Letters

I was shocked to read that every school board trustee election, from Eastport South Manor to Riverhead, to Westhampton Beach, to Shelter Island, to East Hampton, is uncontested this year, except one. All of these districts but one. Let that sink in.

Our school districts have budgets that total well over $850 million of taxpayer money, and make up the largest portion of our property tax bills, yet there is no competition amongst the candidates that will oversee it. There will be no candidate forums. There will be no speak-offs. There will be no platform discussions.

That makes me sad.

I find it puzzling that, year after year, there’s such little competition for these seats, but this is the worst in recent memory. Don’t get me wrong — I think we have exceptional schools that are well-run by great volunteer school board members. My concern is the overall lack of competition in elections on the South Fork. That is beginning to worry me, and I’d love to get a better grasp on why that is.

What we saw with the recent debacle widely reported in The Press concerning the town hall elections [“Republican Candidate Drops Out of Southampton Supervisor Race, Joining Democratic Turmoil,” 27east.com, April 7] is one thing. That type of political maneuvering hasn’t traditionally impacted school and library trustee races. So what is keeping people from putting themselves out to run?

Elections are the foundation of our democracy. Why are we so disinterested in the process? What is keeping the next generation of great leaders from putting themselves out there and competing for these elected positions? Is there a gatekeeper? Is there a barrier to entry that I don’t get?

I welcome any insight that anyone can provide.

Ron Fisher

Shinnecock Hills

There are at least three contested races, in Amagansett, Springs and Quogue — Ed.