Record-Journal
12-06-2007, 12:44 AM
By Amanda Falcone, Record-Journal staff
MERIDEN — Mark A. Hughes was elected Board of Education president Wednesday, taking the title away from longtime leader Frank J. Kogut.
“This is the price you have to pay for not taking orders from the Democratic chairwoman,” said Kogut, who has led the board since 1991. “I was willing to pay that price.”
After Wednesday’s elections were complete, Kogut thanked those who supported him and said he would continue to work with the board. He then closed the board’s organizational meeting, and Hughes took over, opening the board’s regular meeting.
“Frank, I think, was a class act tonight,” Hughes said.
The selection of the board’s leaders has been controversial — an issue that has divided the nine-member group. Democrats, the majority party on the board, could not agree on a vice president. Democratic Town Chairwoman Mildred Torres-Ferguson and four of the Democratic board members believed a Democrat should sit in the position, and they wanted that person to be Hughes. Kogut and Barbara Sokol supported Republican Robert E. Kosienski Jr.
The disagreement prompted Hughes to challenge Kogut for the president’s seat. Hughes secured his seat by offering leadership positions to Republican Leonard F. Suzio and Democrats Michael P. Cardona and Thomas E. Bruenn. Suzio is now vice president, Cardona is secretary and Bruenn treasurer.
Loyal to the party that asked him to run, John Lineen backed the four.
But at Wednesday’s board meeting, it was not as simple as one vote for each position.
All nine board members were nominated for at least one leadership position. The group voted on nominations until someone received at least five votes.
For example, when Kogut received only four votes for president, Republican Scott Hozebin, who had voted in favor of Kogut, nominated fellow Republican Kosienski. When he failed to secure five votes, Democrat Barbara Sokol nominated Hozebin. Hughes eventually was nominated and got five votes in his favor. Sokol, Hozebin, Kogut and Kosienski voted against him.
The election process for vice president, secretary and treasurer proceeded in a similar manner, but ultimately Suzio, Cardona and Bruenn had the votes to win leadership positions.
Hughes said he was not sure if he agreed with how the elections were run, but said he was fine with it in the end. “I guess they were trying to make a point,” he said of Kogut, Kosienski, Sokol and Hozebin.
Watching the board pick its leaders Wednesday were several city residents and three city councilors: George McGoldrick, the council’s liaison to the board, Majority Leader Michael S. Rohde and Brian F. Kogut, son of Frank Kogut.
“I’m a little ashamed by this election,” said resident Gwen Samuels. “This is reality TV.”
Unlike Samuels, Hughes said the meeting went well. “I think everyone handled themselves with class and dignity,” he said.
Resident Bob Crane, who ran on We the People’s ticket for the board in November, also expressed his displeasure, saying he was upset by recent comments made by board members that appeared in the Record-Journal.
“I expected better,” he said.
As for Hughes, Crane said he is concerned about his selection as president and is of the same opinion that he formulated during the campaign season. “I am worried about why Mr. Hughes needs to be the center of attention,” he said.
Hughes responded that Crane based his opinion on a misunderstanding.
Like the members of the public who spoke Wednesday, Hughes said he hopes the board members can get beyond their differences and work together.
“It is just one vote,” he said.
As Hughes works to unify the board, residents told him they would be paying attention.
“Make no mistake about it,” Samuels said. “People will be watching.”
afalcone@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2232
MERIDEN — Mark A. Hughes was elected Board of Education president Wednesday, taking the title away from longtime leader Frank J. Kogut.
“This is the price you have to pay for not taking orders from the Democratic chairwoman,” said Kogut, who has led the board since 1991. “I was willing to pay that price.”
After Wednesday’s elections were complete, Kogut thanked those who supported him and said he would continue to work with the board. He then closed the board’s organizational meeting, and Hughes took over, opening the board’s regular meeting.
“Frank, I think, was a class act tonight,” Hughes said.
The selection of the board’s leaders has been controversial — an issue that has divided the nine-member group. Democrats, the majority party on the board, could not agree on a vice president. Democratic Town Chairwoman Mildred Torres-Ferguson and four of the Democratic board members believed a Democrat should sit in the position, and they wanted that person to be Hughes. Kogut and Barbara Sokol supported Republican Robert E. Kosienski Jr.
The disagreement prompted Hughes to challenge Kogut for the president’s seat. Hughes secured his seat by offering leadership positions to Republican Leonard F. Suzio and Democrats Michael P. Cardona and Thomas E. Bruenn. Suzio is now vice president, Cardona is secretary and Bruenn treasurer.
Loyal to the party that asked him to run, John Lineen backed the four.
But at Wednesday’s board meeting, it was not as simple as one vote for each position.
All nine board members were nominated for at least one leadership position. The group voted on nominations until someone received at least five votes.
For example, when Kogut received only four votes for president, Republican Scott Hozebin, who had voted in favor of Kogut, nominated fellow Republican Kosienski. When he failed to secure five votes, Democrat Barbara Sokol nominated Hozebin. Hughes eventually was nominated and got five votes in his favor. Sokol, Hozebin, Kogut and Kosienski voted against him.
The election process for vice president, secretary and treasurer proceeded in a similar manner, but ultimately Suzio, Cardona and Bruenn had the votes to win leadership positions.
Hughes said he was not sure if he agreed with how the elections were run, but said he was fine with it in the end. “I guess they were trying to make a point,” he said of Kogut, Kosienski, Sokol and Hozebin.
Watching the board pick its leaders Wednesday were several city residents and three city councilors: George McGoldrick, the council’s liaison to the board, Majority Leader Michael S. Rohde and Brian F. Kogut, son of Frank Kogut.
“I’m a little ashamed by this election,” said resident Gwen Samuels. “This is reality TV.”
Unlike Samuels, Hughes said the meeting went well. “I think everyone handled themselves with class and dignity,” he said.
Resident Bob Crane, who ran on We the People’s ticket for the board in November, also expressed his displeasure, saying he was upset by recent comments made by board members that appeared in the Record-Journal.
“I expected better,” he said.
As for Hughes, Crane said he is concerned about his selection as president and is of the same opinion that he formulated during the campaign season. “I am worried about why Mr. Hughes needs to be the center of attention,” he said.
Hughes responded that Crane based his opinion on a misunderstanding.
Like the members of the public who spoke Wednesday, Hughes said he hopes the board members can get beyond their differences and work together.
“It is just one vote,” he said.
As Hughes works to unify the board, residents told him they would be paying attention.
“Make no mistake about it,” Samuels said. “People will be watching.”
afalcone@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2232