School board candidates speak to Fremont Kiwanis at candidate forum

Fremont school board candidates explained why they think voters should choose them and local ballot issues were discussed at a forum hosted by Fremont Kiwanis on Thursday.

The event was moderated by retired Judge Mike Burkett, who also presented two state issues: Issue 1, the amendment relating to abortion and reproductive decisions, and Issue 2, legalization of recreational marijuana.

"With school board, people need to know who these folks are, because it affects us locally," Burkett said.

While all of the city's elected offices are on the November ballot, the only contested race in Fremont is for school board. Six candidates are running for three open seats.

Each candidate was given three minutes to present themselves to the audience of about 40 at the Kiwanis forum.

Alexander Gorobetz and Laura Lehmann spoke to the audience and Kathleen Nalley, wife of candidate Don Nalley, read a letter on behalf of her husband. The other three candidates, who did not attend, are Kara Eisenhauer, Mary Alice Espiritu and Sarah Lewis. Espiritu and Lewis are incumbents.

Gorobetz is retired from the school district, after holding several positions, including having been a teacher at the beginning of his career and returning, after his retirement, as a substitute principal. He also served on the board for 12 years. He has not been a member for the last two years.

Preparing for superintendent's possible retirement

He told the audience of his expectation that Superintendent John Detwiler might be retiring and he would like to be on the board during the search for a replacement.

He said he was on the board during a period where there was significant construction with new buildings, repairs and renovations.

"We rebuilt the school district, pretty much," Gorobetz said. "My goal has always been, regardless of the position I have been in, to ensure that all students in Fremont have the same opportunities, or better opportunities, as every other student in the country."

"I'm a 1996 graduate of Fremont Ross High School," Lehmann said. "I currently work at Countryside Manor, which is a nursing home, here in Fremont. I want to switch gears, now, and see what I can do for the kids."

She has worked at Countryside for 25 years. For the last four years she has been the activities director.

She has two children, both of whom graduated from Fremont Ross. Lehman said they were multi-sport athletes and she was involved in support of the football team.

"Now that my children are graduated, I can hopefully focus my attention back on the Fremont school system and try to help as many kids as we can," Lehmann said. "I want to see what areas they need help in. I know that they are struggling."

Nalley read a letter written by her husband, candidate Don Nalley, who was in Georgia at the time of the forum for their grandson's last football game of the year.

"As a candidate for the Fremont City Board of Education I see this opportunity as a continuatiuon of my public service commitment to Fremont, and in particular, the education of our children," Nalley wrote. "I have been involved in many aspects of our public school system, from taking on key leadership roles with levy and building campaigns to the development of the Fremont City School Business Advisory Council.

"I believe in a strong public school system and am particularly proud of the overall excellent education that my children received," Nalley wrote.

Kathleen Nalley then added words of her own.

"Don has always recognized that the schools are the heart of the community. How we support them is then returned to us in manyfold ways: We draw business to Fremont, we draw quality and dedicated educators, and we gain children prepared for their life's journey," Nalley said on behalf of her husband.

Road tax, health department levy, mental health levy

Three local issues were were also presented: Mayor Danny Sanchez discussed the new road tax, Sandusky County Health Department Director Bethany Brown presented the department's renewal levy, and the renewal levy for the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board was explained by Executive Director Mircea Handru.

Sanchez, who is running unopposed for reelection as mayor, laid out the history of the road tax, which voters defeated twice in previous elections.

"I think one of the reasons it went down is voters felt that it was too much," Sanchez said.

The difference this time is that the income tax increase would be half what was previously attempted, at 0.25%, for a 5-year period. He said that the average cost would be $2 per week for an individual with a $40,000 income.

"This should generate anywhere from 10-to-12 million dollars per year, for five years," Sanchez said. "We are still applying for federal grants and state grants. Most grants take a 10-20% match. We need this street levy, to apply for those grants, so we can put matching dollars toward those grants."

Handru discussed the renewal levy for the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Wyandot Counties, which would be for a 5-year, 0.65 mill levy to address requirement of the county's alcohol, drug addiction and mental health joint county service district in Sandusky County. The estimated annual cost to a property owner with a $100,000 house is $21 per month of the county auditor’s appraised value.

In addition to outlining some of the services provided by the board, Handru also pointed out that the revenue collected by the levy would be directly used only for Sandusky County purposes.

The proposed tax levy for the Health Department is for a renewal of the 5-year, 0.5 mill levy. If approved, the annual cost to a property owner would be $15 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value. The estimated value, as determined by the county auditor, to the Sandusky County Combined General Health District would result in a collection of $711,000 annually.

Sandusky County Auditor Jerri Miller pointed out that next year's rates come out in December and that these are estimated taxes, should the ballot issues pass. She recommended that interested property owners try out the Levy Tax Estimator function on the auditor's website at sanduskycountyauditor.us. Because each parcel is different, start by going to the parcel address and use the "Other Information" button to reach the estimator function.

Burkett also commented about the importance of voter participation in past elections, especially "off-year" elections.

"Judges have an obligation to educate the public. So many of these folks don't have the information, or they don't know who the candidates are. There are very few public forums to introduce the candidates. That's what we try to do here, for both the primary and general," Burkett said.

"When half the people who are eligible to vote are registered, and then only half of those vote, it's a minority. Our country is based on freedom of speech, and all these wonderful freedoms, we need to get more people interested in their government," he said.

rlapointe@gannett.com

419-332-2674

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Fremont Kiwanis hosts local candidate and issues forum