School Board, BudCom Candidates Explain Their Stances

Candidates running in contested races for seats on the Hampton School Board and Hampton Budget Committee addressed voters earlier this week as part of the annual Hampton Parent-Teacher Association Candidates Night.

The following snippets are highlights from the candidates' speeches, and are listed in order of appearance. Hampton selectmen candidates Rick Griffin and Mary-Louise Woolsey also had three minutes to explain their platforms and goals. All of these and other positions are up for grabs at the .

HAMPTON SCHOOL BOARD (choose one for a three-year term)

Ginny Bridle (incumbent)

Early childhood educator for 35 years

Ginny Bridle, a current member of the board and a former selectman and budget committee member, is running for reelection to help Hampton continue to work on providing more "innovative courses" in the classroom and on the computer "so more of our students can succeed."

Bridle, who helped transition Hampton into its own school administrative unit, said the only way for students and local schools to be "successful" is for every part of the community to be involved. She said this can be accomplished through pioneering a new educational public access channel and through making sure "communication" is "open" between "all parties."

"I want to continue to be a part of each child succeeding, making yearly progress and feeling good about themselves," said Bridle, who said her "vision" is to "have 100 percent of our students obtain adequate yearly progress."

Tricia Valcich

Seventh grade science teacher in Seabrook, a district in which she's taught for 28 years

Tricia Valcich, who ran for Hampton School Board in 2012 and a mother of three students who have gone through the Hampton school system, said she "could not be prouder" of Centre School, Marston School and Hampton Academy, and said "one of the reasons" she is running again is "to continue to have our schools be awesome."

Valcich, a firm supporter of heavily incorporating technology into lessons, said the board needs to work with administrators to "make sure all of our students get a quality education." She said that goal can be accomplished through improving the effectiveness of "teaching techniques" and aligning district "benchmarks and standards with the common core."

"We must always try to educate the whole child," said Valcich, calling for the implementation of full-year physical education, art, music and health programs. "We must make decisions based on input from the teaching staff. I will seek input from a wide variety of people. I believe everyone in the town of Hampton benefits from a wonderful school system so I'll ensure all of your voices are heard."

Jerry Znoj

Father, grandfather and retired businessman

Jerry Znoj, who has two years of teaching experience and recently finished a three-year term on the Hampton Board of Selectman, said Hampton's focus should be on providing children "with job skills that fit the marketplace," which he said is "demanding more technological skills."

Znoj, a staunch budgeter, said his "priority is the students' performance" because the student "is No. 1." He said the district does has needs like a new Hampton Academy and a cable channel, "but the children are No. 1."

"We've got to make our kids grade-ready," said Znoj, who said he will "be completely open and objective" on issues that come before the board because he has "no special interests" or hidden agenda. "The sooner the better."

HAMPTON BUDGET COMMITTEE (choose four for three-year terms)

Vic DeMarco (currently serving a one-year term)

Retired Hampton police captain, accountant, manager of three town-owned Hampton Beach parking lots

Vic DeMarco, who's in his fourth term on the budget committee and is a former member of the Winnacunnet Budget Committee, said if reelected he will be "available 24/7" to the voters and will "ask the questions" they ask him "and get the proper answers" those questions "deserve."

"I believe there's been some poor judgment on the part of the [Hampton] Board of Selectmen," said DeMarco, pointing to an issue within the budget process he said he hopes to help correct by working more closely with selectmen. "They're presenting facts that have not been quite as accurate or [well-researched]."

Brian Lapham (currently serving a one-year term)

Experience with managing systems, people and budgets at multimillion-dollar technology supply company

Brian Lapham said he thinks he's "brought consistency" to the budget committee during the four years he's served, and said he would continue to keep a "very level budget" and continue pushing for proper planning for major projects if reelected.

"As long as we can plan for these things, it makes our job easier and we're able to put the time into actually how we can help the taxpayers of Hampton," said Lapham. "As long as we can plan this all works, but if we can't we're all in trouble."

Eileen Latimer (incumbent)

Twelve-year member of the budget committee and current chairwoman

Eileen Latimer is seeking her fifth term on the Hampton Budget Committee, and said if reelected she will continue to work with the rest of the 15-member board to maintain focus and transparency while delving "into every little nuance" of the budget — something she said can bring out "spirited" conversations and contentiousness.

"I have the knowledge through these last 12 years, I think at this point, especially being chairman the last two years, to level that out so we have a good working relationship," said Latimer, who said she will also focus on improving the project planning process and working to improve interactions between both members of her board and between the budget committee and other elected bodies.

Mark McFarlin (incumbent)

North Hampton School teacher with a 20-year business background

Mark McFarlin, who's finishing his first three-year term on the budget committee, said if reelected he'd like to continue the "tremendous things" the committee has accomplished, including several efforts to "get warrant article money put back into the budget."

McFarlin said he also "value[s]" Hampton's public employees and wants to see them have "quality workable contracts in place" [Editor's note: the Public Works Department has been working without a contract for seven years]. McFarlin said he also thinks the town is "finally on the right path" with planning for major projects and would like to see it continue.

Jerry Znoj

Forty-eight-year industry and fiscal management background

Jerry Znoj, a former selectmen known for his penchant for taking budgets "line by line," said if elected to the budget committee he will "pound" the spending and do "due diligence" to ensure there are no illegal encumbrances.

"I'm not laid back when it comes to budgets," said Znoj. "I'm on my toes leaning forward."

[Editor's note: Tim Jones and Sunny Kravitz are each running for one-year terms on the Hampton Budget Committee, although they are each running unopposed because there are two seats available. Jones, Kravitz and incumbent Hampton Planning Board Chairman Fran McMahon all spoke during Tuesday's Candidates Night, but aren't included in this article because they are running unopposed.]