Ridgefield Candidates '97
Board of Education

Bob Opotzner

Fiscal Restraint

The following statement was released by Bob Opotzner and published in The Ridgefield Press on October 9, 1997:

"Fiscal restraint" ...This is a commonly used phrase in this year's election campaign. Many candidates claim they believe in it, but what does it mean?

I believe "fiscal restraint" means that school board members must be knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with financial constraints to education. Resources are finite but the community's expectations are not! Board members are responsible to meet the educational needs of all children, while recognizing their responsibility to taxpayers to spend tax dollars wisely.

I was surprised to hear my opponent, Fred Ball, during his interview for the two-year seat, (which I now hold) for which we are running in the November election, indicate that he had not read this year's school budget. I have had experience building nine budgets while on the Shelton school board. Recently, while on the Ridgefield board, I have had several opportunities to demonstrate in public sessions my ability to protect our resources while maintaining programs. My experience in negotiating teachers' contracts and other contractual issues makes me familiar with this difficult balancing. Those in attendance at recent meetings saw first-hand my suggestions to a recent vendor's contract, the implementation of which could save tax dollars.

Fiscal restraint is measurable by actions more than words. My actions as a board member in the past, in Shelton and already in my few months on the Ridgefield board, consistently show that my actions conserve our resources while assuring the quality education our children deserve.

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