Politics is in the air throughout Worthington. Even though the President and Congress are not facing election, many local offices are up for grabs.  Candidates for school board, city council, and township trustee are hitting the sidewalks, going door to door with vote-for-me literature. Meanwhile, their colorful campaign signs are popping up on the lawns of their supporters.

My wife and I have chosen to express our support for one candidate through a letter to the editor of our community newspaper. Becky has known Worthington School Board President Jennifer Best much longer than I have, but in the years since my move to Worthington, I have been impressed by Jennifer’s leadership style. I appreciate her business-like attitude as well as her willingness to take a stand on a wide range of issues, not just those affecting local schools. Accordingly, when Becky asked me to write a letter supporting her re-election to the school board, I readily complied.

The letter that follows may be revised before it is sent to the editor, but the essential points it makes will likely remain intact.

What does Worthington need in the way of school board leadership over the next few years? Some believe fresh faces and new ideas are essential. Others feel Worthington schools need leaders who have children currently in the classroom. While not discounting these opinions, we believe the highest priority should be electing people with a proven record of commitment, service, and success. That is why we support the re-election of Jennifer Best to the Worthington school board. There is not enough room in this letter to cover all her activities and accomplishments during her years on the board, but highlights would include the following:

• Ensuring community involvement as the board makes enrollment, facility, and academic decisions that will shape the future of the district.
• Serving four terms as board president
• Serving as a volunteer with the Project More reading program and the Worthington Libraries Homework Help Center
• Making difficult but fair decisions about school closures and budget cuts
• Advocating for co-curricular and enrichment opportunities to keep kids engaged in school and excited about learning.
• Working with legislators, including Representatives Hughes and Duffey, to ensure the needs of Worthington schools are considered in legislative decisions.

Jennifer’s roots in the community run deep. She is a lifelong resident of the Worthington school district, having graduated from Worthington High School (now Thomas Worthington High School) and seen her two children graduate from Worthington Kilbourne High School. Her membership in the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce and the Dublin-Worthington Rotary Club enables her to build bridges with community leaders outside the school system.

Worthington schools have benefitted from Jennifer’s leadership and service over the last 16 years; re-electing her to the school board will assure that those benefits continue.

Sincerely,

Rebecca C. Princehorn and Clayton D. Cormany

I don’t know whether the letter will do any good, but it can’t do any harm either.  In any case, I felt good when I wrote it. Jennifer is an excellent school board member, a bridge builder and a consensus maker. Our whole country could use more leaders like her. Although she’d probably be effective at the state or even national level, I hope she stays in Worthington. We need her here.