School trustee favourites in Ottawa and around Ontario

Given the lack of media coverage of school board elections, people are asking whom I would support.  Here are my favourites.  There are many good candidates out there and this list is not exhaustive.

In Ottawa, Christine Boothby in Zone 2 Kanata and Shawn Menard in Zone 9 Rideau-Vanier/Capital have been acclaimed.  Trustees Rob Campbell, Bronwyn Funiciello, Katie Holtzhauer and Jennifer McKenzie are not running again.

I am recommending the following candidates because I have worked with and know them or I generally agree with their approach:

• Donna Blackburn in Zone 3 Barrhaven/Knoxdale-Merivale, 
• Theresa Kavanagh in Zone 4 Bay, 
• Anita Olsen Harper in Zone 5 College, 
• Chris Ellis in Zone 6 Alta Vista/Rideau-Rockcliffe, 
• Curtis Bulatovich in Zone 7 Gloucester-Southgate/Osgoode/Gloucester South-Nepean,
• Erica Braunovan in Zone 10 Kitchissippi/Somerset, 
• Shirley Seward in Zone 11 River, 
• Michael Urminsky in Zone 12 Beacon Hill-Cyrville/Innes.

Elsewhere in Ontario, some trustees I have worked with are either not running this time around or have been acclaimed.  I have worked with many of the following candidates and have great deal of respect for the following trustees:

• Durham District School Board: Michael Barrett in Oshawa;
• Grand Erie District School Board:  Carol Ann Sloat in Brantford, Don Werden in Norfolk County;
• Greater Essex District School Board: Cheryl Lovell in Windsor, Julia Burgess in Kingsville, Essex, Harrow;
• Halton District School Board: Donna Danielli in Milton, Don Vrooman in Oakville;
• Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board: Todd White in Ward 5, Dawn Danko in Ward 7, Wes Hicks in Ward 8, Stefanie Sheils in Wards 9, 10, Alex Johnstone in Wards 11, 12;
• Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board: Cathy Abraham in Clarington;
• Keewatin-Patricia District School Board: Gerald Kleist in Ear Falls;
• Lakehead District School Board: George Saarinen, Marg Arnone;
• Rainbow District School Board: Tyler Campbell in Sudbury;
• Renfrew County District School Board: David Shields;
• Simcoe County District School Board: Michele Locke in Midland, Tay, Severn;
• Superior-Greenstone District School Board: Mark Mannisto in Greenstone;
• Toronto District School Board: Chris Glover in Ward 2, Howard Kaplan in Ward 5, Shelley Laskin in Ward 11, Mari Rutka in Ward 12, Cathy Dandy in Ward 15, Sheila Cary-Meagher in Ward 16, Jerry Chadwick in Ward 22;
• Upper Canada District School Board: Jeff McMillan in Ward 5, Arthur Buckland in Ward 9;
• Upper Grand District School Board: Mark Bailey in Guelph Wards 1, 5, Marty Fairbairn in Guelph Ward 6/Puslinch;
• Waterloo Region District School Board: Ted Martin in Kitchener, Kathi Smith in Kitchener, Kathleen Woodcock in Waterloo/Wilmot;
• York District School Board: Loralea Carruthers in East Gwillimbury/Whitchurch-Stouffville, Joel Hertz in Vaughan. 

Do your homework on the trustee candidates in your area.  It's All in Your Hands is a great site to find most of the information you'll need to make an informed choice. Education is important.  Vote today.  

The views expressed in this post are personal opinions only.