tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post8952753923840207151..comments2024-03-22T16:02:08.213-05:00Comments on The Wheel: RISD Election: How Did It Go?Mark Stegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-15276295342990742652020-02-14T10:10:50.598-06:002020-02-14T10:10:50.598-06:00Bryan, thanks for the feedback. If you click on th...Bryan, thanks for the feedback. If you click on the "Unknown" name, Blogger will show you how to get your name to appear there instead of "Unknown" (at least for future comments).Mark Stegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-74907426083477865032020-02-14T07:36:29.336-06:002020-02-14T07:36:29.336-06:00Always good to see Sarah Scott. A treasure for our...Always good to see Sarah Scott. A treasure for our district, and a top notch journalism teacher in her day.<br /><br />The issue of voting in this election was not segregated by age, but rather by race, which I may add was the veiled intent of the involuntary reshuffling of the "districts" by the school board. Each of those districts were set up to include a significant portion of white voters mixed with the minorities, with the exception of Hamilton park, which was at the center of the law suit. We threw in two "at large" board members to boot.<br /><br />Minorities, vote at a less rate. This is why the Hamilton Park district has less votes.<br /><br />It is also the reason Eron beat Vanessa in that district race. Vanessa carried the vote in the minority areas within the Berkner boundary, Eron carried the white vote within the Pearce boundary that was put in the Berkner voting area. (full disclosure, I supported Vanessa and yes, I do have sour grapes)<br /><br />To add insult to injury, a black female judge swore in two board members, whereas Eron brought in a white male from the Pearce area to swear him in. Not a good look at all.<br /><br />Minorities have been disenfranchised for a long time. It will take time to increase their voting block. <br /><br />This school board's legacy will be one of keeping the status quo and will effect kids for at least another generation. <br /><br />-- Bryan Holland. Class of 75, because I don't want to be unknown, even though I'm obsolete.Bryan hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13976928121673396770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-36240099107612484842020-02-14T07:27:02.042-06:002020-02-14T07:27:02.042-06:00Always nice to see a Sarah Scott comment. A truly...Always nice to see a Sarah Scott comment. A truly great Journalism teacher in her time. (at least Pam and kay say that.:) )<br /><br />Full disclosure for me. I supported Vanessa and not Eron in the last election, and yes, I still have sour grapes as I just don't see anything that man ever did positively for our district.<br /><br />The issue of voting is not based on age, it is based on race. When the school board put together the new format to appease a law suit,It was done involuntarily. What they were able to do was gerrymander each district to include a significant proportion of white voters with the minorities, which historically just don't vote. We kept two "at large" members for good measure. <br /><br /> It is a disenfranchised group that will take time. The lower results in the Hamilton park District is a testament to this. Eron's victory over Vanessa, is also a testament as he carried the Pearce White Portion of voters that were put in the Berkner district, and Vanessa carried the minorities, who actually lived in the Berkner area.<br /><br />Adding Salt to the wound, a black female judge swore two candidates in, while Eron chose a white male from the Pearce area to swear him in. Not a good look. <br /><br />The Hamilton Park district was kept African American to settle the lawsuit, thus one minority candidate.<br /><br />Time changes the political narrative and is generally re-written by the victor. I just wanted to make sure these facts were documented.<br /><br />--Bryan Holland Class of 75 (because I don't what to be unknown, even though I'm obsolete)Bryan hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13976928121673396770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-29407766617533803842019-11-07T19:53:13.448-06:002019-11-07T19:53:13.448-06:00Sarah Scott, we can hope. Someone else said (I did...Sarah Scott, we can hope. Someone else said (I didn't do the research myself) that the turnout in the District 2 precincts exceeded the turnout in the last election. If it grows each election until it's on par with the other precincts, that will be good.Mark Stegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-73893976564644991502019-11-07T17:10:20.076-06:002019-11-07T17:10:20.076-06:00When anything is new, it takes time...and it takes...When anything is new, it takes time...and it takes a push on everyone's part to introduce the changes. Not everyone listens to the radio, reads a paper or even watches the same TV. Many people not only do not know what is going on locally OR nationally...but many do not care. It's something that eats at me because I do care.<br />However, I remember my first venture into voting...and I regret my choices, especially for President. Nevertheless, I did learn from it, especially as a journalism teacher who taught all about Watergate for 25 years. <br />Some of us are slow learners, but all of us can be encouraged; and, as you know, the young people are doing better. I think they're beginning to realize that their vote does matter and that the older generations are running the show because they do vote...at least a little more often. Sarah ScottScottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714281980030170211noreply@blogger.com