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Ruwan Dissanayake
Ruwan Dissanayake was a candidate for at-large representative on the Marshfield School District school board in Wisconsin. Dissanayake was defeated in the at-large general election on April 4, 2017.
Biography
Dissanayake became the department chair of hospital medicine at Marshfield Medical Clinic in October 2013. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Saint Petersburg University in Russia and an M.D. at the Saint Petersburg State Medical School.[1]
Elections
2017
Two seats on the Marshfield School District Board of Education were up for general election on April 4, 2017. In their bids for re-election, incumbents Dorothy Chaney and Mark Konrardy defeated challengers Ruwan Dissanayake and Keith Pugh.[2][3]
Results
| Marshfield School District, General Election, 3-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Mark Konrardy Incumbent |
29.77% | 1,839 |
| Dorothy Chaney Incumbent |
29.28% | 1,809 |
| Ruwan Dissanayake | 27.65% | 1,708 |
| Keith Pugh | 13.31% | 822 |
| Write-in votes | 0% | 0 |
| Total Votes | 6,178 | |
| Source: Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Jennifer Heeg, Marshfield School District," May 2, 2017 | ||
Funding
Dissanayake reported $2,500.00 in contributions and $2,457.14 in expenditures to the Marshfield School District, which left his campaign with $42.86 on hand as of March 27, 2017.[4]
Campaign themes
2017
Marshfield News-Herald survey
Dissanayake participated in the following survey conducted by the Marshfield News-Herald. The questions provided by the Marshfield News-Herald appear bolded, and Dissanayake's responses follow below.
Why are you seeking election?
| “ | Effective parent leadership in a school board is crucial. I feel the Marshfield School Board should be better represented by parents who currently have children in the public-school system, as they have more intimate knowledge of issues at ground zero, and are highly invested in the success of the school district.[5] | ” |
| —Ruwan Dissanayake (2017)[6] | ||
Why should voters elect you?
| “ | You should elect me because I am a savvy team player who will effectively advocate for you. As a board member elected by you, and representing you, I will be accessible, I will be an active listener and take input from all parties before coming to a decision. I ask for your vote so that I can be your voice.[5] | ” |
| —Ruwan Dissanayake (2017)[6] | ||
What do you want to accomplish if elected?
| “ | Facilitating an environment where teachers can do their best work, recruiting and retaining talented teachers, a falling high school ranking, remedial learning for at-risk students, continuing and expanding challenging programs for the high achievers, food insecurity among students, student safety, teacher training for the iPad initiative, and efforts to close the STEM gender gap are some of the areas I think we need to focus on while being aware of the cost effectiveness of tax dollars spent.[5] | ” |
| —Ruwan Dissanayake (2017)[6] | ||
What is your background in local government?
| “ | I am a physician by profession, and have no experience in local government. I do not consider this to be a shortcoming as I strongly believe, and have seen from experience, that a fresh perspective is conducive to creative solutions. I have been a board member of the Marshfield Clinic Board of Directors for the past three years. Also, I have many years of administrative experience in different capacities at the Marshfield Clinic.[5] | ” |
| —Ruwan Dissanayake (2017)[6] | ||
Hub City Times letter to the editor
Dissanayake submitted the following letter to the editor to the Hub City Times.
| “ | Dear editor,
I am Ruwan Dissanayake, and I am running for a seat on the Marshfield School Board. I am running because I value education and believe in the ideals of service. I understand the social, ethical, and economic impact of education to our community and its value therein. As a parent who has two children in Marshfield public schools, I am proud of the many strengths and achievements of our schools. At the same time, I am also aware of the many concerns and suggestions that you do have as parents, educators, and community members. I am a physician by profession, and I have many years of administrative experience in different capacities. I have been a board member of the Marshfield Clinic board of directors for the past three years. I strongly believe a different perspective can be conducive to creative solutions. As a board member elected by you and representing you, I will encourage dialogue and take input from all parties before coming to a decision. My calm disposition has always been a strength in navigating different opinions and finding common ground. I believe the long-term vision of a school board should be to provide leadership and map out ways, to help students of diverse backgrounds and different abilities and needs all reach their full potential. I ask for your vote so that I can be your voice. Please share with me your vision for Marshfield School District by writing to me at rrdissa@gmail.com. Sincerely, Ruwan Dissanayake[5] |
” |
| —Ruwan Dissanayake (March 5, 2017)[7] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Ruwan Dissanayake," accessed January 23, 2017
- ↑ Marshfield News-Herald, "Candidates vie in Marshfield school, city races," January 4, 2017
- ↑ WSAW, "Election Results," accessed April 19, 2017
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Jennifer Heeg, Marshfield School District," March 29, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Marshfield News-Herald, "Candidate Q&A: Marshfield School Board race," March 29, 2017
- ↑ Hub City Times, "Letter to the editor: School board candidate introduces himself," March 5, 2017
| Marshfield School District elections in 2017 | |
| Marathon County, Wisconsin and Wood County, Wisconsin | |
| Election date: | April 4, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: Incumbent, Dorothy Chaney • Incumbent, Mark Konrardy • Ruwan Dissanayake • Keith Pugh |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
