In a letter to the editor, Hoboken resident Kevin Davis questions why Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson is treated different than board of education candidate Pavel Sokolov over their ties to the Republican party.
Dear editor,
As a lifelong active Democrat, I occasionally cross the aisle to support Republican elected and appointed officials. It includes our superintendent who was a registered Republican until right after the school board slates were announced.
Why didn’t they attack Hoboken Superintendent Christine Johnson?
Hoboken Superintendent Dr. Johnson has added educational programming and kept the schools open during the heat of the pandemic. Dr. Johnson is the rare educational leader that everyone likes. Dr. Johnson did all of this, while registered with the Republican party.
Donna Magen and Cindy Wiegand are two great Kids First candidates running for school board. Are Donna and Cindy not qualified because they are not registered with a political party? So, Pavel Sokolov is not qualified because he is?
In 2012, I ran for Croton-on-Hudson Village Trustee as a Democrat and won at the age of 23, becoming the youngest elected official in Westchester County history.
I consider myself to be a member of the Democratic wing of the Democratic party, but in non-partisan elections, it’s important to vote for the best candidates.
For me, that is supporting Pavel Sokolov, Cindy Wiegand, and Donna Magen for the Hoboken School Board.
It is also continuing to support Dr. Johnson, even if she reregisters with the Republican Party.
Vote Kids First on November 8th.
Kevin Davis
Hoboken resident