Four former Northern Lebanon school directors to run as independents
Photo by Submitted to Lebanon Daily News
Candidates, from left, David Graybill, Brian Wolfe, Roy Zimmerman and Richard Rabuck are running as independents for Northern Lebanon school board.
(Jonestown, Lebanon County) — Four former Northern Lebanon School District directors with a combined 44 years experience who are dissatisfied with the current state of affairs on the board and the slate of eight candidates running for it in the Primary Election have announced they will run as independents in the fall.
David Graybill, Richard Raybuck, Brian Wolfe, and Roy Zimmeran said in a news release they will run as a team with the political group name NL Leaders United.
At last week’s Northern Lebanon school board meeting Graybill, Wolfe, and Zimmerman announced plans to mount a write-in campaign.
Rabuck added his name to the group and together they decided that going the independent route was a better method for getting on the fall ballot when they will face the winners of the Primary Election. Those candidates who are running for five seats and have all cross-filed include Joann Biever, Rachel England, Nate Erdman, Beth Heckman, Staci Murray, Amy Sell,Laura Snavely and Susan Werner.
To qualify for the fall ballot as independents the four must first file nominating papers with 30 signatures by August 3, said Lori Oliver, Lebanon County’s director of elections. That number is based on two percent of the top vote getter in the previous municipal election two years ago, as required by the state’s election code, she said.
“We are already well on our way and expect to file well before the August deadline,” Rabuck said.
A resident of Swatara Township, Rabuck is a 2000 graduate of Northern Lebanon High School who currently works as a regional director of asset protection for Weis Markets. When first elected in 2001, he was the youngest school board member in Pennsylvania history. He has a daughter attending first grade in the district and another who will be entering kindergarten in two years.
“Over the past several months I have watched as the needs of our community’s children have been eroded along with the integrity of the board,” he said. “Today, we are taking the first step towards restoring integrity and placing our children first by announcing our campaign as we seek the support of the community for a spot on the Northern Lebanon School Board.”
Graybill of East Hanover Township is the owner of an animal feed business. During his previous term on the board he played a key role in establishing the student representative position, as well as expanding the district’s agricultural program through the expansion of the curriculum.
“I will work to find real solutions to the problems facing the district, to deal with residents honestly and respectfully and to have the board focus on the children just as I have done in the past,” said Graybill. “We cannot waiver in this commitment as we seek to educate tomorrow’s leaders.
Wolfe, who lives in Swatara Township, is a 1969 graduate of Northern Lebanon High School who will be retiring in June from TE Connectivity where he works as a project manager in their data and devices division. He has served 20 years on the Northern Lebanon School bard, including seven years as its president.
“In this tumultuous time district residents need to elect board members who have a demonstrated track record of integrity and trust and who will always put the needs of residents and their children first,” he said. “I will strive to continue in that leadership role and work with fellow board members to provide a vision moving Northern Lebanon forward.”
A resident of Bethel Township for the past 27 years, Zimmerman is the director of GSH Home Med Care. He previously served 12 years on the Northern Lebanon school board, including five years as its president. He also served as the Chairman of the Management Committee for the majority of his time in office.
“Our job as a board is to ensure that each and every student leaves the care of the district ready to take on the challenges of their next stage of life,” said Zimmerman. “Our agenda in seeking the community’s support for a spot on the board is in line with this need. We are not here to address one issue or one purpose, rather we are here asking for your support so we can see our community and it’s values carried on for future generations.”
This article comes to us through a partnership between Lebanon Daily News and WITF.
Related
Parents say Lebanon County School District fails to hold superintendent accountable.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
