Vernon Mayoral Candidates Make Their Pitches

The town's two mayoral candidates took to the podium on Thursday for a debate sponsored by the Vernon Education Association. 

Both Republican candidate Daniel Champagne and Democratic candidate Thomas DiDio came armed with quick answers - and ideas. 

The debate - moderated by local journalist Steve Smith - was orderly and consisted of questions approved by a committee and delivered by the moderator.
 
Both candidates proclaimed their seriousness when it comes to education.

DiDio said the town, through the budgeting process, "should help the teachers with the tools, materials and training needed," to educate Vernon's young people as the common core curriculum develops. He added that the system needs, "more parental involvement," and a plan, supported by the municipal side, to bolster technology. 

He said "technical initiatives" geared toward preparing local students for the new common core standards should be embraced.

Champagne said one of the biggest challenges Vernon faces when it comes to its school-aged population is the transient nature of some of that population. 
He pointed right to some of the "sub-standard housing" that he said mars the landscape of Rockville and vowed to embrace efforts "to bring these houses up to code." 

He said it is frustrating when a child settles into the system for, say, four months and then moves away because his or her family has found a better rental. 

DiDio reminded the crowd at Rockville High School of his push to add $1 million to the school system budget in what he termed a bi-partisan effort. 

Champagne said not to picture Republicans as misers and pointed out that, even after the $1 million was put back in, it represented just $325,000 more than the initial mayor's request. He said he supports his hometown system.

Both said they would not support consolidating the school system and closing one of the five elementary schools. 

In terms of communication, DiDio said he will use his sales background to outline the issues to the residents to give them an accurate picture of what is transpiring. 

He even said he would embrace regular public forums. 

"I would be out there in public - at PTO meetings and at community forums," he said. "I would also talk to the employees … about what they feel is important."

Champagne said he would use his expertise as a veteran of more than two decades at the Vernon Police Department - many as the public information officer - to keep the public informed through letters appearances and through the media. 

He also said conversions with staffers would come naturally because he knows a lot of employees from his days at the VPD.