Cape District voters go to polls May 12
Voters head to the polls May 12 to elect two people to Cape Henlopen school board. Members serve five years, so the victors are certain to guide the district through major issues as our region grows.
In the area B contest, Gary Wray has a long history with Cape schools, having served as teacher, principal and former school board president. The grandparent of children in Cape schools, he brings a lifelong interest in education to his quest to retake a board seat.
His opponent, Jason Bradley, is not a career educator. He’s a parent of two public school children, one attending Sussex Consortium. He’s also manager of a restaurant with $5 million in sales, seeing a different side of education as he hires employees. Also active in community organizations, Bradley would bring an entirely different skill set and point of view to the board.
In the race for the at-large seat, incumbent Roni Posner has been a steady and thoughtful voice, consistently working to solve problems by involving stakeholders. Her opponent, Jose Saez, is a Cape grad whose education took him to medical school and who now practices in the Cape Region.
Forum questions have focused on the future of Milton elementary schools and the lack of diversity in the teaching ranks. Wray was on the board that established two Milton elementaries, and Posner has served for five years on a board that has discussed but has yet to resolve the issues.
While all four candidates have the intelligence and experience to serve the board well, Bradley and Saez both bring new perspectives to a board facing complex challenges. Both have school-age children, giving them day-today insight into the difficulties children face navigating school – or in Saez’s case, navigating home schooling – in the age of social media.
With great appreciation for the past contributions of Wray and Posner, the Cape Gazette endorses the new, independent voices of Bradley and Saez in Tuesday’s election.
That said, the most important voice in this election is yours. Cast your vote on Tuesday, May 12, at Rehoboth Elementary, Mariner Middle School or Cape High. Polls are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
