Almost nobody agrees with the way the Board of Ed has gone about seeking a new superintendent. But a bunch of people believe the school system already has a viable candidate in-house, with no need to search further.
Those were the results of the late “TrueVote” online Independent election.
A mere 11 percent, or 67 out of 600 votes cast, supported the Board of Education’s current plan for selecting a superintendent to replace retiring Reggie Mayo by Sept. 1.
About half — 303 of 600 votes cast — agreed with mayoral candidate Henry Fernandez that the board should suspend its search and resume it after the election of a new mayor.
Well more than a third — 230 of 600 votes cast — supported the idea of calling off the search altogether and elevating the current Assistant Superintendent Garth Harries to the job.
Read a full story about the issue here.
The online “TrueVote” ballots are part of a new project here at the New Haven Independent. It aims to involve voters in helping not just to decide who gets elected to make public decisions every year or two, but to create more discussion and register public opinion about what those decisions should be. The definition of democracy often comes down to choosing among candidates for public office, an important civic responsibility but only one feature of a healthy civic culture and political system. TrueVote is aimed at involving voters in the issues themselves, and making voting a regular exercise all year long with our online polls.
Polls remain open into Tuesday on another TrueVote election, about the future of the 9th Square development.
Previous TrueVotes:
• How Should The Board of Ed Be Chosen?
• Should Connecticut Grant Driver’s Licenses To Undocumented Immigrants?