Politics

Mecozzi and Harris challenge for Buffalo School Board

By Aaron Lowinger from the Public

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What’s shaping up to be the most contentious school board race in memory got a shot in the arm Monday when West Side lifer and PUSH Buffalo coordinator Jen Mecozzi announced her candidacy for the West District race, a seat currently held by James Sampson. Mecozzi will give a talk at Lafayette High School at 370 Lafayette at 4:30pm on Tuesday to outline her platform. 

Mecozzi is housing and economic justice organization’s training and logistics coordinator, and she promises to offer a stark contrast to the former Gateway Longview CEO James Sampson who won the seat from Ralph Hernandez in 2013. Mecozzi has three children in Buffalo Public Schools and generally has been an advocate of public control of public schools and greater community involvement over decision-making. 

The now crowded picture includes the incumbent Sampson and repeat challenger Adrian Harris. Harris ran for school board in South Buffalo’s Park District in 2013, losing to Carl Paladino. Harris has been a regular fixture in school board and community meetings and like Mecozzi, would represent a challenge to the current school board majority. 

Sampson has served as a reform-minded member of the board 5-4 majority along with Carl Paladino, Larry Quinn, Patricia Pierce, and Jason McCarthy. McCarthy and Paladino also face reelection. McCarthy will face a stiff challenge from attorney Hope Jay, who has picked up an endorsement from Mark Poloncarz.

As Buffalo has become something of a national flashpoint on education reform issues and while the city struggles to shed its poor academic image, the board has received increased attention and scrutiny in recent years. 

Sampson’s management of Gateway-Longview’s $2.4 million of state money was called into question by a 2014 audit performed by the state’s office of the comptroller. The state found that Gateway-Longview was awarding contracts to companies with ties to its board and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on things like flowers, cell phones, a $600-a-month car allowance, and membership to social clubs. 
 
Mecozzi is receiving help on her campaign from Buffalo teacher and activist Eve Shippens. Mecozzi’s candidacy marks the first time that an employee of PUSH has run for public office.
 

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