Unsuited For Office

What are qualities that are absolute requirements for a member of a volunteer board of directors? The ability to work in groups to accomplish tasks would be one such quality, I suppose. Perhaps a person of integrity, who would never twist facts or take them entirely out of context - a person like that would be a good choice. Maybe someone who is an active listener would be well qualified. You know, the type of person who asks a question and actually listens to and processes the response before rebutting. That would be a plus. Someone who places value on other peoples' time and can communicate without being redundant - we'd appreciate that, I would think.

Maybe someone with the strength of character to openly change their mind when confronted with new facts or information - we might want that.

I would think we'd want someone with the ability to recognize that the world is complex and that most issues have shades of gray that need to be thought through. Yeah, that would be good.

Hey, come to think of it, we also might want someone who knows how the role of a trustee might differ from the role of an operating, paid executive - that might be good. Or maybe someone with a fundamental sense of the limits of their own knowledge, and some respect for those who have knowledge that you might be lacking - that would be a nice trait.

Ability with numbers - yeah, we'd want that, though the math in these roles is pretty elementary.. Perhaps someone who recognizes that if taxes go down from 3 percent to 2 percent, that is a 33% reduction, not a 1% reduction. That would be fundamental, I would think.

So who are these people who gave us Bob Harrison? Do they know anything about how highly functioning boards actually accomplish great things? Do they understand that there are outstanding professionals who would sooner quit and find work elsewhere then work for bosses wholly lacking in grace, wit, and integrity.

Alas, I suspect we know these people who give us Bob - those who share Bob's agenda. And come to think of it, we know an organization whose members support men like Bob. Indeed, the TVCC can change it's name to the "Scarsdale Forum," but it cannot change its essential nature. It is by and large a political action committee whose main agenda is the minimization of taxes. It provides soapboxes for anyone in need of one, and allows those who stand upon them to cloak themselves in the legitimacy of a decades old Scarsdale institution. Yuck.

So let's go ahead and connect the dots. The CNC is over weighted with TVCC members, sympathizers, or cronies. And hey, there's a candidate out there that's for the same things these cronies are for, right? And what do you know: presto, alakazam, the "non-partisan system" that is supposed to choose open minded and non agenda-driven candidates has given us a pure partisan candidate. Boss Tweed couldn't have drawn it up any better himself.

There are of course, good people involved with the TVCC, and I know some of them. And membership is open to all, and thus, the power to change this organization is ultimately in the hands of the people. But let's be realistic - people like to join groups that share their personal sensibilities. It is unlikely that those of a different political orientation would en masse join a group for the purpose of changing it. Easier to start an alternative group or write for 10583.com (this reality, by the way, is occasionally upended by heroes such as those who recently wrote the TVCC minority report on school board finances. But such bravery requires an effort and energy that is very hard to sustain).

A few months ago, I received a call from someone on the CNC asking me if I would be interested in becoming a village trustee. I was flattered and said that perhaps next year, that I needed a year off from public service after six years on the Board of Ed.

Now however, that will never happen (those who find Blatt distasteful, your stand and cheer moment has arrived!). There is zero chance that I would work long hours in a volunteer capacity side by side with a man like Mr. Harrison. And sadly, I suspect others will feel the same way. This will be one of the costs of the Harrison nomination - a thinning of the already minimal ranks of those who will volunteer for office.

The larger question is whether the perversion of the Harrison nomination will lead to the downfall of the non-partisan system itself. I suspect that apathy, and the hope that this year's Harrison nomination is a one time mistake, will leave the flawed "non partisan" system intact. But it will remain flawed until people actually volunteer in strong numbers to serve on the CNC. That is the only way to turn those who would vote for a partisan candidate out of office. In the meantime, if I had the ability to serve, I would gather the required signatures and challenge the Harrison nomination. As I cannot, I pray that there is someone out there who will do exactly that. Anyone with a pulse who can do it has my vote.

Please. Someone. Anyone......

Submitted by Jeff Blatt, Greenacres Resident and Former Member of the Scarsdale School Board