HFCS Students Invite Candidates To Forum: Republicans Decline

by Bea Peterson
At the start of the school season HFCS Government teacher Sara Kreiger contacted the Town of Hoosick Democratic and Republican committees to ask their Town Supervisor and Town Council candidates to participate in a forum where students would ask the candidates student created questions. The public would be invited to attend, but they would not be asking any questions. As the students regularly attend Town and Village Board meetings, they are familiar with the rudiments of local government. Similar forums have happened in the past but certainly not in recent years.
[private]The Democratic candidates agreed  to participate any time, anywhere. The Republican Committee declined the invitation. Republican Chairwoman Cindy Mattison responded with a “no,” stating that the “proposal would not be in the best interest of the students or the candidates, for many reasons.” When asked recently to elaborate on that response Mattison pointed out that “Dave Sutton is running for Town Board [council seat] – he is also a school board member – a person that votes on teacher salaries. Dave’s wife [Amy] is a teacher and many of the class members would have had her [as a teacher at some point] – and I heard she was the class advisor.
Therefore, the Committee felt it would be a conflict of interest having the school involved with a fellow candidate so closely connected with one of the candidates for Supervisor.  Sorry it is not working out this year. Perhaps another year when there is not a candidate on either side so closely connected with the school.”
Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly said, “Dave Sutton is running for a Town board seat and is currently a school board member. Dave’s wife is a teacher whom I understand is one of the senior class advisors. I feel there is a conflict of interest here. Personally I’ve found from past experiences the personal interaction you gain while going door to door is far more important than a group type setting.[/private]