Harrison to Challenge SBNC Candidate in School Board Run

Self-appointed citizen’s advocate Bob Harrison has filed to run for the Scarsdale School Board. Armed with a petition signed by 67 residents, Harrison appeared at the Board of Education today, April 20, to announce his candidacy. Harrison will challenge Suzanne Seiden, one of the candidates proposed by the School Board Nominating Committee.

According to Board of Election rules, Harrison was required to run for a specific seat, rather than appear as a fifth candidate on the ballot. In this year’s election, there are four seats to be filled on the School Board. Jeff Blatt, who has served two terms will be leaving the Board. Suzanne Seiden was nominated by the School Board Nominating Committee to fill Blatt’s seat and she will now run against Bob Harrison. The two drew for their ballot placement, and Seiden’s name will appear on top.

Current Board member Joel Gurin served one two-year term but is unable to continue for a second term due to professional responsibilities. Lewis J. Leone Jr. has been nominated by the SBNC to fill that seat. Jill Spieler and Elizabeth Guggenheimer have each served one term and they have both been nominated to serve a second term.

It is highly unusual for candidates to go outside the process and nominate themselves for a position on the Scarsdale School Board. The current district clerk has been with the district since 1984 and knows of no candidates who have run in the election without a nomination from the School Board Nominating Committee. Member of the SBNC are elected by residents to select candidates for the School Board.