Mancini's Commentaries

Living and dying by the political sword

I was wondering when someone was going to cut to the chase. The Wood County Board of Education Tuesday rejected a local pay raise for teachers and service employees. "If you don't consider this issue an important one for the employees of Wood County, then I hope all of you enjoy the remainder of your board term, because I am certain the WVSSPA, the AFT and the WVEA will join together to see that we elect future board members who care for and about all the employees in Wood County,' said Vicki Squires, president of the service personnel association. Then this from Bob Mortgenstern, regional representative of the West Virginia American Federation of Teachers: "We're very upset with the direction the school board has chosen to go. We believe there has been a breakdown in trust. Unlike a bruise, this cut will take a long time to heal." The implication is watch out for the next election. Board members took offense to the comments, but why is it offensive when someone exercises their political rights by disagreeing with you and not wanting you in office? Teachers have organized into an effective voting bloc. I know of two other former board members who were in the outs with the teachers and were axed in the next election.