Randy is no pushover and clearly, like Helen, not a lapdog

To the Editor:

Not often, but every once in a while, an opportunity arises to provide help to a person. In this particular instance, that person is Randy Bashwinger currently a candidate for a seat on the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board. The help he needs and the help we can provide is our vote on May 15, 2018.

I have known Randy for many years. He is “homegrown,” a stand-up, well-grounded, down-to-earth person, dedicated to the community and residents of Berne. As we all know, Randy is the town of Berne highway superintendent. In that capacity, he has served Berne residents well, demonstrating leadership, common sense, and frugality with taxpayer money.

Randy’s interest and motivation to become a member of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board is obvious: He is a concerned parent with four children attending Berne-Knox-Westerlo school and, like the rest of us, a taxpayer.

Lately, nepotism — failure to follow the law, redactions, FOIL [Freedom of Information Law] requests; words and terms not usually associated with a board of education — have appeared in letters to the editor and Altamont Enterprise articles regarding the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board.

Area residents are wondering: What in the world is going on there?

Apparently, the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Board of Education created positions — jobs — without proper public session as required by law and filled one of those positions with family members.

From reading the Altamont Enterprise articles, the improper Berne-Knox-Westerlo Board of Education actions didn’t sit well with school board member Helen Lounsbury — apparently the sole voice questioning the impropriety of the board of education actions. Attempts by The Altamont Enterprise to seeking more information on the matter have gone unanswered, resulting in a FOIL request filing by The Altamont Enterprise.

The residents of Berne, Knox, and Westerlo need an assertive, strong, and vigorous person like Randy alongside Helen on the school board to ensure the board of education acts properly and remains in compliance with applicable law and follows established guidelines and procedures.

Randy has demonstrated that he is no pushover and clearly, like Helen, not a lapdog. As a forceful member of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board he will serve all of us well.

Randy has earned our support and deserves our vote. I’m not going to let him down and neither should you. See you at the voting booths on May 15.

Robert J. Motschmann III

Berne

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