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Bedford School Board: Contested Elections, Seat Swap

BEDFORD, N,Y, -- Two of the three Bedford school board seats up for election in May will be contested. What is notable, however, is who is running for the third, uncontested seat, as board Vice President Eric Karle and colleague Edward Reder are doing a seat swap, where they will run for the seats that the other currently holds.

Colette Dow

Colette Dow

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Edward Reder

Edward Reder

Photo Credit: Daily Voice File Photo

The result of the seat swap means that Reder, a Mount Kisco resident, will run for a full 3-year term while Karle, who also lives in Mount Kisco, will run uncontested for an unexpired term that goes from May 21 to June 30, 2015.

Reder was appointed by the school board last September to fill a vacancy left by Lee Goldstein, Daily Voice reported at the time. He will face a rematch against Brian Sheerin, who also vied for the vacancy.

Sheerin, a Bedford Corners resident who works in real estate, did not intend to run against Reder, he explained in an interview, as he initially did not know who his opponent would be. He is also concerned about the strength of the school district's curriculum and about Regents and SAT performances. Sheerin has two kids enrolled in Fox Lane Middle School.

Discussing his decision, Karle explained that he wanted to serve more but was unsure about whether to do so for three years. He does not rule out running for another full term, however. The seat will be up for another election in May 2015. First elected in 2005, Karle is among the longest-serving board members. Asked a question about whether the district is overall in the good place, Karle replied that it is in a best a place that it can be at this time. He acknowledged the district's financial situation but is also optimistic.

Meanwhile, incumbent Andrew Bracco, who is a Mount Kisco resident, will face a challenge to his seat from Pound Ridge resident Colette Dow. In an interview, she described her background, which includes serving on the PTA for Pound Ridge Elementary School (PRES) and owning the Pound Ridge School of Dance.

The election is scheduled for May 20 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with polling places being at each of the district's five elementary schools. The proposed 2014-15 budget will also be put to a public vote on that day. Election details are on the district's website.

A League of Women Voters candidates' forum is scheduled for May 1 at 7 p.m. at Fox Lane Middle School's Little Theater.

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