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Thomas Fitzpatrick (Maryland)
Thomas Fitzpatrick was a member of the Harford County Board of Education in Maryland, representing District F. Fitzpatrick assumed office in 2012. Fitzpatrick left office in 2018.
Fitzpatrick ran for re-election to the Harford County Board of Education to represent District F in Maryland. Fitzpatrick lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Fitzpatrick completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Fitzpatrick earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Loyola College. He later received an M.B.A. from the University of Baltimore. At the time of his tenure, Fitzpatrick was working as a manufacturer's representative for Storm Services LLC.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Harford County Board of Education District F
Sonja Karwacki defeated incumbent Thomas Fitzpatrick in the general election for Harford County Board of Education District F on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sonja Karwacki (Nonpartisan)  | 52.6 | 7,919 |
 | Thomas Fitzpatrick (Nonpartisan) | 46.8 | 7,050 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 87 | ||
| Total votes: 15,056 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2014
The June 24, 2014, primary ballot included primaries for Districts B, C, D, E and F with the top two vote recipients in each primary advancing to the general election on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Robert "Bob" Frisch and challenger Laura Runyeon defeated Greg Johnson in District B. District C incumbent Alysson L. Krchnavy and challenger Joseph L. Voskuhl advanced to the general election by defeating John Anker. Nancy Reynolds faced challenger Mike Simon in her bid for another term in District D after defeating challengers Chris Scholz and Tishan D. Weerasooriya in the primary. The primary race for District E resulted in board member Arthur Kaff and newcomer Rachel Gauthier defeating Stephen Eric Macko and Barney Michel. Macko dropped out of the race after the withdrawal deadline which meant his name still appeared on the ballot. District F incumbent Thomas Fitzpatrick and Michael R. Hitchings squared off in the general election after defeating Joe Fleckenstein in the primary.
The District A race advanced to the general election without a primary as newcomers Frederick A. Mullis and Jansen M. Robinson were the only candidates to file for the seat.
In the general election Jansen M. Robinson won District A, incumbent Robert "Bob" Frisch was returned to District B, challenger Joseph L. Voskuhl defeated incumbent Alysson L. Krchnavy for District C, incumbent Nancy Reynolds won District D, newcomer Rachel Gauthier defeated incumbent Arthur Kaff for District E and incumbent Thomas Fitzpatrick won another term in District F.
This was the first time that county voters selected members for these seats on the Harford County Board of Education. Board members were appointed by the governor prior to a 2009 state law that turned six of the nine board seats into elected positions. There were board elections for two-year terms in Districts A, B and D in November 2010. Victorious candidates in the general election took office in July 2015 along with three newly appointed members.[2]
Results
General
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Thomas Fitzpatrick Incumbent |
52.7% | 5,934 | |
| Nonpartisan | Michael R. Hitchings | 46.7% | 5,260 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in | 0.7% | 74 | |
| Total Votes | 11,268 | |||
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Harford County," accessed December 20, 2014 | ||||
Primary
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Thomas Fitzpatrick Incumbent |
39.9% | 1,881 | |
| Nonpartisan | Michael R. Hitchings |
38.2% | 1,801 | |
| Nonpartisan | Joe Fleckenstein | 21.9% | 1,033 | |
| Total Votes | 4,715 | |||
| Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Harford County," July 17, 2014 | ||||
Funding
Fitzpatrick reported no contributions or expenditures to the Maryland State Board of Elections as of June 10, 2014.[3]
Endorsements
Fitzpatrick received endorsements from The Baltimore Sun and the New Harford Democratic Club prior to the primary election.[4]
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Thomas Fitzpatrick completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fitzpatrick's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Harford County needs to start looking towards its long term economic future. Experience all over the country makes it clear that good schools are a fundamental part of any attempt to attract investment, industry and growth. Harford County saw that in the 2000's as the jobs from the BRAC program passed us by and went south. Schools were perhaps the number one reason why people did not choose Harford.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I'm a construction guy, so building schools is a big deal for me. Which is why I worked hard in my first term to secure funding and begin the construction of a new middle and high school in Havre de Grace. But having a shiny building is no good if we don't invest in what goes into it. Teachers and staff make great schools. Not just buildings. We built a lot of building in the 2000's and didn't invest in the human capital. That needs to change.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Franklin D Roosevelt is my favorite President. When I stand on the front porch of my home on Union Avenue, I can look to the right and see a park and a yacht basin that was expanded and built by the WPA. The street I live on got storm drains and pavement courtesy of the WPA. When I look left, I can see a WPA Post Office, and a main Hospital building built by the PWA, and behind it a four lane cantilevered arch bridge that carries US 40 over the Susquehanna River. All of these things are the product of vision and investment. And all of them are still serving the people 75 years after they were built.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Any good biography of FDR, Lincoln, or any number of people who have built legacies.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Belief in serving a cause bigger than yourself, the ability to listen (not just hear), integrity, consistency, vision, patience, tact, and the ability to effectively communicate to groups.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The Board of Education picks a Superintendant, reviews policy and approves the budget.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I've already done that in Havre de Grace. I helped realize a goal the folks here in town have dreamed about since before I arrived. Before I went on the Board, I was one of the advocates that pushed local government into supporting our downtown. We built streetscapes, lighting, and plantings that attracted new investment. We hired a Tourism director and created First Friday's which now draws thousands of people. And a new Middle and High school is rising thanks to our efforts.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I remember Kruschev banging his shoe on the table at the UN, and John Glen. (1960 and 1962 respectively)
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Chrismas, 4th of July (if you haven't been to Havre de Grace for the parade, you haven't experience the 4th yet!)
What is your favorite book? Why?
That's like asking a film buff what their favorite movie is!
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
my wife and my dog
Who are your constituents?
All of Harford County
How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?
Keep talking about it, and making sure that the disease of indifference and apathy don't take over.
How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?
I have worked to build good relationships with all the political leaders in our county, from the delegation, to the county Executive and county council on down.
Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?
Yes, it is. And it is difficult. It's not a career choice that many are making and it's hard to find recruits. This is a national problem, not just a local one. It was a significant topic of discussion at the National Conference of Boards of Ed last Spring. Everyone has this problem.
What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?
Many people don't care about education. They view it as an exercise in getting your ticket punched. Few realize the economic impact of a good school system, or the negative impact of a bad one.
What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?
I know one when I see one! That said, telling teachers how to do their job is not my job. My job is to work to give them the tools. We are fortunate in that we have a deep well of very dedicated teachers and staff in Harford County, In many ways, our schools are better than we deserve.
What type of skills should students be learning for success in the 21st century?
Critical thinking. Skills that lead to employment in the 21st century.
In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?
I would like to see an expansion of cooperation between HCPS and the Community colleges and local businesses to create college level high school curricula that provides training in such 21st century job skills as robotics, logistics, additive manufacturing, coding. I would like to see us invest more in the vocational side as well.
What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?
It is my objective, if re elected, to take the case for investment in education to the business community,. Specifically to groups like the various Chambers of Commerce, the RT 40 Business Association, the Realtors, the contractors, and the fire companies. Any place where there is an audience of opinion leaders. We need to make a BUSINESS CASE for investing in public education.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2014
Fitzpatrick explained his themes for the 2014 race in an interview with The Baltimore Sun:
| “ |
Q: How will you address the budget issues that each year leave Harford County Public Schools millions of dollars short of what school system officials say they need to operate? Being on this Board has been a real baptism into the workings of Harford County government. I have worked hard to build relationships with our counterparts on the County Council. I have worked with David Craig off and on for a long time, and I have also worked to strengthen my relationship with Sen. Glassman, who I have known from years ago when I lived in Darlington. I have gotten to know all the members of the County Council . Given the fact that the CE and the CC control our total funding, a proactive and collaborative role is the best way to move forward, in my view. Q: In the wake of years of tragedies committed in schools across the country, please explain your position on school safety and security and what, if anything, should be done in Harford County Public Schools. We have made considerable strides in this area since I have been on the Board. The New Town tragedy happened right after I came on board, and we were all very sensitive to the remaining shortcomings that existed in our security apparatus. Still. Mr. Benedetto had done a fine job keeping our schools safe, and has worked diligently to upgrade our security in areas that had not yet been addressed before that tragedy occurred. I also appreciate the efforts of Councilman Joe Woods in obtaining funds to augment our efforts. Q: What is your position on two controversial cost savings measures – ending bus transportation waivers for students who live close to school and having tiered schedules in elementary schools to save on the number of buses needed. When HCPS introduced magnets schools, its transportation costs jumped by 50%. This change stood out our in our budget deliberations. It made magnets look like an expensive luxury, so we were challenged to find ways to continue to provide first class educational opportunities for our best and brightest, while still providing services to all the HCPS community. As a member of the Operations Committee, I helped lead an effort to engage a consultant to examine our transportation policies and recommend costs savings measures. It was not surprising that the first report back from our subcontractors complimented us on taking both of these steps (second tier and ending waivers) and they would have been the consultant's first recommendations. (Indeed wavers for students close to schools are not something that is common in other systems) Additionally, the consultant recommended the purchase and use of route mapping software, which is being done. We hope that this technology will give us the opportunity to spot other changes that can be made to reduce the inconvenience that these changes have imposed on our parents. Q: How will you address student achievement in all ages in the various testing programs? There are two key tools that we can use, and we can work toward obtaining. They are professional development of our staff, and the introduction and use of technology. Our Superintendent, Barbara Canavan has placed enormous emphasis on professional development. She has played a significant leadership role in promoting outreach and inclusion all up and down the HCPS organization chart. In a budget atmosphere where our teachers and staff have gone without much needed pay increases for years, we have to find other ways to motivate and improve our staff. Professional development and training have been what we are most capable of doing on a restricted budget. This is not only important from a training perspective, but it is also crucial to making our teachers feel as though they are valued and respected as professionals. It has been a key component in the tremendous improvement in morale in our system over the past year. Our teachers know the fiscal score, and they appreciate the fact that we are doing our best to look out for them and improve their skills. We are woefully behind in the implementation of technology in our schools. I read an article on Politico the other day that blandly asserted that the ratio of computers to students in the US is nearly one to one. NOT in Harford County. In fact, the ration is more like less than one to two. This stems for years of neglecting investment in this much needed resource. Another reason is that there are still large parts of Harford County that still do not have decent high speed internet access. Even so, we were able to purchase three dimensional printers for our high schools so that our students could gain some early exposure to this world changing technology. We will continue moving forward in bringing technology to our schools. But we have a lot of catching up to do. Q: How has HCPSS performed in implementing the Common Core state standards? Should anything be done differently as the school system continues its implementation? In the last year, focus on rolling out the Common Core has changed considerably, What once was a top down, closed process under Superintendent Tombeck, has become an inclusive process under Superintendent Canavan. This is a crucial move, and has met with enthusiastic approval from the many teachers and staff I've talked to about this. As you probably know, implementation of the PARCC assessments has been delayed, relieving some of the anxiety that many associated with Common Core implementation were feeling. Until that change was made, we were faced with the prospect of having to evaluate teachers via an unfamiliar evaluation tool at the same time they were being handed an entirely new curriculum.[5] |
” |
| —The Baltimore Sun, (2014) | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Harford County Public Schools, "Board of Education of Harford County," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Five Harford school board members run for election; four don't," February 26, 2014
- ↑ Maryland Campaign Reporting Information System, "View Filed Reports," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Aegis school board voter recommendations (Editorial)," June 3, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Thomas Fitzpatrick," accessed June 10, 2014
| Harford County Public Schools elections in 2018 | |
| Harford County, Maryland | |
| Election date: | November 6, 2018 |
| Candidates: | District A: • Incumbent, Jansen Robinson District B: • David Bauer District C: • Jim Antal • Kathryn Carmello District D: • Tamera Rush • Alfred Williamson District E: • Incumbent, Rachel Gauthier • Arthur Kaff District F: • Incumbent, Thomas Fitzpatrick • Sonja Karwacki |
| Important information: | What was at stake? |
