Campaign to Elect Ira THOR, 2016

Last November, I emerged as a write-in candidate for the Board of Education just two weeks prior to the election and was humbled by overwhelming community support. Based on that support and the clear need to have current district parents serving on the Board of Education, I will be a candidate on the official ballot on November 8, 2016.

I'm asking for your support! Please donate what you can, perhaps $2, $3, even $5.

I feel it's very important to be involved in the community in which you make your life. I feel strongly that the current Board of Ed, as a whole, has not always represented the voters in the district well.

The clear public dissatisfaction with the current Board of Education that became evident in 2015 is what motivated me to run. I am a parent, not a politician. But I'm also not someone in life who cannot just sit idly by when I know I can make it better.

The first priority of any Board of Ed is the best interests of a township’s students and families. I don't believe that's always the case right now in Howell.

If elected, I will always keep opens lines of communication with the public. I will listen. Anyone can contact me at any time about anything related to the Board. I will work to make sure that transparency comes to the BOE, including with its financials. We owe that to the taxpayers.

I consider myself to be a moderate, progressive thinker who can rationally see both sides of any issue. I'm not afraid to address challenges. As a parent and a taxpayer, I have a vested interest in making sure this is done right, for the student and for their families.

I'm a father of three. My wife, Kathryn, is an LDTC in another school system. We are the parents of Gavin (13), Kendra (9) and Julia (2). Gavin is an eighth grader in the Middle School North Project Plus program who began his Howell schooling in second grade; Kendra is a fourth grader at Ardena School. Julia will be there one day soon.

Civically, I was appointed to the Board of Education Technology Committee as a civilian representative in 2013. I coached the Howell United Soccer Club Blaze girls’ travel team for two seasons (2014-16).

Professionally, I am an award-winning national leader in the athletic communications industry and a professional sports announcer in the metro area. I am the current President of D3SIDA (Division III College Sports Information Directors of America) and a member of the Board of Directors for the 3200-member CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America Board of Directors). I have served as the Director of Athletic Communications at New Jersey City University in Jersey City since 2000. In my career, I have won 20 awards on the local, regional and national level for my work in college athletics and communications.

I am working at the highest levels of the NCAA dealing with issues that affect schools nationally. I have also dealt with the media at the highest levels in the country.

I know how to communicate with people. I know how to listen to people's concerns. I know how to lead in a positive, engaging way.

If elected, among the things I will want to focus on:
◘ Transparency in the Board of Education;
◘ Budgeting and expenditures;
◘ Effects of the Restructuring (both positive and negative) after more than a year of its implementation and making sure any corrections that need to be made are made;
◘ Evaluating the overcrowding in the middle schools following the restructuring;
◘ Effect the restructuring had on the Project PLUS, Project GOAL and ECG programs;
◘ Evaluating school programs impacted by the restructuring (band, sports, etc.);
◘ Impact that future housing developments, both approved and proposed, will have on school capacity ;
◘ Support and collaborate with the district’s special education programs.

Thank YOU for your support!