UPDATE: Ward 6 Democrats are now saying that Rohan has reconsidered and will be attending tonight’s forum.
Word hit the listservs a short while ago that Ward 6 School Board candidate, Melissa Rohan, has decided to not participate in tonight’s forum. Charles Allen, president of Ward 6 Democrats and co-host of the event, has said that the forum will still take place as scheduled with Monica Warren-Jones. Child care and ASL interpreters will also still be available.
Although she confirmed her attendance last week and knew of the location of this forum prior to that, Rohan explained in an email today, “It is inappropriate to hold political events at a DC public school in light of the sensitivities surrounding the expected next Mayor Gray’s Town Hall meetings held earlier this month. Additionally, political parties, such as Ward 6 Democratic Party, should not host events for politically unaffiliated races, especially races that affect the future of our children and their education.”
The official statement from the Ward 6 Democrats is below.
Update for Ward 6 Board of Education Forum
On behalf of the neighborhood organizations co-sponsoring tonight’s Ward 6 Board of Education candidate forum, we were very disappointed to receive Melissa Rohan’s email this afternoon withdrawing from tonight’s event and have asked Ms. Rohan to reconsider. We hope that she will still participate.
Monica Warren-Jones remains confirmed, as well as Mark Segraves as our moderator.
Ms. Rohan confirmed her participation last week and as most know, the candidate forum has been scheduled to take place at Maury Elementary School for over three weeks.
With so many organizations from across Ward 6 co-sponsoring tonight’s event, it is likely the only such event for the candidates to speak to a wide audience of Ward 6 voters. Many people have worked hard to create a forum and opportunity to hear from the two candidates, investing their time and money to provide childcare and sign language interpreters for guests attending the forum this evening.
We hope you’ll join us this evening,
Charles Allen
Once we take debate away from schools and campuses, what exactly do we have left in terms of the free exchange of ideas and the educational mission?
Rohan sounds nutty to me. I don’t get her at all. I was undecided yesterday but she made my mind up for me with that stunt. I will happily vote for Warren-Jones (plus, she seems the more thoughtful of the 2, based on their THIH interviews).
What’s up with Rohan? She’s more than nutty to me. She seems unstable. She can’t even make a decision and stick with it. First she requested that the forum be held at a school. Then 3 hours prior to planned forum, she sent out a cancellation stating she couldn’t attend because it was a ‘political event’ being held in a school. And then, at the last moment attended and participated. Is this the kind of person we want on our school board? Hands down, Warren-Jones has my vote. She’s smart, thoughtful, well-spoken, and knows the issues.
Ann- My sentiments exactly!
Rohan? Just compare her CV to Warren-Jones. University of Miami versus Harvard/Howard? No job history versus wonderful work leading non-profits?
Cute little Melissa has basically never had a job, seems to be riding on an anti-abortion wave, and in DC, hides her political affiliation. She’s fundamentally against public schools, even in her literature. The pretty 32 year old should try doing something in life before casting out on time-filling projects.
Not only is Melissa ill informed on the issues, her latest mailer is completely misleading and deceptive. She pretends to be endorsed by the Post. NOT TRUE. Monica was endorsed by the Post as well has a whole host of people in Ward 6, like Tommy Wells and Lisa Raymond to name a few.
Check out the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/24/AR2010102402494.html
I wish someone would tell her to stop playing these games with the voters.
She certainly doesn’t have me fooled. I’m voting for Monica.