Another job to fill

The appointment of Bob Kanjian to the Palm Beach County Commission means Governor Crist now has another job to fill.

Bob Kanjian left the Palm Beach County School Board last week with high praise from Superintendent Art Johnson and the board's remaining six members.

Now, they're left to wonder along with the public: Who's going to join the team, and when?

Gov. Charlie Crist, who appointed Kanjian to the Palm Beach County Commission, so far has no deadline for choosing an interim member to fill the District 4 vacancy.



Crist's office is taking applications for the nonpartisan post, and seven people expressed interest as of 5 p.m. Friday, said Anthony De Luise, the governor's press secretary. One is Terry Pereira, of Boynton Beach, who lost to Kanjian in last year's election.

The appointee will serve until a special election in November 2008 decides who serves the final two years of Kanjian's term.

The district stretches from Singer Island to Delray Beach. Responsibilities of the $40,887 job include overseeing the superintendent and setting policies for the nation's 11th-largest school system and its 166,000 students.

TFM lives within this School Board district. Should I apply? I don't think calling Governor Crist a Knucklehead and a stand up comedian in addition to my being a sarcastic blogger would help me land the job. Oh well.

There's rarely turnover on the School Board. Three members last year were re-elected without opposition. Kanjian and Pereira were the only two candidates who aimed to succeed Tom Lynch, the board chairman who did not seek a third, four-year term.

Some political observers have suggested few want to run for the board because of general satisfaction with the school system, a lack of controversial issues, difficulties with unseating incumbents, and a heavy work and time commitment.

Other than the payroll mess, which wasn't the fault of the school board, I have seldom blogged on issues involving the County School board. There just hasn't been anything blog worthy.

Wahid Mahmood, chairman of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, said his organization plans to recommend some applicants for the School Board seat within the next week.

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Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the county Republican Party, said Friday that party leaders are to meet today to discuss whether to endorse a candidate.

I hope Crist ignores both Dinerstein's and Mahmood's attempts at kingmaking. The recommended choice of Jerry Taylor for the Newell seat left much to be desired.

Other School Board applicants are: Jan Porter, of Palm Beach Gardens, an education activist; Patricia Murphy Propheter, of Lake Worth, an attorney and former teacher; Ronald E. Giddens, who lives west of Boynton Beach, an optometrist; Stephen Waldman, of Boynton Beach, a child-care supervisor; Nick Loeb, of Delray Beach, a private wealth manager; and Stanley I. Warshaw, of Boynton Beach, an international trade consultant.

I don't know a thing about any of the applicants. At least my State Representative, Shelley Vana, isn't on the list. Shelley wouldn't get a thumbs up from me.

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