Veronica Edwards
Veronica Edwards (Republican Party) was a member of the Pittsburgh School District school board in Pennsylvania, representing District 9. She assumed office on December 8, 2017. She left office on December 6, 2021.
Edwards (Republican Party, Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Pittsburgh School District school board to represent District 9 in Pennsylvania. Edwards (Republican Party) lost in the general election on November 2, 2021. She lost in the Democratic primary on May 18, 2021. She advanced from the Republican primary on May 18, 2021.
Pennsylvania permits school board candidates to cross-file in primary elections. This means that a candidate may file to run in the primary election for both the Democratic and Republican parties. A cross-filed candidate can advance to the general election by winning one or both of the partisan primaries. This maximizes a candidate’s chances of advancing to the general as they have two ways to win in the primary round. If the candidate wins only one of the primaries, they face the winner of the other primary in the general election. Cross-filers who win both primaries may still face independent candidates in the general election.[1]
Elections
2021
See also: Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pennsylvania, elections (2021)
General election
General election for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 9
Gene Walker defeated incumbent Veronica Edwards in the general election for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 9 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gene Walker (D)  | 67.6 | 5,298 |
| Veronica Edwards (R) | 32.1 | 2,513 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 21 | ||
| Total votes: 7,832 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 9
Gene Walker defeated incumbent Veronica Edwards and Delancey Walton in the Democratic primary for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 9 on May 18, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gene Walker | 39.8 | 2,057 |
| Veronica Edwards | 37.6 | 1,943 | ||
| Delancey Walton | 22.1 | 1,143 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 27 | ||
| Total votes: 5,170 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 9
Incumbent Veronica Edwards advanced from the Republican primary for Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 9 on May 18, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Veronica Edwards | 91.5 | 461 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 8.5 | 43 | ||
| Total votes: 504 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
Five of the nine seats on the Pittsburgh School District school board were up for by-district general election on November 7, 2017. A partisan primary election was held on May 16, 2017, leaving one candidate running per seat. These candidates could have faced independent candidates in the general election. However, no independent candidate filed by the August 1, 2017, deadline to get on the ballot.[2]
In her bid for re-election, District 1 incumbent Sylvia Wilson filed as a Democrat and faced no opposition in the primary or general election. Two candidates filed as Democrats for the open District 3 seat. Sala Udin defeated James Myers, Jr. in the primary election and advanced to the general election. Udin won the general election with no opposition. Official vote totals showed that the District 1 and 3 seats on the primary Republican ballots received 10 and 16 write-in votes, respectively. These numbers were not high enough to qualify any write-in candidates to appear on the general Republican ballots for the seats, so no Republican candidates appeared on the ballot.[3]
The District 5 incumbent Terry Kennedy cross-filed as a Democrat and Republican for re-election and was joined on the ballot by newcomer Ghadah Makoshi, who also cross-filed. Kennedy won both the Democratic and Republican nominations and proceeded to win the general election without opposition.
In her bid for re-election, District 7 incumbent Cynthia Falls cross-filed for another term on the board and faced Democratic challenger Joseph Conrad Kearfott Burns in the primary election. Falls won both the Democratic and Republican nominations and faced no opponent in the general election. District 9 incumbent Carolyn Klug filed as a Democrat for re-election, and was joined on the primary election ballot by challenger Veronica Edwards, who cross-filed in the race. Edwards defeated Klug for the Democratic nomination and won the Republican nomination as well. She advanced to the general election, which she won unopposed.[4][5][6]
General results
| Pittsburgh School District, District 9 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic/Republican |  Veronica Edwards (unopposed) |
98.70% | 4,192 | |
| Write-in votes | 1.3% | 55 | ||
| Total Votes | 4,247 | |||
| Source: Allegheny County, "Unofficial Election Night Final (with Absentees)," accessed November 8, 2017 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. | ||||
Democratic primary results
| Pittsburgh School District, District 9 Democratic Primary Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Veronica Edwards |
55.83% | 1,930 | |
| Democratic | Carolyn Klug Incumbent | 43.48% | 1,503 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.69% | 24 | ||
| Total Votes | 3,457 | |||
| Source: Allegheny County, "2017 Primary Election Official Results," accessed June 21, 2017 | ||||
Republican primary results
| Pittsburgh School District, District 9 Republican Primary Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Veronica Edwards (unopposed) |
96.96% | 255 | |
| Write-in votes | 3.04% | 8 | ||
| Total Votes | 263 | |||
| Source: Allegheny County, "2017 Primary Election Official Results," accessed June 21, 2017 | ||||
Funding
| Candidate | Contributions | Expenditures | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veronica Edwards[7] | $5,212.12 | $4,832.51 | $389.61 |
General guidelines
| 2017 Campaign Finance Deadlines in Pennsylvania[8] | |
|---|---|
| Date | Deadline |
| May 5, 2017 | 2nd Friday Pre-Primary report due |
| June 15, 2017 | 30-Day Post-Primary report due |
| October 27, 2017 | 2nd Friday Pre-Election report due |
| December 7, 2017 | 30-Day Post-Election report due |
School board candidates in Pennsylvania were required to report their campaign finance activity. Those who spent or received more than $250 in a reporting period had to file full reports. Those below the threshold had to file forms to declare they were exempt from reporting. Candidates could have, but were not required to, form committees to handle campaign finance transactions. They were not required to have separate bank accounts for campaign purposes.[9]
The table to the left details the four campaign finance deadlines in 2017.[8]
Campaign themes
2021
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Veronica Edwards did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
A series of questions and Edwards' answers were posted on Vote School Board First! They are listed below:[10]
Q: Currently, nearly half of the dollars spent at a school building are allocated centrally and not accounted for at the building level, making it difficult to know whether resources are being distributed equitably to meet student needs. How will you make Pittsburgh Public Schools budgeting process more transparent?
A: The Superintendent and the department of budgeting and finance has this information.
Q: Under what circumstances would you support increasing or decreasing property taxes in the district? What research or evidence would you use to help you make that decision?
A: Only if needed. I would use property assessments to be fair and equitable.
Q: Over the last several years Pittsburgh Public Schools has seen a decline in student enrollment. How will you reverse this trend to keep families in the district?
A: Trading staff in customer service techniques. See them as customers to place a greater value on retaining them.
Q: How will you, as a board member, improve the district’s transportation system?
A: Keep best practices and implement new strategies for success. Work with all stakeholders.
Q: Do you support the universal screening of all students for Gifted and Talented education supports?
A: Yes!
Q: Do you agree with the boards’ decision to create another tier of disciplinary infractions? Would you be in favor of creating more tiers to better address behavior problems?
A: No. The problem is systemic . Let's work on the system.
Q: Suspensions and expulsions are rarely an effective means for improving school climate. What alternatives will you support (eg. Restorative Justice, Positive Behavioral Intervention Systems, others) through policy to reduce school pushout and improve school climate? (Please cite the research or evidence you will use to back up your policy position).
A: I would use character education to teach them acceptable and unacceptable behaviors then hold them more accountable .
Q: If elected, your main job will be to serve over 26,000 students in Pittsburgh’s district and charter schools. How will you ensure student voice is taken into account by the school board?
A: Set up a communication process and keep them involved in the process. The process would include all stakeholders.
Q: Pittsburgh Public Schools hiring process often does not conclude until August for many new teachers, later than most surrounding districts. What policies will you enact to improve the hiring timeline for new teachers and to attract a more diverse pool of candidates?
A: Continuous recruitment throughout the year. Communicate with colleges and universities.
Q: PPS is currently in the planning stages of creating community schools. What research or evidence will you use to monitor the successful implementation of a community schools model?
A: I would pilot schools where the need is greatest. Use their data to show if it works in our City.
Q: Reading at grade level by third grade has been shown to be a strong predictor of future academic success, and in 2016 only 47% of Pittsburgh’s third graders met that bar. What will you do as a Board member to ensure that students benefit from systematic, comprehensive and evidence-based reading interventions so that more of our students are reading at grade level by third grade?
A: Focus early education to ensure curriculum is aligned to make better readers of our students. Give them the needed resources to get the job successful done.
Q: How will you as a board member identify gaps in opportunities for students and work to address them so as to close gaps in student achievement?
A: An age old problem which is also systemic. You have to work with the problem from inside and outside the schools. Schools, communities, foundations and parents. I believe the problem began when it was against the law to teach a black child to read. We can discuss it with open minded discussions .
Q: How will you ensure that students receive a well-balanced and healthy lunch that students will want to eat?
A: Ask them and then make it work with adult supervision within regulations.
Q: How will you make sure students have up to date materials especially in history and literature classes?
A: Work with curriculum and school staff. Include the help of technology.
Q: What is your vision for the expansion of Pre-K in Pittsburgh? What do you see as the role of Pre-K in a child's learning progression through the PPS system?
A: Make sure all materials are aligned to meet the goals of the School District.
Q: How will you work constructively with the eight other board members to ensure all Pittsburgh students receive a quality education?
A: Respect, responsibility, research, knowledge and the wisdom to get the job done while caring about the outcome and results of all our families.
Q: How will you effectively advocate for Pittsburgh’s students with other elected officials, both local and state?
A: Combine all stakeholders to work towards quality of life for our families.
Q: How will you communicate the board’s work with your constituents, parents and non-parents alike?
A: Keep the constructs in place that allow us to work together for the good of all students.
Q: How will you support best practices in early education (Pre-K- Grade 4), including play based learning and a focus on social and emotional skills?
A: Connect all the stakeholders and make sure we keep what's working and add the element of character education!
See also
2021 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Pittsburgh School District Board of Directors District 9 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Pennsylvania School Boards Association, "How to Run for School Board," accessed March 30, 2017
- ↑ Allegheny County, "Candidates," accessed October 25, 2017
- ↑ Elisabeth Moore, "Phone conversation with an Allegheny County elections official," June 21, 2017
- ↑ Allegheny County, PA, "2017 Primary Election," May 17, 2017These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.
- ↑ Allegheny County, "Running for Office-List of Candidates," accessed March 31, 2017
- ↑ Allegheny County, "Unofficial Election Night Final (with Absentees)," accessed November 8, 2017
- ↑ Allegheny County, "Document Portal," accessed June 21, 2017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Pennsylvania Department of State, "2017 Election Calendar," accessed April 19, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Campaign Finance Reporting Law," accessed January 15, 2014
- ↑ Vote School Board First! "Veronica Edwards," accessed May 10, 2017
