Fitzpatrick named school board solicitor
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M. Kate Fratti mentions this in her blog. I don't really agree with the sentiment, but I agree it's unfortunately a real and viable option. I still prefer the smaller district. That's what brought me and my family here in the first place.]
Former Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, an attorney with Begley Carlin and Mandio in Middletown, is the newest solicitor for the Morrisville School Board.
Fitzpatrick, a Middletown resident and former county commissioner, will replace Thomas Kelly of Media.
Kelly represented a prior school board, which had begun moving forward with plans to construct a new high school despite public outcry. The new board majority, which took office in December nixed that plan and recently defeased the bond lined up to pay for it.
Although this will be Fitzpatrick’s first time as a school board solicitor, the firm has a long tradition in that arena. Currently, it represents Bristol, Neshaminy, Bensalem, Centennial and Central Bucks school districts.
In 2006, Fitzpatrick lost his 8th district congressional seat to Democrat Patrick Murphy, and was expected to challenge Murphy to regain it this year. Instead, Fitzpatrick expressed interest in running against Democratic State Rep. Chris King. Not long after his announcement, Fitzpatrick declined saying a family health consideration demanded he stay closer to home. He returned to practice law full time after 12 years.
Other candidates for the solicitorship included Karen Quinn of Steif Gross Sagoskin Gilman and Classetti and Harry Glosser, a Morrisville attorney and former school board director.
Board members said they were counting on Fitzpatrick’s political connections and legislative experience to guide their way as they decide how to maintain or reorganize the small and financially beleaguered school system.
The law firm Curtin and Heefner recently finished its review of the district’s contract with school Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson. Some board members have expressed interest in reducing the duration of that 5-year agreement. No details of the Curtin and Heefner review have been released to the public yet.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
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6 comments:
Wonder how a fairly seasoned politician and former US Congressman will enjoy working with this "somewhat novice" board?
Wonder how the Dem Club members feel about this little piece of news? Is this part of the "take back the town" strategy?
Hmmm...
Jane Burger and Mike Fitz are fairly good friends.
They've been known to have "Merge with Pennsbury" talks in the past.
With board members "counting on Fitzpatrick’s political connections and legislative experience", and maybe "influence", I wonder where this is leading.
Although I am a Dem, I do respect Mike Fitzpatrick. I think that he did serve our community well, and I am optimistic that he will do so through his position as our solicitor. I choose to remain optimistic that he will be able to help our district due to his political connections, and believe that his ethics are such that he will not allow this current board to continue with their unethical behaviors. I hope I'm right. My fear was that they were going to select another friend of Hellmanns, and I am pleased to see this is not the case.
I've seen firsthand the Boy Scout principles that Mike has used all during his time as commissioner and congressman. I hope that he can bring the "trustworthy" point of the Scout Law back to school board operations.
Don't know the man or his relationship with Hellmann, but I noticed that one of the other solicitor candidates, Harry Glosser, has his office at 331 W. Bridge St. in Morrisville, quite close to Hellmann's own CPA office at 246 W. Bridge St.
Does presence make the heart grow fonder, or does familiarity breed contempt?
As a former Boy Scout myself, I hope he's Trustworthy, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
As for the other 2 Scout Law items, Loyal & Obedient, it all depends on whom he's loyal and obedient to...
Continuing with some Boy Scout metaphors, I hope he's able to avoid lashings while untying the Gordian Knot of Morrisville politics.
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