I’m Voting “Choice”
in 2016, Huh?
By Joseph Concannon
W
ho could argue that parents choose the schools and educational path their children take? Many of us decided where to settle down and buy homes based upon just how well the school/school district performed. A recent article written by New Yorkers for Choice in Education expands on the choices we make as young adults for our children and states, “Parents have a fundamental right to guide their children’s education.” The article is supported by the 1948 United Nations Declaration on Human Rights which states, “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education to be given to their children.” Of course this begs the question, are parents aware? Most would argue no way, and that knowledge about school choice is rare at best. Shouldn’t we at least ask our elected officials, “what about school choice?”
Mark Cipolla is the Republican and Conservative candidate for New York State Senate in District 11 which is in Northeastern Queens. When asked about the reason he chose to enter the race, he said: “I am tired of seeing career politicians allowed to treat “their” office as theirs, not “ours.” I am tired of seeing career politicians run unopposed because the cost of running a campaign against an incumbent is perceived as cost prohibitive and the uphill battle too daunting.”
Jarret Freeman is the Republican candidate for New York State Senate in District 14 in Eastern Queens. A passionate community activist born and raised in Eastern Queens, Jarret bases the motivation of his campaign on inclusivity, increasing community participation in local politics, and, above all, putting the needs of the community residents first.
Ira Harris is the Republican candidate for New York State Assembly in District 24 whose boundaries snake through Eastern Queens to Richmond Hill. He is running against David Weprin, a career politician, who gets re-elected due to the popularity of his family name. Although the doubters said it couldn’t be done, we proved the doubters wrong when our current Queens County GOP Chairman, Bob Turner defeated David Weprin in a special election and was elected to Congress a few years ago.
Harry Wilson was born and raised in upstate Johnstown, NY. Harry’s mother and paternal grandparents all emigrated to Johnstown from their native Greece, making Harry a first-generation Greek-American. Harry’s father, Jim, was a bartender at his brother’s restaurant, and Harry’s mother, Niki, was a stay-at-home mom until Harry was 11, when looming college commitments led her to take a job operating a sewing machine at a local factory.
