Meet Edward McGuire, A Democrat Running For Perkiomen Valley School Board

PERKIOMEN VALLEY, PA — The race for Perkiomen Valley School Board is a hotly contested one pitting four Democratic challengers against four Republican challengers for at-large seats on the board. None of the candidates are incumbents.

Edward McGuire is one of the Democrats who are running that took the time recently to respond to questions from Patch about the race.

See his responses below.

Age (as of Election Day)

40

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Danielle - Wife, Brady - Daughter (5), Jack - Son (2)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My mother-in-law is a teaching aid at the high school

Education

BA in Politics and Philosophy

Occupation

Financial Technology Solution Manager - 15

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://pvpersevere.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

To ensure that my young children are afforded the same opportunity for a quality education as the generations of Perkiomen Valley students which came before them.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our achievement figures have been significantly impacted by the disruption of the pandemic and we need to ensure that as many students wishing to be in the classroom remain in the classroom. To achieve this we need to work to prevent any further disruptions, primarily by keeping our kids as safe and healthy as possible and through following County, State and Federal guidance on the best methods to do so.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

To my knowledge I am the only candidate with pre-school aged children and so my perspectives are those of a parent facing 16 years of engagement and interaction with the PVSD.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

There are no incumbent candidates this cycle.
The only criticism I have of the current board was, though I don't know how avoidable, they were embroiled in several controversies over the past few years that painted an unfortunate picture of the Board and District in the public and the media.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are front and center of our values. Decisions grounded in science, data and facts must take precedence. Finally, as a parent of young children, sustainability, environmental stewardship and a future-ready focus in education will be of paramount importance.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I've held several Directorships at both Wealth Management and Global Financial Technology firms where I've been responsible for budgets in the millions and dozens of staff. I've also lead and served on the board of an employee mentorship program.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Professionally: "Do what is best for the company, and the rest will sort itself out" which I would say on the school board would translate to "Do what is best for the community and rest will sort itself out"
Personally: "Growing old is gift not everyone receives..."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I hope to bring a different background, perspective, experience and insight to the board vs. the other candidates and incumbents. If the energy and potential of my candidacy interests or excites you, then I also hope to earn your vote.