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Liam O'Mahony
Liam O'Mahony was a candidate for at-large representative on the Williamsville Central School District school board in New York. O'Mahony was defeated in the at-large general election on May 16, 2017.
O'Mahony participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 school board candidate survey. Click here to read his responses.
Elections
2017
Three of the nine seats on the Williamsville Central School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on May 16, 2017. No incumbents filed to run for re-election, which left all three seats open for newcomers. Seven candidates—Julie Algubani, Shonda Brock, Michael Littman, Susan McClary, Philip Meyer, Liam O'Mahony, and Kurt Venator—ran for the seats. McClary, Meyer, and Venator defeated the other candidates to be elected to their first terms on the board.[1][2]
Results
| Williamsville Central School District, At-large General Election, 3-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Kurt Venator |
22.33% | 2,025 |
| Susan McClary |
20.81% | 1,887 |
| Philip Meyer |
20.66% | 1,873 |
| Michael Littman | 12.30% | 1,115 |
| Shonda Brock | 8.59% | 779 |
| Julie Algubani | 8.47% | 768 |
| Liam O'Mahony | 6.84% | 620 |
| Total Votes | 9,067 | |
| Source: Williamsville Central School District, "Regular Board Meeting: Approved Minutes May 23, 2017," accessed September 6, 2017 | ||
Funding
O'Mahony reported no contributions or expenditures to the New York State Board of Elections in the election.[3]
Campaign themes
2017
Ballotpedia survey responses
Liam O'Mahony participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates.[4] In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on May 5, 2017:
| “ | I want to work toward evaluating and improving the Board's feedback channels and proactive communication to all stakeholders for successes, projects and challenges. I will advocate for continued investment in students who are struggling with a variety of issues as well as promote a more common balance of diverse disciplines for all performing students beyond the reliance on standardized testing. I want to encourage teacher latitude and student exploration in creative thinking, performance arts, second languages and financial literacy.[5][6] | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in New York. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Blank | |
| “ | College and career readiness is essential in our advancing, ever-changing economy. It is equally essential to monitor and address special needs children and students who will benefit from social support services and supplemental activities.[6] | ” |
| —Liam O'Mahony (May 5, 2017) | ||
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer eight questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.
| Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.) |
|---|
| No. |
| Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| The state should only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| No. |
| How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district? |
| Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| Yes. |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| It shouldn't be used; other educational options need to be pursued until a solution is reached for each specific situation. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Student-teacher ratio |
Candidate website
O'Mahony highlighted the following goals for the board on his campaign website:
| “ | 1) Push to strengthen teacher latitude and encourage student experimentation in crafting a balanced experience that inspires emerging electives, financial literacy, creative thinking, volunteerism, performance and the entrepreneurial spirit.
2) Examine discretionary spending and evaluate program funding for students with special needs or learning challenges and extracurricular activities that influence college majors and career aspirations. 3) Finalize new teacher contract to forge ahead with productive, harmonious relationships. 4) Advocate for support programs to counter isolation, bullying, drug exposure and social media issues. 5) Collaborate with Board to evaluate and enhance administration’s feedback channels and communication about successes and challenges.[6] |
” |
| —Liam O'Mahony (2017)[7] | ||
Williamsville PTSA Council survey
O'Mahony answered the following questions provided by the Williamsville PTSA Council. The questions provided by the council appear bolded, and O'Mahony's responses follow below.
Reason for seeking election:
| “ | As the father of a future student, I am seeking election to be involved in the community and collaborate with administrators to continue the district’s tradition of exemplary academic achievement and extracurricular performance.
As a public relations professional who has collaborated with schools in Seattle and Phoenix for recreation and health events, I believe in continuing education for everyone. I aim to discover board functions in which I can provide valued input.[6] |
” |
| —Liam O'Mahony (2017)[1] | ||
Do you think it is a conflict of interest for Betsy DeVos, someone who has spent millions of dollars supporting charter schools and taking money away from public education, to serve as Secretary of Education. If so, in your opinion, is this conflict similar to the conflict some members of the Williamsville School Board, who's campaigns were financed entirely by the Williamsville Teacher's Association, will face this year when they have to negotiate a new contract with the Williamsville Teacher's Association?
| “ | The appointment of Betsy DeVos was unfortunate for students, parents, teachers, staff and administrators across America. Her elite, out-of-touch status as a billionaire and political donor were magnified by her lack of substantive, practical answers throughout the appointment hearing.
She is severely disengaged and has not been immersed enough in middle America’s public education system for this important position. She demonstrated a lack of significant leadership experience in managing public education or student loan programs, key expertise areas for the position. Her views show she is unfit for the position and her appointment contradicts what a Secretary of Education should represent in professional background and personal commitment to the values of the constituents the Department of Education is designed to serve. Now schools will likely face new hurdles pertaining to federal budget allocations. The appointment represents more of a “fitness for the job” or “ideological dichotomy” when compared to the question of Board members receiving funding from the Williamsville Teacher’s Association. Candidates are free to secure backing from any individuals, organizations or unions they seek in their campaigns. In terms of ethics, individuals in public office ultimately answer to all voting taxpayers who elected them. In theory and practice, it behooves people who serve on any public board or commission to consistently put forth their best effort in ensuring the general population they serve has no reason to view their voting record is influenced by previous or future financial incentives for decisions that come before their policymaking body.[6] |
” |
| —Liam O'Mahony (2017)[1] | ||
See also
- Williamsville Central School District, New York
- Williamsville Central School District elections (2017)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Williamsville Central School District, "2017-18 School Board Candidates," accessed April 20, 2017
- ↑ Williamsville Central School District, "Budget passes overwhelmingly; three newcomers elected to Board," accessed May 16, 2017 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Campaign Finance View Disclosure Reports: Candidate and Committee Search," accessed June 6, 2017
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2017, "Liam O'Mahony's responses," May 5, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ www.liamomahony.com, "My Goals for the Board," accessed May 11, 2017
| Williamsville Central School District elections in 2017 | |
| Erie County, New York | |
| Election date: | May 16, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Julie Algubani • Shonda Brock • Michael Littman • Susan McClary • Philip Meyer • Liam O'Mahony • Kurt Venator |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
