Katie Sojewicz
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Katie Sojewicz is the at-large representative on the Syracuse City Board of Education Commissioners in New York. She was first elected to the board in the general election on November 3, 2015.[1]
Sojewicz ran for the seat in the Democratic primary election on September 10, 2015. She won that election, which allowed her to advance to the general election.[2] She also filed to run with the Working Families Party in the general election on November 3, 2015.[3][4]
Biography
Sojewicz has worked in the education field for nearly 20 years. She has worked as a classroom teacher and a reading specialist for the Syracuse City School District, as a field supervisor for Syracuse University and as a professional reading tutor for Onondaga Community College. She serves as president of the PTO and is involved with the Superintendent's Parent Council. Sojewicz earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and teaching from the State University of New York College at Geneseo and a master's degree in reading teacher education from the State University of New York College at Cortland. She and her husband have three children, all of whom attend school in the district.[5][6]
Elections
2015
Four of the seven seats on the Syracuse City School District Board of Education Commissioners were up for general election on November 3, 2015.A primary election for Democratic Party candidates was held on September 10, 2015.[7][8][9] The seats held by incumbents Mark Muhammad, Michelle Mignano, Max Ruckdeschel and Stephen Swift were on the general election ballot.[10]
While Democratic incumbents Muhammad, Migano and Ruckdeschel all sought re-election, they faced primary challengers Katie Sojewicz, Daniel Romeo and Rita Paniagua. Muhammad and the challengers won the primary and advanced to the general election, where they won all four seats.[1]
Incumbent Ruckdeschel and challengers Sojewicz and Romeo cross-filed as a Working Families Party candidates. This cross-filing allowed Ruckdeschel to appear on the general election after his Democratic primary defeat.[2][4] One more Working Families Party candidate—Latoya Allen—and two Green Party candidates—Raymond Blackwell and Caleb Duncan—also ran in the general election.[11][12]
Results
General election
| ELECTORAL FUSION: Syracuse City School District, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2015 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Cross-filed (2) |  Katie Sojewicz |
22.5% | 12,015 | |
| Cross-filed (2) | Daniel Romeo |
20.2% | 10,825 | |
| Democratic | Mark Muhammad Incumbent |
16.8% | 8,985 | |
| Democratic | Rita Paniagua |
16.1% | 8,591 | |
| Green | Raymond Blackwell | 6.9% | 3,698 | |
| Green | Caleb Duncan | 5.9% | 3,142 | |
| Working Families Party | Max Ruckdeschel Incumbent | 5.9% | 3,160 | |
| Working Families Party | Latoya Allen | 5.5% | 2,945 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.3% | 136 | |
| Total Votes | 53,497 | |||
| Source: Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Onondaga County Board of Elections Commissioner Secretary Julie Cook," January 14, 2016 | ||||
| FULL BY-PARTY RESULTS: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Katie Sojewicz | 18.1% | 9,667 | |
| Democratic | Mark Muhammad Incumbent | 16.8% | 8,985 | |
| Democratic | Daniel Romeo | 16.8% | 8,987 | |
| Democratic | Rita Paniagua | 16.1% | 8,591 | |
| Green | Raymond Blackwell | 6.9% | 3,698 | |
| Green | Caleb Duncan | 5.9% | 3,142 | |
| Working Families Party | Max Ruckdeschel Incumbent | 5.9% | 3,160 | |
| Working Families Party | Latoya Allen | 5.5% | 2,945 | |
| Working Families Party | Katie Sojewicz | 4.4% | 2,348 | |
| Working Families Party | Daniel Romeo | 3.4% | 1,838 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.3% | 136 | |
Primary election
This election was held September 10, 2015.
| Syracuse City School District, At-Large, Democratic Primary, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Katie Sojewicz |
20.2% | 3,008 |
| Mark Muhammad Incumbent |
20.1% | 2,993 |
| Daniel Romeo |
17.2% | 2,557 |
| Rita Paniagua |
15.0% | 2,235 |
| Michelle Mignano Incumbent | 14.3% | 2,120 |
| Max Ruckdeschel Incumbent | 12.7% | 1,885 |
| Write-in votes | 0.46% | 68 |
| Total Votes | 14,866 | |
| Source: Onondaga County Clerk, "Onondaga County Election Results: Primary Election September 10, 2015," accessed September 10, 2015 | ||
Funding
Sojewicz reported $6,603.65 in contributions and $6,253.81 in expenditures to the Syracuse City School District, which left her campaign with $349.84 on hand as of October 19, 2015.[13]
School board candidates were required to file campaign finance disclosure reports with the clerk of the Syracuse City School District. No disclosure reports were required from candidates who raised or spent less than $500, but those candidates did have to file a sworn statement to that effect with the school district clerk.[14] Three reports were required per election from those over the $500 threshold. Campaign finance reports for the primary election were due August 12, September 5 and September 30, 2015. The general election campaign finance reports were due October 4, October 29 and November 23, 2015.[15]
Endorsements
Sojewicz was endorsed by the Onondaga County Democratic Committee.[16]
Campaign themes
2015
Syracuse.com article
On September 2, 2015, Syracuse.com published an article detailing candidates' responses when asked "to identify the most pressing issue facing the district and offer their solution."[17] Sojewicz's response to that question follows below.
| “ | New York state's abysmal funding model has repercussions throughout our schools. Our schools and classrooms are overcrowded and understaffed. Student safety is an issue. All of this can be traced back to the unfair funding model currently in use. In addition, I believe that the school district could make better use of the funds it does have.
I would like to see a complete breakdown of staffing in schools and at central offices. Instead of more administrators, we need a plan to prioritize hiring staff who would have actual face time with students. The plan should include lowering class sizes. We need board members who will work collaboratively, ask tough questions, think independently and demand transparency.[18] |
” |
| —Katie Sojewicz (2015)[17] | ||
Candidate website
Sojewicz highlighted the following issues on her campaign website:
| “ | As a former teacher and now as a parent, I have first-hand knowledge of the challenges our district faces.
I am a strong advocate for all stakeholders: students, teachers, parents, and administrators alike. A position on the School Board would allow me to continue this advocacy. I am optimistic about the future of the SCSD and believe I can contribute to that success. Thank you for your support![18] |
” |
| —Katie Sojewicz's campaign website (2015)[5] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Katie Sojewicz' 'Syracuse City School District'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Syracuse City School District, New York
- Syracuse City School District elections (2015)
- Incumbency no guarantee of success in Nov. 3 school board elections (November 6, 2015)
- What happened in Nov.'s top board elections? (November 4, 2015)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Onondaga County, "Onondaga County Election Results," accessed November 3, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Onondaga County Clerk, "Onondaga County Election Results: Primary Election September 10, 2015," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Onondaga County Board of Elections, "Primary Candidate List: September 10, 2015," July 27, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Working Families Party, "2015 Candidates: Central NY," accessed August 7, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Katie Sojewicz for Syracuse City School Board Facebook, "About," accessed August 18, 2015
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Katie Sojewicz," accessed August 18, 2015
- ↑ Onondaga County Board of Elections, "Welcome to the Onondaga County Board of Elections," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Syracuse City School District, "2100: School Board Governance and Operations: School Board Legal Status," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Abbey Smith, "Phone communication with Onondaga County Board of Elections," July 16, 2015
- ↑ Onondaga County Board of Elections, "Offices to be filled November 3, 2015," June 30, 2015
- ↑ Syracuse.com, "3 Democrats will battle in September primary to replace Assemblyman Roberts," July 9, 2015
- ↑ Green Party of the United States, "Press Releases: Greens Designate City Candidates," May 18, 2015
- ↑ Abbey Smith, Email communication with Syracuse City School District Clerk Eileen Steinhardt," October 19, 2015
- ↑ New York Education Law, "NY Code - Section 1528: Expenditure and contribution statement," accessed July 24, 2015
- ↑ New York State Election Law, "NY Code - Section 1529: Times for filing statements," accessed August 12, 2015
- ↑ Onondaga Democratic Committee, "2015 Democratic Candidates," accessed July 24, 2015
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Syracuse.com, "2015 school board race: Candidates discuss challenges in Syracuse city schools," September 2, 2015
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| 2015 Syracuse City School District Elections | |
| Onondaga County, New York | |
| Election date: | Primary election: September 10, 2015 General election: November 3, 2015 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Michelle Mignano (D) • Incumbent, Mark Muhammad (D) • Incumbent, Max Ruckdeschel (D, WF) • Latoya Allen (WF) • Raymond Blackwell (G) • Caleb Duncan (G) • Rita Paniagua (D) • Daniel Romeo (D, WF) • Katie Sojewicz (D, WF) |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
