Easton Area School Board Update: Castrovinci Switches to 2-Year Race

Frank Castrovinci (right) is no longer challenging Kerri Leonard-Ellison (left)  in Region II, but has instead chosen to run for the remaining two years of the vacated seat to which he was appointed at the last school board meeting.

Posted by: Noël Jones

It is not often that I make a wish, and it comes true. Especially when breaking the cardinal rule of wish-making, which is that you can't tell anybody your wish if you want it to come true. In my previous blog post about the Region II Easton Area School Board race, I begrudgingly admittedly to liking what I had seen of Frank Castrovinci at the last school board meeting, and suggested that if he only weren't running against the only incumbent worth keeping (Kerri Leonard-Ellison), and would switch to run for the remainder of the position he had been appointed to, I might even support him, despite the fact that he is the brother of HR Director, John Castrovinci, and that I spoke up against his nomination because of it.

Well, now, according to Colin McEvoy's article for the Express-Times, Frank Castrovinci has done just that. Much as I didn't want to like the guy, I can't seem to help myself. Here's why:

1. He took the heat with class. Several residents voiced concerns about nepotism at the last board meeting and he not only responded without being defensive or angry, he responded with his qualifications as a controller, and with a personal story illustrating past differences with his brother. In
other words, he seems to respect that as a public official, his job would be to listen to, consider, and answer the concerns and criticisms of his constituents. Something a lot of our local officials don't seem to understand.

2. After being appointed, he sat with the board and listened to many of the same citizens who had just spoken against his appointment, speak up about their concerns with the engineering contract bid process, and the push to approve D'Huy. His response? He used his first moment of power to vote to table the D'Huy vote, then recused himself from the rest of the voting that night, since he was brand new. This tells me that he seems to not take things personally, and that he is confident enough to think on his feet and make a good decision under pressure.

3. [This part is pure speculation] After sitting next to Kerri Leonard-Ellison and seeing her ask the important questions while everyone else was happy to sit like a lump, it appears he has realized that he would rather be on the board with her, than to try to knock her off.

4. Did I mention that he is a controller? Who wouldn't like to see some fiscal control on this board?