April 13, 1997

Reporter Dispatch

One Gannett Drive

White Plains, New York 10604

"In Reply"

This letter is in reply to the editorial that appeared in your April 13 edition. The subject of that editorial was a forum conducted at the Mt. Kisco library titled "The Religious Right and Local School Boards Fact or Fiction". The advertised speaker Deanna Duby of that well known middle of the road group People for the American Way was hosted by the Westchester Coalition for Democracy, a local group called PACE which is self described as nonpartisan and unfortunately a number of churches, synagogue and religious groups.

Ms. Duby told stories of stealth school board takeovers by religious fundamentalists supported in some cases by taxpayer groups using the tired old example of the Vista California case. As it turned out Ms. Duby was simply setting the stage for the real unadvertised stealth speaker of the evening, Ms. Karen Akst Schecter. Ms. Schecter is a former Bedford board of Education president and current member who is not seeking re-election when her term expires this July.

Beginning with a well crafted legal disclaimer to avoid libel action she proceeded with a twenty minute diatribe. She began her diatribe by quoting Kelly Jones, president of The Taxpayers Alliance of New York and myself, an officer and board member of the same organization. I am also a member of the Taxpayers Oversight Committee a local independent taxpayer advocacy group. To be attacked in the same sentence with Kelly Jones is an honor and a privilege. Mr. Jones, in his position of Deputy Director of Economic Development for the state of New York. has probably done more for the taxpayers of this state in a few short years than Ms. Schecter could do in a lifetime. Having said that Ms. Schecter is perfectly within legal and ethical limits to refer to both myself and Mr. Jones because of our aforementioned associations.

Where Ms. Schecter crossed the line of decency, in my opinion, was when she continued and managed to malign no fewer than nine community members using insinuations, innuendos, half truths and outright lies. Ms. Schecter wove a web of conspiracy, using murky allegations, that painted with a broad brush some of the finest community members in our school district. She conducted this mudslinging by describing her victims in enough detail without actually naming names so that anyone who is the least bit cognizant of district activities would recognize the individuals. Avoiding Ms. Schecters visceral attack were the two board candidates her group is obviously supporting. This fact makes this partisan political speech, delivered by the person who wants to be remembered as a voice of mediation and civility, that much more disturbing.

What makes this an issue that goes way beyond the borders of Bedford Central School District is the fact that the Westchester Coalition for Democracy and the Hollywood based People for the American Way are actively getting involved in local school board races. Their involvement is not to encourage open and legitimate debate on issues that not only impact the cost of public education but the quality of public education as well. No, their involvement is rather to assist local groups in establishing an atmosphere of fear and distrust in a McCarthy like fashion to derail the democratic process.

What we should really be fearful of are the tactics of groups like the Westchester Coalition for Democracy. They claim to embrace democracy while really embracing an ends justifies the means philosophy to silence and remove from the debate any opponents.