Greenport School District

Parent launches write-in campaign for Greenport BOE seat

(Credit: Courtesy)
Rosalie Rung has launched a write-in campaign to serve on the Greenport school board.  (Credit: Courtesy)

A Greenport parent who had been on the fence about running for the school board has launched a write-in campaign after no one petitioned for the open seat.

Rosalie Rung, 41, is the mother of a sixth-grade student and a vice president at Healthguru.com, a website that features an online health video library.  She believes her digital media background can be an asset to the district as it continues to develop and enhance its technology programs.

Ms. Rung decided to run last week after reading an article in The Suffolk Times about the seat being left vacant by former board member Lisa Murray. She has since created a website to promote her write-in campaign, rosalierung.com.

“I’ve been looking for different ways to get involved with the school,” Ms. Rung said in an interview Monday. “I figured someone with past school board experience would file petitions. I was surprised that no one did, and decided that maybe this is a sign.”

Ms. Rung said she likes the school board’s current direction with education, especially in how it has committed to providing Chromebooks, iPads and laptops to students. To continue that momentum, she’d like to help the district secure programing available to schools, like free resources through Khan Academy, which provides students with academic help online.

Ms. Rung said her family has owned a home in Greenport for 12 years. The Rung’s summer home became their permanent residence more than a year ago after they moved from New York City, she said.

“The school was a big motivator for us to move,” Ms. Rung said. “I’m encouraged to be a part of the educational decision-making team.”

Ms. Murray, Greenport’s lone incumbent up for re-election, has cited personal reasons in her decision not to seek another term.

She was appointed to the board last summer to serve out the remaining year of Michael Mazzaferro’s term after he also resigned for personal reasons.

Prior to her appointment Ms. Murray, a mother of two school-aged children, was first elected to the board in 2009 and served until 2012. After she decided not to seek re-election in 2012, no one petitioned to run for the seat. Babette Cornine then won with 50 write-in votes.

As for this year’s election, school business administrator Diana Duell said if a qualified write-in candidate isn’t elected May 20 — or if there are no write-ins — then the seat will be deemed vacant and could either be filled by a special election or by board appointment. The seat could also be left vacant, she said.

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