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The Deafening Silence

East Haven Board of Education member John Finkle has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Illinois-based company for which he worked. That Mr. Finkle has chosen not to resign despite the ruinous effect his presence on the board he represents makes one wonder what his real intent could be.

Equally thought-provoking is the deafening silence of the Republican Party leaders, choosing instead to infer that they have his back rather than condemning the act that victimizes our community once again.

Similarly distressing is a remark quoted in this paper that because “the...crime pled guilty to by Mr. Finkle is completely unrelated to the East Haven Public School District” he will not be asked to resign [“Resignation—and No Resignation—Addressed by BOE,” Aug. 1]. Wow! Really?

What particular crime would a Board of Education member have to commit for it to be related—and completely—before he or she is asked to resign? Do ethical values or scholastic standards mean anything anymore?

What valuable lesson would or should our students learn from that message? And how should our teachers think and react to what they’ve just now read? Do we suffer fools?

Reputation takes almost forever to build but only a minute to destroy, as some have said, yet ironically, the very same people who were elected to observe it seem the least concerned.

My views could certainly be regarded as biased, for I am a mayoral candidate, but that fundamentally is the reason I am, a mayoral candidate, so let me leave you with this borrowed phrase: Commit yourself to a mighty purpose.

Let us all strive to bequeath our children a legacy worthy of our name and their future.

Oni Sioson

East Haven

Oni Sioson is certified as a petitioning candidate for mayor in the November elections.