The battle to fill a BOE seat

Reps ignoring the will of the people

Listen to the will of the people.

This fundamental tenet of democracy is entrusted to Stamford's elected officials, including the Board of Representatives. On Feb. 6, The Board of Representatives will choose between endorsed Democratic Party candidate Jennienne Burke and Jackie Pioli to fill the Board of Education vacancy resulting from Benjamin Lee's resignation. A majority of the Board of Representatives is poised to openly disregard the majority of you, Stamford's voting public, by appointing Ms. Pioli to fill this vacancy.

Ms. Pioli's tumultuous term on the Board of Education resulted in her failure to receive the Democratic Party's endorsement for re-election in 2021. Rather than primary onto the ballot, Ms. Pioli left the Democratic Party to run as an “unaffiliated candidate” against the party she once supported. Notably, the top three candidates for the Board of Education that year received between 12,476 and 13,240 votes. You, the voters, overwhelmingly rejected Ms. Pioli as the only incumbent in that race, and she placed seventh among eight candidates with only 4,147 votes.

This was a decisive public referendum, and the message was clear. Jackie Pioli has not earned the public's trust or support for another term in office due to her boisterous and unprofessional conduct. Her behavior directly contributed to claims of a hostile work environment by our schools' staff and administrators, costing taxpayers nearly half a million dollars in legal fees and exposing our city to years of litigation.

Yet, she re-joined the Democratic Party in an apparent effort to circumvent the electorate by being appointed to fill this vacancy (which must go to a Democrat by statute), bolstered by members of the Board of Representatives who are brazenly choosing to ignore the will of an overwhelming majority of voters. By casting your voice and your vote aside, they will have effectively substituted their will for yours.

For the countless occasions on which elected Representatives have emphasized the importance of listening to the public, engaging the people, and representing your interests, appointing Ms. Pioli amounts to rank hypocrisy and is a disservice to our city. The vote of 40 Representatives should not negate the overwhelming will of thousands.

Jennienne Burke earned the party's endorsement in a vote that saw 75 percent of Democratic City Committee members choosing not to support Ms. Pioli. Ms. Burke is a consummate professional having served more than two terms on the Board of Education, including as its president. Most importantly, she received more votes than any other Board of Education candidate in both of her fullterm elections, including as recently as 2019.

Regardless of your party affiliation, I urge all of you to contact your local representatives and tell them to remember how you, the voters, overwhelmingly spoke in November 2021. Urge those who were elected to represent your interests that they should honor your collective decision.

Tell them to listen to the will of the people.

Eric Morson is deputy majority leader (D-13) of the Stamford Board of Representatives.