School elections are here again, but this year’s choice should be an easy one.
Jim Weidman’s school board seat is the only item on the ballot and he’s running for his third term unopposed.
‘It’s really an honor to serve the community in this role,? Weidman said.
Though there’s not much contest in the vote, the district is required by law to hold an election, according to officials.
The last two May elections costs more than $40,000 combined. According to the Orion Township clerk’s office, the school board election on May 6, 2008 cost $20,909.87. The election two years earlier, on May 2, 2006, cost $21,790.56.
Oakland County also incurs costs.
This term, Weidman says he’d like to focus his attention to financial difficulties in the district.
‘It all starts and ends there because we can’t fulfill our mission without finances,? he said. ‘It’s an acute problem in Michigan that won’t go away for awhile.?
‘If we can stabilize finances in spite of additional cuts in funding and we can get the community closely aligned and involved in the actions we take – if we can carry that out, we’ll be successful in the coming years.?
Weidman also offers the money issues as a reason no one else was willing to run for the position.
‘In these times, the fairly tremendous financial challenges may have some people thinking twice about jumping in,? he said, though he was surprised no one filed to run against him.
According to School Board President Bill Walters, lone contestants on school ballots aren’t unusual.
‘It’s pretty surprising how often people run unopposed,? he said. ‘I don’t think it’s that enticing a position for the general public.?
Walters says it’s an important job not many folks want to take on.
The lack of opposition isn’t stopping Weidman from offering his experienced opinion to LO education decisions. He first moved to the area in 1978 and has been involved in schools ever since.
Weidman is a former teacher and football and basketball coach. He currently serves as a basketball official. The boardmember has also been involved in two superintendent searches as a community representative, co-chaired a successful bond campaign in 2000 and served on a number of committees.
Why the commitment to education?
‘The backbone of a community is a successful school district,? he said.
Weidman also has a personal connection to the district as three of his four daughters graduated from LOHS and the youngest is in elementary school here.
Walters said, ‘he’s got a following in the community here after 31 years of invested interest.?
Elections will be held May 5. Absentee ballots have already been sent. See the county clerk’s office for polling places.