Tuesday, August 28, 2007

John Kysylyczyn runs for Roseville School Board

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

The following information was submitted by the candidate.

Former Roseville Mayor John Kysylyczyn, whose combative leadership style led the passage of the first voter approved referendum in 27 years for the purpose of rebuilding the city's civic center campus, the creation of the city's first housing commission and the first transportation and public works commission, and lowered property taxes for the first time in over 20 years, while serving as Roseville Mayor from only 2000-2004, has filed for Roseville School Board along with 3 fellow supporters.

Kysylyczyn and his 3 fellow supporters have filed for the Roseville School Board, intentionally creating a primary election, to highlight two specific issues. First, this school board's conscious decision to take money away from children's education in order to fund needless elections in the odd-year election cycle. The board has the option of moving elections to the even-year, where the state pays most of the costs, but chooses not to. We find it galling that some of the members, who oppose moving to the even-year to save costs, are some of the same members who complain to the legislature

that education is being under funded.

Second, we wish to highlight the school board's conscious decision to hold elections at times where turnout is expected to be almost non-existent. Because they choose to hold board and levy referendum elections in the odd-year election cycle, this means that they will be the only item on the ballot in the parts of the school district which represent the overwhelming majority of the students. This low turnout creates an undemocratic system where decisions are made by a small minority of the residents of the district, who are not necessarily better informed about the issues, just better informed that there is a special election being held. With Roseville's successful move to the even-year election cycle, this existing problem will only be exacerbated.

As to the question of whether Kysylyczyn would serve if elected, he has taken the position that he will not take the oath of office and serve if elected. He said, "I am a full-time stay at home parent who is also running a political consulting business, both full time jobs. I paid the filing fee only to highlight these specific election issues."

We hope next year's board will act in a responsible manner and convert their board and levy referendum elections to the even-year election cycle. This district cannot continue to stand by departing member Linda McLoon's public statement that the board is not to blame for election costs, but instead it is those who file. We interpret this to mean that if there are three seats open, only six people shold be allowed to file, hardly a step toward open process.

When the election change is completed by board action, we would like to see the savings invested in children's' education, and see the board develop a plan to educate the majority of the registered voters who would start participating in school district elections.