Jack Panitch
Jack Panitch was a candidate for an at-large seat on the Ann Arbor Board of Education in Michigan. The seat was up for general election on November 4, 2014. Jack Panitch lost the general election on November 4, 2014.
Biography
Jack Panitch is a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Panitch earned his B.A. in English from Franklin and Marshall College, his J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law and his LL.M. in taxation from the New York University School of Law.
In his career, he has worked as an attorney for the tax litigation division of the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Tax Court, Zuckert, Scoutt & Rasenberger, LLP, the city of Philadelphia law department and the Attorney General of Michigan. At the time of his candidacy, he was employed by Varnum, LLP.[1]
Elections
2014
The election in Ann Arbor featured four at-large seats up for general election on November 4, 2014. Incumbents Susan Baskett and Christine Stead ran against challengers Jeffery Harrold, Donna Lasinski, Patricia Ashford Manley, Jack Panitch, Deirdre Piper, Hunter Van Valkenburgh, Don Wilkerson and Roland Zullo for the seats. Baskett, Harrold, Van Valkenburgh and Zullo campaigned together as an unofficial slate.[2] Fellow board members Glenn Nelson and Irene Patalan did not file for re-election.
Incumbents Susan Baskett and Christine Stead and challengers Donna Lasinski and Patricia Ashford Manley won the four seats.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Susan Baskett Incumbent |
15.1% | 17,121 | |
| Nonpartisan | Donna Lasinski |
13.9% | 15,794 | |
| Nonpartisan | Christine Stead Incumbent |
13.2% | 14,941 | |
| Nonpartisan | Patricia Ashford Manley |
12.2% | 13,845 | |
| Nonpartisan | Hunter Van Valkenburgh | 10.4% | 11,847 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jeffery Harrold | 8.5% | 9,643 | |
| Nonpartisan | Roland Zullo | 7.2% | 8,183 | |
| Nonpartisan | Don Wilkerson | 7% | 7,908 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jack Panitch | 6.9% | 7,785 | |
| Nonpartisan | Deirdre Piper | 5.6% | 6,353 | |
| Total Votes | 113,420 | |||
| Source: Washtenaw County Elections Division, "Election Summary Report," accessed December 29, 2014 | ||||
Funding
Panitch did not report any contributions or expenditures during the election, according to the Washtenaw County Elections Division.[3] In Michigan, a candidate committee that does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,000 during the election cycle is eligible to receive a reporting waiver, which allows that committee not to file pre-election, post-election and annual campaign statements without legal penalty.[4]
Endorsements
Panitch received an endorsement from The Ann Arbor News.[5]
Campaign themes
2014
Panitch published his platform on his campaign website:
| “ | What are the top issues I hope to address in the coming year?
Achievement is my top priority, but stability, communications, and constructive engagement are key to fostering the environment for a quality education. Two themes I hear repeated in every community forum is that we want our superintendent to stay for a sustained period, and we do not want flavor-of-the-year programming that changes often and accomplishes nothing of value. With the change in election laws resulting in either four or three board of education seats in play every two years, we have to be careful to elect people with a track record of support for public education and unyielding fiduciary representation of the entire community, not special interests; people who will not micromanage but will always work to improve achievement of all students in their chosen educational pathway. Lastly, in keeping with my PTO and PTO Council background, I know that giving stakeholders the information they need to provide quality feedback (and making sure they know the importance of the information) is key. Superintendent Swift has positioned the District for survival and even growth, infusing schools with exciting programming, preserving the educational choice the Ann Arbor Public Schools are known for, improving equity, modeling a more entrepreneurial but stakeholder-centered approach and sending a message to the entire region that the Ann Arbor Public Schools will maintain their excellence, come what may. But we have to remember that her work here is just beginning. As a community, we need to take an oar and guide and protect that work with the same can-do attitude we have seen in our educational leaders. As we move forward, we need to be vigilant for unintended consequences, vigilant about equity, vigilant about fund equity, fiscal health, sustainability, and vigilant about actions taken in Lansing and their effect on our public schools. Most of all, we need to live within our means and still enhance opportunity and achievement of each of our individual learners on his or her chosen educational pathway.[6] |
” |
| —Jack Panitch campaign website (2014)[7] | ||
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Jack + Panitch + Ann + Arbor + Public + Schools"
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Jack Panitch - AAPS Board of Education Trustees, "About Me," accessed October 16, 2014
- ↑ Facebook, "Hunter Van Valkenburgh for School Board," accessed October 16, 2014
- ↑ Washtenaw County Elections Division, "Campaign Finance," accessed October 15, 2014
- ↑ Genesee County, "Filing Requirements under Michigan's Campaign Finance Act," February 7, 2014
- ↑ Mlive, "Editorial: Ann Arbor News' endorsements for Ann Arbor school board," October 27, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Jack Panitch - AAPS Board of Education Trustees, "Home," accessed October 15, 2014
| 2014 Ann Arbor Public Schools Elections | |
| Washtenaw County, Michigan | |
| Election date: | November 4, 2014 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Susan Baskett • Incumbent, Christine Stead • Jeffery Harrold • Donna Lasinski • Patricia Ashford Manley • Jack Panitch • Deirdre Piper • Hunter Van Valkenburgh • Don Wilkerson • Roland Zullo |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
