Lash: Ponns Cohen Has 'Personal Courage to Speak Out'

To the Editor:

I am voting to re-elect Marianna Ponns Cohen to the Board of Education and urge others to do the same. Here’s why. 

In her first term, Marianna has proven that she has the commitment and energy needed to be a member of this important Town Board. Marianna has demonstrated the intellectual ability to analyze and discuss critical, and often complicated, issues that will determine the future course of our children’s education. Marianna’s views are built on evidence: Where has this new proposal been tried before? What results did they get? She has repeatedly urged the Board to provide the public with a fact based, open and transparent decision-making process.

Most important, she has the personal courage to speak out. For this, she has been criticized. I wish we had more people like her involved in Town government. The public is best served by more, not less, discussion of the issues our schools face, and the proposed solutions the Board is considering.

Jim Lash

First Selectman 2003-2007