Lee teacher PAC won’t endorse school board incumbent

Nothing personal, Bob Chilmonik.

The political action committee representing Lee County School District teachers and support workers today released the names of candidates it will back in school board elections. The school board incumbent isn't on it.

Instead, the Island Coast Political Action Committee is backing Mary L. Fischer to take the seat in Cape Coral's District 1. Challenger Simone Bynoe also is running in that race.

School board incumbents Steven Teuber and Elinor Scricca both got the PAC's nod, as did Pete Berkert for State Representative in District 73.

Catherine Osborne, chairwoman of the Island Coast PAC, said the choices were made based on candidates' answers to a questionnaire and interviews with a 15-person committee. The decision in District 1 had more to do with finding a candidate the group liked than spurning one it didn't, according to those who made the cuts.

"We liked Mary Fischer's background and what she had to say," Osborne said. "She had a good handle on where we've been and where we're going. It wasn't necessarily anything negative about anyone else. We just really liked what she brought to the table."

In District 5, the PAC picked Scricca over Sheridan Chester, vice president of the district's substitute teacher union. It chose Teuber over newcomer Walter Booth in District 4.

Chilmonik said he wasn't surprised at the omission of his name from the list.

The Island Coast PAC didn't endorse him in the last election, either, he said.

Chilmonik won in 2002 without the nod of approval from the PAC, which represents the Teachers Association of Lee County and the Support Personnel of Lee County, as did Scricca.

It's a different story for her this time around.

Scricca said in her inaugural run the PAC saw her as "an unknown quantity." Its endorsement now means a great deal, she said, adding that she takes it as evidence teachers and school district workers agree with her voting pattern for the past three and half years and her work with the district.

Teuber said he is pleased to have made the PAC's list as well. It is the second time the school board chairman has been endorsed by the PAC, having also gotten the nod as a relative unknown in 2002.

"It was clearly apparent, they're looking for what's best for kids and they're looking for what's best for the schools," he said.