General Assembly to let the people decide on their School Board member ... passed by a vote of 4-to-0. Our delegation paid it no heed. This citizen predicts that the delegation will also pay no attention to the efforts of the Nominating Convention politicians.

Selecting our School Board Members by a nominating convention makes about as much sense as selecting the President of the United States by an Electoral College.

An even more enlightening analogy is that it makes about an much sense to appoint the Board as it does to appoint the County Council. After all, the Board spends more than half of the tax revenues of Anne Arundel County and sets the education policy for all of our public schools.

We should focus on the enrichment of our democracy by electing the School Board of our County and the President of our Country.

Bill D. Burlison

Odenton

The writer is Anne Arundel County Council chairman.