Frank E. Bovalino – 9/9/09

This page was last updated on September 9, 2009.

Deeds, not words, are what matter; Frank E. Bovalino; Beaver County Times; September 9, 2009. An editor’s note asserted, “The writer is a member of the Beaver Area School Board.” The Times failed to note Mr. Bovalino (and his wife) is also an elected municipal committee member of the Beaver County Democrat Committee.

Mr. Bovalino (a member of the Beaver Area School Board) tends to write letters bashing Republicans and defending Democrats. Some of his letters told us we’d miss state Sen. Gerald LaValle (D) (cofounder of the BIG slush fund), proposed “solutions” to alleged manmade global warming, and lobbied against E-ZPass for PA toll roads. Mr. Bovalino (and his wife) is an elected municipal committee member of the Beaver County Democrat Committee. Mr. Bovalino is treasurer for the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union 47 Political Action Committee.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“Sept. 1 was a historic day in the merged Central Valley School District, which combined the Monaca and Center Area school districts.

“It was historic not only for the status of a new, voluntarily merged district. Three state officials were present to welcome the elementary students.

“Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak, Sen. Elder Vogel and Rep. Jim Christiana were happy to be part of this event.”

[RWC] For those who may not know, Messrs. Christiana and Vogel are Republicans. That piece of info and the fact the Times chose not to reveal Mr. Bovalino’s membership on the Beaver County Democrat Committee becomes important later on.

“All the officials agreed with the need to consolidate districts in Pennsylvania.

“Christiana went as far as to suggest a county-wide school district, and Vogel suggested that more incentives needed to be offered to encourage rich and poor district mergers.

“With this said, neither suggested that state government play a larger role in this process, as the governor has proposed and provided funding in his current and two previous budgets.

“If Christiana and Vogel are speaking truth and sincerity about education and the need to consolidate districts for the betterment of the students’ education, then let’s see some action by voting to approve the governor’s education budget.”

[RWC] Note the false choice. If Messrs. Christiana and Vogel don’t support Gov. Rendell’s education budget, they are lying and not sincere “about education and the need to consolidate districts.”

“This vote to approve would provide action in support of words of consolidation. If not, they are only empty words used to give the appearance of a position of support for education.”

[RWC] This letter is not about better education. It’s simply a fairly transparent attempt by Mr. Bovalino to bully elected representatives into supporting his political position.