Primary election, May 19
Polls Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This Voters Guide may be taken into the voting booth.
The League of Women Voters publishes this information neither to endorse nor to reject the views of any candidate quoted and does not assume responsibility for the contents of a candidate’s reply.
Each candidate’s reply has been printed as submitted, except to use standard abbreviations in the interest of space and to edit from the bottom of a candidate’s answer when the total response exceeds the word limit.
The candidates were asked to list their education, occupation and qualifications for the office they seek. They were also asked to reply to the question following the job description for of each office.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
QUESTION: What do you consider the basic education needs for the students in your district and how do you intend to fund them?
UNIONVILLE-CHADDS FORD SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGION A
Four-year term
Vote for two
Keith Knauss
Party: Cross-filed
DOB:1-23-49
Education: BSEE, University of Delaware 1970
MSEE, University of Delaware 1972
Occupation: Engineering Consultant
Qualifications: 23 years UCF resident; School Director, UCF District 2001-2005;
Co-founder and Treasurer, Citizens for Efficient Education;
Ten+ years of active participation in educational affairs.
Answer to question: Our society thrives with highly educated citizens. I support a superb academic education for all our students. The current board has lost balance and is diverting disproportionate taxpayer dollars to fund programs for the recreational, physical, social and emotional needs of our students – needs that are best addressed elsewhere. Academic excellence should be the first priority and there is more to do to achieve this for all students.
Karen D. Halstead no reply
Party: Cross-filed
Jeff Hellrung
Party: Cross-filed
DOB: 9-27-47
Education: BS US Naval Academy
MBA West Florida University
MED Widener University
Occupation: Public High School Teacher
Qualifications: 22 years Active and Reserve Naval Service, 22 years Business Management Experience, 7 years Teaching public high school, 4 years service as UCFSD School Director
Answer to question: Our students need an excellent education to prepare them for the 21st century workplace and to become proactive contributing citizens in their communities. Although academics need to be the primary focus of students, teachers and parents, I also support a robust co curricular program including sports, music and the arts. Funding our educational needs within Act 1 constraints requires fiscal discipline and developing the support of all stakeholders including the general public.
Victor E. Dupuis
Party: Cross-filed
DOB: 1-27-60
Education: Penn State University, BA –Political Science, Minor –Finance
College for Financial Planning, Certified Financial Planner
Occupation: Certified Financial Planner – 27 years
Qualifications: 27 years helping Business and Individuals manage complex and changing financial goals and resources. 18 years of active involvement in Unionville school activities and community. Pro-Education perspective and commitment.
Answer to question: Students need and deserve strong faulty and staff teaching and mentoring their growth, a campus protecting and enhancing their learning experience and a culture building a love of learning and encouraging all levels and types of student success. This vision is central to our public education system, an institution largely responsible for the growth and development of those of us now paying school taxes. Responsible funding can be entirely achieved without referendum-driven tax increases.
REGION B
Four-year term
Vote for two
Jeff Leiser
Party: Cross-filed
DOB: 10-28-63
Education: Swarthmore College, B.S, Engineering, McCabe Scholar
Tufts University exchange program
Mount Pleasant HS (public), Wilmington, DE, Valedictorian
Occupation: Key Account Executive, W.L. Gore & Associates
Qualifications: Parent of two UCFSD students; Experienced in four UCFSD schools; Active school volunteer; VP Communications, Unionville Marching Band Boosters 2008; Value all student achievements; Eagle Scout
Answer to question: Basic education needs are diverse and student specific. We should entrust our professional administrators and teachers to recommend appropriate programs. Maintaining the tradition of educational excellence in UCFSD and enhancing community trust are key priorities for the next School Board. Any budget-challenging new educational investments should first be shared with the community to gain majority support. Need, scope, benefits, investment, opportunity costs and timing should be respectfully debated. Effective two- way communication is paramount.
Holly Manzone
Party: Cross-filed
DOB: 10-20-56
Education: Ph.D Biology Bryn Mawr College
Occupation: Homemaker
Qualifications: Middle School representative to Curriculum Council; Member UCFSD Strategic Planning Committee and Operations sub Committee; Member UCFSD Act 48 Committee; Member Communities That Care; Co-Founder Community Resource Network; Career Day Coordinator at CFPMS; Member Pocopson Township Open Space Advisory Committee; Open Minded and Hard Working.
Answer to question: Highly rated UCFSD provides student with an outstanding education. Recent curriculum enhancements provide more individualized learning opportunities offering a superior education to every student. Government mandates and the economic downturn threaten our ability to maintain academic excellence. We can overcome these obstacles through long range planning which includes consideration of all viewpoints. Community partnerships can enhance education by tapping into the immense talent available in our district. Recent efforts in private funding have proven effective.
Laura Shannon Maurer
Party: Cross-filed
DOB: 5-28-42
Education: Public School System New York City; Hunter College High School For Girls; Vassar College B.A., Major in Physics and Mathematics, Minor in English; Fluent in Spanish; Moderate capability in French.
Occupation: Farm Owner – Horse Boarding, Breeding, Training Retired Business Executive
Qualifications: Over 10 years of Work in the Education Sector while with IBM. Over 25 years of Management and Business Experience with IBM and Managing a Family Business as General Manager. Held multiple management positions including Branch Sales Manager with revenues of over $75 Million; Last position prior to retiring was Manager of International Operations for the Mid-Atlantic Area; All my positions required Business, Financial and Personnel skills. These were developed with the assistance of management and Professional Training Courses provided by IBM throughout my career.
Answer to question: All students should be capable of managing themselves as responsible adults when they graduate from HS. This means They must be able to read, write, understand basic arithmetic and business concepts and have an understanding of how our country works from a civic standpoint and what it means to be an American. I also believe in providing exposure to fitness/sports programs, music and the arts as part of a well rounded education. Funding for what I have described should be given priority in the budgeting processes which allocate dollars to academic programs that compete for dollars with requirements for new/improved physical facilities.
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