Thursday event offers opportunity to meet Scranton School Board candidates
The Greater Scranton Martin Luther King Commission is sponsoring Thursday's meet-the-candidates event, which will run from 6-8 p.m. in the fifth-floor Rose Room of the University of Scranton's Brennan Hall. It will feature a Q&A session where members of the MLK Commission will ask questions of the candidates and give audience members an opportunity to ask additional questions, organizers said in an email.
Heather Rhodes, Greater Scranton MLK Commission vice president, said the community has approached the commission over the years seeking information about candidates for the Scranton School Board.
'As a non-partisan group, we collectively decided to give the people the opportunity to learn who the candidates are and what they intend to do for our students if they are elected by hosting a 'Meet the Candidates' event at the University of Scranton,' Rhodes said in a statement. 'We are providing a platform where parents and members of the community may have the opportunity to submit questions or share personal anecdotes for the candidates to consider. This fosters the principle that voters will be equipped with vital information to make informed decisions on May 20th.'
A total of six primary candidates for Scranton school director are vying to advance to November's municipal election, when four seats on the nine-member school board are up for grabs. They include incumbent school Director Danielle Chesek, recently appointed Director Jenna Strzelecki, former Director Carol J. Cleary and fellow candidates Julien M. Wells, John Howe and Joe Brazil.
Chesek, Strzelecki, Wells, Howe and Brazil are all cross-filed, meaning they'll appear on both Democratic and Republican primary ballots seeking both Democratic and Republican nominations to advance to November. There are four Democratic and four GOP nominations to be won Tuesday, respectively, meaning a candidate could hypothetically finish outside of the top four in one party's primary and still secure enough support in the other's to earn a spot on the November ballot.
Cleary, who isn't cross-filed, seeks only a Democratic nomination. She was previously appointed to fill a vacant seat on the school board in January 2022 and served until December 2023, following an unsuccessful run for a full term.
Chesek won election to the school board in 2021, currently serves as the board's vice president and seeks a second term.
Board members appointed Strzelecki late last month to fill the vacancy created by former Director Katie Gilmartin's resignation. She's serving the remainder of Gilmartin's term, which expires in December. That seat is on the ballot this year, with Strzelecki seeking election to a full four-year term.
Brazil is the school district's retired former chief information officer.
Light refreshments will be served at Thursday's MLK Commission-sponsored event. School directors serve without compensation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
a minute ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Compares Himself to Richard Nixon in New Post
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. President Donald Trump drew comparisons with former Republican President Richard Nixon when he posted a photo of himself pointing at Russian President Vladimir Putin in a side-by-side with Nixon doing the same with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Trump has previously compared himself publicly to Nixon in interviews, saying he learned from Nixon and contrasted his own political support to what he described as Nixon's lack of backing during his downfall, according to Forbes. Newsweek reached out to the White House by email on Thursday for comment. Why It Matters Trump met with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, last week to discuss the invasion of Ukraine and seek a way towards a peace deal. Many criticized the president both for his red carpet rollout to greet the Russian president as well as the aftermath, which saw Trump walk away without a deal after saying that he would see such a result as a failure. The two world leaders spoke for two-and-a-half hours and addressed details of a potential ceasefire, and they took no questions immediately after the talks ended. US President Donald Trump smiles during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025. US President Donald Trump smiles during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Trump has vigorously defended his summit with Putin, writing on Truth Social on Sunday: "It's incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me. There is NOTHING I can say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about me. I had a great meeting in Alaska on Biden's stupid War, a war that should have never happened!!!" However, the criticism has persisted even as Trump works towards a potential trilateral meeting that would bring Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky face-to-face for the first time since the invasion started in 2022. Trump again defended his "peace through strength" approach by posting a picture of himself and Putin in a mirror to one of Nixon and Khrushchev. He wrote nothing in the post. Photo comparison posted by President Donald Trump on Truth Social showing himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin in juxtaposition with a photo of President Richard Nixon meeting Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Photo comparison posted by President Donald Trump on Truth Social showing himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin in juxtaposition with a photo of President Richard Nixon meeting Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. via President Donald Trump Truth Social On Truth Social, the president's native platform, many praised Trump with their own meme responses, with many of those posts repeating the "peace through strength" line that the president has used in the past while also denigrating former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. On X, opinions varied more, with some finding the comparison unflattering – not because of Nixon's history, which saw him resign from the presidency after his involvement in the Watergate scandal emerged, but because of the way Nixon and Trump have each approached their respective Russian counterparts. Phillips P. Obrien, a professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, wrote that the "remarkable thing about these pictures Trump just tweeted is that he thinks people won't see the difference between Nixon and Khrushchev disagreeing and he and Putin joking. Putin is clearly laughing." Another user highlighted that Khrushchev and Putin themselves are representative of different geopolitical approaches, with Khruschev responsible for returning Crimea to Ukraine while Putin annexed the region in 2014. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump, in a subsequent Truth Social message, wrote: "It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader's country. It's like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but is not allowed to play offense. There is no chance of winning! It is like that with Ukraine and Russia. Crooked and grossly incompetent Joe Biden would not let Ukraine FIGHT BACK, only DEFEND. How did that work out? Regardless, this is a war that would have NEVER happened if I were President - ZERO CHANCE. Interesting times ahead!!! President DJT." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, in part: "Now, each day carves out the contours of future security architecture for Ukraine. Weapons, funds, cooperation with partners, forces on the ground, in the air, and at sea. And every day, there will be new steps taken by partners to support Ukraine. Thank you to everybody helping." French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week wrote on X: "In Washington, alongside President Zelensky and with our partners, we reiterated to President Trump our commitment to continue uniting our efforts for a strong and lasting peace that preserves Ukraine's interests and the security of Europeans. This peace will necessarily involve providing Ukraine with robust security guarantees, on which we have decided to work very concretely with the United States. It is also clear in our minds that pressure on Russia must continue as long as this peace has not been established."
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How should Democrats engage in the redistricting arms race? Texas, Ohio leaders weigh in
As a nationwide redistricting arms race unfolds, Ohio Democrats say they're ready to fight back against unfair GOP maps when the battle hits the Buckeye State. Across the nation, politicians are jockeying for control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026 by redrawing the districts where candidates run for office. Republicans hope to shore up support heading into the midterm elections, which have traditionally gone poorly for the party in power. Texas Republicans are approving a President Donald Trump-backed map to add GOP congressional seats. Vice President JD Vance asked Indiana Republicans to add one GOP seat there. Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to create five new Democratic seats in the blue state to offset losses in Texas. Some Democrats have been divided on how to respond. But Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder says he looks forward to blue states "throwing down" to create more Democratic districts elsewhere. "I don't think that California went far enough," Scudder said during a news conference with Ohio Democratic Party leader Kathleen Clyde. "I think they should absolutely obliterate Republicans in blue states whenever they are drawing these maps, because that is the only language that these people speak anymore." Clyde was less fiery in her response. "While I'm certainly focused on Ohio, I do think Democrats should feel free to do what is best for their state to fight back against this national Republican power grab," Clyde said. Ohio redistricting starts soon. How will Democrats respond? Ohio is poised to redraw its congressional map this fall because of anti-gerrymandering rules that voters approved in 2018. Without Democratic support, Ohio's first map lasted only four years. Like in Texas, Republicans will control all aspects of redrawing Ohio's congressional map. Ohio's current congressional delegation includes 10 Republicans and five Democrats. With a new map, Republicans could pick up two to three more seats, depending on how aggressive they are. Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou said voters can feel good about redistricting here. 'Ohio voters can have full confidence in the bipartisan, constitutionally established Redistricting Commission as it carries out the responsibility of redrawing our congressional districts," he said. Ohio Democrats have few cards to play, as Republicans control the state legislature, most of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, and all but one seat on the Ohio Supreme Court, which is tasked with determining if the new map violates anti-gerrymandering rules. But Clyde said Ohio Democrats won't compromise and vote for a gerrymandered map. "No Democrat should vote for a map that doesn't represent the will of the voters, and Democrats are unified in our opposition," Clyde said. More: Redistricting: Ohio must draw a new congressional map. Republicans hold all the cards Clyde also outlined options if Republicans approved a map that unfairly increases GOP seats in the state. Ohio Democrats could sue, have Ohioans vote on the map using a process called the referendum or pursue another redistricting reform ballot measure. Texas Democrats, for their part, are already planning to sue over their new congressional map. "We are going to throw down and fight every step of the way. If the maps pass in Texas, we'll see them in court," Scudder said. State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@ or @jbalmert on X. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What options do Democrats have in red state redistricting?
The Hill
30 minutes ago
- The Hill
Montana Republicans call for 50 percent tariff on Russian palladium imports
The Montana congressional delegation is urging President Trump to introduce a 50 percent tariff on Russian palladium imports, after a multinational mining group with a presence in the state submitted a similar request earlier this month. GOP Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines alongside Reps. Ryan Zinke and Tim Downing sent a Thursday letter to the Trump administration, asking officials to 'stop Russia's predatory trade practices and protect American jobs and critical mineral production.' 'Specifically, we urge you to immediately impose a 50 percent tariff on imports of unwrought palladium from Russia in response to their ongoing market manipulation and dumping,' the lawmakers wrote. Russia is currently one of the largest suppliers of palladium to the U.S., and its exports have increased by 42 percent over the last year, according to Reuters. Palladium is a chemical element used in catalytic converters, which converts 90 percent of harmful emissions from car exhaust. Sibanye-Stillwater, the mining company, said prices for the element are at risk of skyrocketing, skewing the global market in favor of Russia and South Africa, which is another large supplier of the chemical. 'Russia currently dominates global palladium production and has exploited this position to undercut American producers,' the GOP group wrote. 'By flooding the U.S. market with underpriced palladium bolstered by heavy state subsidies, lax environmental regulations, and government-controlled mining rights Russia is attempting to wipe out domestic competition and secure monopoly control of a mineral critical to both our defense and energy future,' they added, noting a 'catastrophic' impact on Montana workers. Sibanye-Stillwater's July 30 case will be considered by the federal government within the next year, per the letter, but the Montana Republicans said a 'final remedy' is needed sooner. They've asked the White House to respond promptly. Still, the Trump administration remains locked in peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine. Earlier this month, the president decided to forego secondary sanctions on the Kremlin without explanation.
