One of the most contentious issues among Harford County legislators during the last General Assembly session was whether voters should elect school board members or to have the governor appoint them.
County residents are invited to share their thoughts at a forum from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the County Council chambers in Bel Air. County Council President Billy Boniface stressed that tonight?s forum is non-partisan and simply for officials to hear residents? opinions.
Unable to reach a consensus, legislators expect to struggle with the question again next session.
“It is pretty politically charged,” said Del. Barry Glassman, R-District 35. “It is probably one of the hottest topics and most divisive issues we?re going to deal with.”
The state delegation and County Council will collaborate through the summer to try and find a compromise with the Board of Education, which opposes elections; the governor appointed all its members. The County Council is generally in favor of elections.
School Board President Mark Wolkow said the current system allows board members to focus on making the right decisions without being distracted by what?s politically popular.
“I don?t have to think about the way people are going to vote,” he said. “I think about what?s best for the students of Harford County.”
But Glassman said “It [also] takes a lot of political maneuvering to get a gubernatorial appointment.”
A bill he proposed during the last session called for six elected members from the County Council districts, two appointed by the governor and one appointed by the county executive. However, the bill failed to even make it out of committee.
