Saturday, October 23, 1999
Princeton schools race heats up
9 battling for 3 seats on board
BY CHRISTINE WOLFF
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GLENDALE — Nine people running for three seats on the Princeton school board have created a race crowded with opinions and accusations.
The unusual amount of interest in the Princeton school board — a district that previously has had candidates run unopposed — comes from the community's growing dislike of the current board, candidates said.
“People are pretty fed up with the present school board,” said candidate Gary Bryson, of Sharonville. “They fight among themselves. The board's not setting perimeters for the superintendent. The board's un able to operate. ... It can't make a motion and get it before the public without an argument.”
The perceived lack of leadership within the board bothers candidate Monay Mack, of Springdale.
“It's important to have the board work together,” Mr. Mack said. “There's a big division on the board now, and the board cannot work together. The board's not focusing on teamwork and academic achievement.”
Three of the candidates — incumbent Tawana Keels Simons, Paul Kattelman and Johnny Williams — are running together, asking voters to put the three on the five-member school board. But the group's ties to Sharonville — Mayor Virgil Lovitt is their treasurer; Mr. Kattelman is a former Sharonville mayor — bothers some residents.
The large district sprawls over seven communities, including Sharonville, Springdale, Glendale, Evendale and Woodlawn.
Trio accused of bias
“We're furious — there will be only one community represented,” said Kelli Reisen, a Glendale mother of three. “The three were put together by the mayor of Sharonville. It's for Sharonville only.”
Ms. Simons denies that the slate would favor Sharonville, emphasizing instead the trio's strong ties and tenure in the Princeton district.
“We're not the Sharonville three. Mr. Williams lives in Springdale. I grew up in Woodlawn. Mr. Kattelman grew up in Springdale,” she said. “We've lived here a long time, and they complain we have roots in the community.”
Others running for Princeton school board are incumbent Martha Iskyan, Lawrence Hawkins, George Keyser and Carmen Taylor-Daniels.
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