The Sun Also Rises in the East

Politics could be factor in school board appointment
The school board is scheduled to fill the vacancy during a special Aug. 11 meeting.
By JOAN HELLYER

The leader of the Bristol Township Democratic Party said she wants Fred Black, the manager of a local sign advertising company, to be appointed to the vacant seat on the district’s school board.

Black is among seven candidates the Bristol Township school board has to choose from to fill the seat vacated by Joseph Flanigan. The board interviewed the candidates last week and is expected to make the appointment during an Aug. 11 special meeting.

In addition to Black, the candidates include Edward Godin and Ronald Matlack, two former board members who are retirees, veteran science teacher Holly Delk-Priestley, public health administrator Marlin Williams, nutritional educational adviser Marjory Apollon-Shields and Carol Becker, a construction company employee.

Democratic Party chairwoman Janet Keyser, a former board member, has thrown her support behind Black. “You have my vote,” she said to him after his interview Tuesday night for the seat.

Keyser attended the Tuesday interview session that also included Matlack and Godin. She did not attend Monday’s interviews of Becker, Delk-Priestly and Apollon-Shields or Williams’ interview on Wednesday.

“I like [Black]. He’s a [volunteer] firefighter. He’s new. He’s somebody fresh. He has children in the district. We need new people. We can’t always have the same old people,” Keyser said later in the week when asked to explain why she supports Black.

Keyser said she has expressed her support to some board members but the full party, which dominates township politics, has not discussed the school board vacancy. The issue could come up during the party’s monthly meeting tonight, she said.

The party chairwoman said she has expressed her support for various candidates when other seats have been vacant in the past, but the board has not always followed her recommendation.

Keyser said going against her wishes does not impact individual board members’ future political aspirations.

“The board always has the final decision. They are always the one that votes, but we can make a recommendation,” Keyser said.