Heather Arnet, one of the better elected officials in Pittsburgh, has resigned.
Heather has always struck me as someone who stayed in Pittsburgh and became involved in civic affairs by civic-minded choice. She could have left, and could have successfully devoted her skill and effort in other directions, yet she stayed, and chose to use her time and talent to try to make the city's schools better.
What's worse? That Heather Arnet is leaving the school board, or that the likes of Ms. Colaizzi and Mr. Ravenstahl will choose her replacement? Things just got worse for every student in the city schools, most of whom already come to bat with a couple of strikes against them, often through no fault of their own.
The city needs more Heather Arnets. I hope they find it.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
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11 comments:
I don't understand. If Arnet's so dynamite and civic-minded, why is she bailing on the school board less than half way through her term. It actually seems pretty lame to me.
Many genuine charities are reeling. The one with which Ms. Arnet is associated may require her undivided attention.
Arnet is shopping her house, shopping schools for her son, and shopping for a political future after bailing like this . . . I agree, lame. My guess is that she moves out of the city within months.
In addition to her stated reasons, I think she probably correctly assessed that she was not bound to be the most effective member of that Board -- and that board needs all the help it can get. She also may have assessed that advocacy and rousing rabble is more her thing than electoral politics.
Taken together however with Lisa Bennington, it is a discomforting trendlet.
If Heather Arnet were to leave the city, that would likely reflect good judgment rather than anything blameworthy.
Which would turn the story line from "one of Pittsburgh's few good public officials resigns" to "dilution of city genepool continues."
I prefer to wait to see what Heather Arnet does before changing the story line.
Bennington, Arnet ... Rudiak?
Lets hope that Rudiak drops out before she is even sworn in.
Rudiak? Yes, I guess for the staunch old boys network, these educated, progressive, outspoken women are really getting on their nerves.
Which of Ms. Rudiak's attributes:
(1) educated
(2) accomplished
(3) female
(4) civic-minded
(5) unaffiliated with the politicians who have destroyed the city
(6) intelligent
is most troublesome?
I look at 1-6, and think maybe that rock stands a chance of being lifted.
You know that rock? The one the rest of the slime balls are under, where things slither about hoping that no one or them ever, see the light of day.
I think we should start calling her Heather Palin.
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