Lucas County Educational Service Center: Governing Board Member To Be Appointed

The Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board is a five-member elected body that oversees, hires staff, establishes and provides programs and services, sets policy, etc. for the public educational service organization. As required by Ohio state statute, the Lucas County Educational Service Center provides services to the non-municipal school districts of Lucas County; these school districts are Anthony Wayne, Ottawa Hills, Springfield, and Washington Local. Additionally by means of contract, the Lucas County Educational Service Center provides services to the Maumee, Perrysburg, Rossford, and Sylvania school districts.

The five members of the Governing Board are elected to four-year terms with the terms staggered. Members are elected in odd-numbered years; two are elected in one odd-numbered year and three members are elected in the other odd-numbered year. This past November, three Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board positions were up for election.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the Toledo and Lucas County area traditional print or broadcast media carried any stories related to the candidates or any other type of election coverage, except for the vote result numbers of the two candidates after the election, in regards to the election of persons to this public body, the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board, that is responsible for millions of taxpayer dollars.

I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that three seats of the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board were up for election. I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that only two persons filed candidate petitions by the filing deadline to run for election to the three positions available. I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that a person could file as write-in candidate for a period of time after the filing deadline for persons who sought a spot on the ballot by the petition process. I am unaware any traditional news media informing the public of the fact that "only two of the three available positions" to the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board were indeed elected. I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that in January 2010 the four members on the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board will have the authority to appoint a fifth person to the Governing Board. I am unaware of any traditional news media informing the public that should the four members on the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board fail to do so within thirty days, the Judge of Lucas County Probate Court will then have the authority to make the appointment.

To the best of my knowledge, the only reference by a public medium to the upcoming vacancy on the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board is the statement reproduced below which is a direct quote appearing as the last paragraph of the Tuesday, November 17, 2009 blog entry of Lucas County Educational Services Center Updates by Angela Zimmann.

The next regular board meeting is December 8th. The December date will be the last board meeting for Judy Hansen, who has served for twelve years, and opted not to run for re-election this year. The other two incumbants, Joseph Rutherford (current president) and Joan Kuchcinski, were re-elected. The remaining vacant seat will be filled by the board in January.

NOTE: The Judy Hansen mentioned in that blog entry happens to be my wife who has been elected three times to the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board. Before Judy was first elected to the Governing Board, I had previously been elected and served for three terms totaling twelve years.

To the traditional mass media in the Toledo Lucas County area, I say: SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

To the voting age public residing within the electoral jurisdiction of the Lucas County Educational Service, I say shame for not one person not having the interest in public service or the community commitment (other than the two remaining incumbents) to file for election to the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board.

But, LO! It is not too late. Any registered voter in the Anthony Wayne, Ottawa Hills, Springfield, or Washington Local school districts may seek the appointment to the soon-to-be open seat on the Lucas County Educational Service Governing Board. While there has yet to be any formal announcement as to the process of filling the vacancy, I would suggest that any person interested in seeking this appointment send a written letter of interest to each of the remaining LCESC Governing Board members; they are President Joseph Rutherford, Vice President Dr. Angela Zimmann, Karen Krause, and Joan Kuchinski.

Don't wait. Submit that letter of interest now!