A total of 1,179 people turned out to vote in the Batavia City Schools election today, approving a $40 million budget with nearly 61 percent of the vote and electing one new school board member.
Gretchen DiFante, one of two candidates not currently on the board, was the top vote getter in the election with 736 votes. Incumbent Gail Stevens garnered 623 votes and Phil Ricci, an appointee running for school board for the first time, got 616 votes.
Incumbent Gary Stich lost with 490 votes and newcomer Dennis Warner came up short with 472 votes.
The budget passed 690 votes to 446.
Creation of a student ex-officio board member passed 852 to 214 votes and changing transportation mileage for students passed 808 to 240.
These are unofficial results.
Well congrats to the winners,
Well congrats to the winners, however they were all great candidates. I only wish more would have voted.
Not too bad a turn out. When
Not too bad a turn out. When you consider some did not know where to go and there was no place to vote on the south and west side of the city, this is good turn out. Next year, it might be higher.
John -I heard the argument
John -I heard the argument about a lack of voting places on the south and west side prior to yesterday and I'm just not sure it holds any water at all. Pittsford, which has 9 schools in the district and is about twice as large as Batavia only had one polling place. Williamsville, which has 13 schools and is four times the size of Batavia CSD had only one polling place. So did Pembroke and Geneva City Schools (which would be considered a very comparable district). I'm sure I could find lots of other places that do it that way, and probably far fewer that havve multiple polling places.
If people want to vote, they will get there and do it. If they want to vote they will make sure that they know when and where.
Keith, This was the first
Keith,
This was the first year for the new polling places and for whatever reason, many did not know about the change. I think as people get use to it, the turn out will get better.
Congrats to the
Congrats to the winners.
There is no reason at all to open and staff another polling place for an election with less than ten percent turnout. State Senator Grisanti has a bill in that would move school board elections to November. I like the idea.
Chris, That would be great if
Chris,
That would be great if he can get it done.
Chris - I believe the
Chris - I believe the Grisanti bill was only for the Buffalo City School District. I could be wrong though.