School Committee Candidate Bob Richardson

Seekonk Patch sent a list of questions to the seven candidates running for two school committee seats in the April 1 election. Below are the questions along with the answers submitted by candidate Bob Richardson.

—Jonathan Friedman, editor

Name: Robert "Bob" Richardson

Age: 56

How many years have you lived in Seekonk? Lived in Seekonk over 50 years with my wife Donna

How many children do you have in the Seekonk public schools? Do you have any children who previously attended Seekonk public schools or plan to send children to the Seekonk Public schools in the future? Four children attended Seekonk Schools and graduated.

What is your current involvement with the school district (PTO membership, volunteering, etc.)? No answer

What is your day Job? If you are retired, what was your former job? I work in Amica Mutual Insurance Co. in their Data Processing Center

Why are you running for school committee? I want to get back involved because I've watched and had serious questions about their budgeting and what is there plan for the future. I feel we've got to go to the State House and follow up on the statement at the Board of Selectmen meeting three years ago. I quote, "Seekonk is in line to receive five million dollar additional from the State." Ladies and gentlemen trying to raise money by booster, signs or any other local campaign will raise dollars but not enough. So fellow residents I feeling going to the State House is our best path or "Live within our budget!!!"

What makes you a better choice than your opponents? I have six years of experience on both the Seekonk School Committee and the Board of Selectman as well a member of the Finance Committee. I've had experience with budgets, hiring and, negotiating contracts especially my previous six years on the school committee we accomplished so much by reducing class sizes, implementing technology throughout the school system and eliminating user fees as well getting employees to pay more for their health care change the high school schedule from four period day to five period day on a seven day rotation. By making these changes it provided more capital to provide more teaching and students interaction.     

What is the state of the school district? Are there problems that need fixing? If so, what would you do to fix them? I believe in the past 7 years with the closing of North School, overcrowding in the elementary classes and changing are education system to teaching to a test MCAS, we lost sight of where we we're going.

As a member of the school committee, you have just one vote and need at least two people to agree with you to get anything approved. How well do you work with others? What is your experience with productively working in a group? With my many years of experience, along with my ability to work with anyone for the best interest of the Seekonk I feel over the next three years we’ll accomplish a lot and create a plan for the future.

What do you like to do in your free time? I'm an ASA Umpire presently and in the past I've coached numerous teams and been a member of the Parks and Recreation, President of Seekonk Girls Softball as well as boards for both Girls/Boys Basketball. 

Is there anything else we should know about you? I'd like to ask the residents of Seekonk to please come out and vote April 1 at Seekonk High School.