Dear Editor:
My name is Patrick R. Cullen, Jr. and I am running for WNY Board of Education one year Trustee in the special election on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. I have lived in WNY since 1969, and graduated P.S. No. 5 and Memorial High School. My wife Sarah and I will celebrate our 20th Anniversary in April. I earned a Batchelors Degree Cum Laude in History from NJCU, and a Masters Degree in Social Sciences from Montclair State University. I retired at the rank of Sergeant First Class from the New York Army National Guard, where I received The Meritorious Service Medal and worked for three months as Non Commissioned Officer in Charge of swing shift access control at World Trade Center Recovery Site, November/01 to January/02. I have over ten years experience in the field of Education.
Now is the time for us residents of our good town of WNY to ‘ carpe diem’ or sieze the day. The success of our youth depends on how well we understand the current relationship of our Board of Education as a patronage mill for some elements at town hall. The OFAC report issued by the NJ Department of Education shed light on rampant cronyism and a corrupting influence of our mayor on our Board of Education. The report asserts that one commissioner does not appear to be qualified for his current position in the transportation department and that he has taken unauthorized liberties while on the job. In the runner-up to the recent election in which WNY voters, by a 4-1 margin voted for an elected school board, the mayor politically supported the losing side while publicly saying he supported the will of the people. Lastly, with your support, as an elected board member, I will ask Dr. Piscitelli, a current board member whom I see as fully qualified to be the next Board President, and Superintendent Fauta to do a cost analysis of how much tax dollars our schools are loosing each year due to the extensive practice, mostly by former mayor and educator Sires in granting tax abatements up to 30 years, which pay nothing in school taxes, only 5 percent to county taxes, and do not see their taxes raised in fiscal emergencies, as in 2009, when non-abated property taxes soared and now remain at 20 percent higher levels.
Help take back accountability by voting for Patrick Cullen for WNY School Trustee 1/28/14.
Thank you,
Patrick R. Cullen, Jr.