September 28, 2007
Friday PM

I'm writing in reference to the comments and positions taken at a recent candidate forum, by Borough Assembly Candidates Mike Painter and Glenn Thompson. These two public servants are running for re-election to the Assembly. I appreciate the willingness of these two folks to serve and I believe they work hard in the positions they hold.

However, I must take exception with their statements regarding their support for public education in Ketchikan. Their public comments implied that they stand behind the idea that the Assembly's first and primary job is to provide "full funding" to our community schools. The facts are that in the last two years the Borough Assembly funded the schools $400,000 and 1 million dollars short of what they could have funded our schools. In both of those years other assembly members made motions in order to try to increase the local contribution and get the Assembly closer to the "full funding" amount and both Mr. Painter and Mr. Thompson voted against those motions. It seems disingenuous for these two folks to now claim they support full funding for Ketchikan Community schools.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dan Ortiz
Ketchikan, AK

Received September 26, 2007 - Published September 28, 2007

Related Information:

Forum Provides Opportunity to Learn About Assembly Candidates - Tuesday, October 2nd, registered voters will be selecting two from a group of five candidates to fill two vacant 3-year term seats on the Ketchikan Borough Assembly. - Listen to the unedited forum...
Friday AM - September 28, 2007

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