Horrifying Discovery

Meanwhile, back at the rumor mill...

I keep hearing a disturbing report about our Board of Education candidates. It seems that two of the candidates, Christina Delmont-Small and Vicky Cutroneo, are not qualified to serve on the Board of Education because they are "stay-at-home moms."

I'm shocked. Why didn't somebody tell me? I really didn't know what a big problem this was. This is huge!

Here's the story: apparently if you don't draw a paycheck this means you are "uneducated and unqualified" to serve. We are in deep trouble in Howard County, my friends. Of the seven members currently serving, how many are actually gainfully employed? Could this be what has caused such terrible gridlock? Is this the source of all our problems?

How could we possibly allow the "uneducated" to serve on the Board of Education? I mean, it has "education" right in the title!

Here's the gist of what is being said: If you don't have a job, then you clearly aren't an example of good education and therefore you aren't the right sort of person to represent the citizens of Howard County on the Board of Education.

Let's see who this knocks out of the race, shall we?

"Unqualified"

Christina Delmont-Small: bachelors from Boston College in economics and political science. She was a congressional investigator for waste, fraud, and abuse. (Stay at home mom.)

Vicky Cutroneo: graduated from University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Pediatric and NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) nurse, also a Clinical Research Associate for Merck Pharmaceutical Company. (Stay at home mom.)

Robert Miller: B.S. in Psychology, a B.S. in Music Education, and an M.Ed. in Music Education, from the University of Maryland, College Park. (Retired.)

Kirsten Coombs: University of Maryland with degrees in Accounting and History. MBA from UMUC, worked as CPA.(Stay at home mom.)

Wait--I don't get it. Something seems inconsistent here. If not being gainfully employed renders one uneducated/unqualified to serve on the Board of Education, then why is this argument being aimed solely at two of the candidates? Why not all four? Shouldn't someone do Ms. Coombs a kindness by letting her know she's just not the right sort? And who is going to break it to Mr. Miller that he may already be a stay-at-home mom?

Whoever is behind this rumor is clearly worried about these particular two candidates. They clearly present the biggest challenge to the status quo. That's why they alone are being singled out for this disrespectful and downright sexist treatment.

Maybe the truly horrifying discovery here is that whoever is spreading this half-witted theory always combines it with a hard sell for incumbent Janet Siddiqui. She's held up as the exemplar of what a Board of Education member should be. But surely someone as well-educated as a physician would understand the health effects of toxic mold on school children, teachers and staff--they do learn about that in medical school, don't they?

Howard County voters are too smart to believe this drivel. Heck, some of us may be retired or stay at home moms. I wonder what traction this kind of rumor will have when it can't help but insult some of the electorate, too.

Do your own homework. Attend a candidate forum and see for yourself. Don't let someone else tell you who is qualified.