Meet the Candidate: Francis Vigeant

Here is our second "Meet the Candidate" entry. Today, school committee candidate Francis Vigeant shares information about his qualifications.

Francis Vigeant

You have an interesting background in education. Tell us about it? 

I’m a first generation college graduate from a working class family. In middle school I became part of a single parent family when my father passed suddenly. I struggled through my early education because of an undiagnosed learning disability. I was no stranger to struggle and hard work.

When I started my career teaching high school math in Lynn, I encountered many students who faced the same academic and social struggles I lived through. I wanted my math class to be engaging, so I used hands-on science and engineering lessons with my students. When students built windmills and launched rockets everyone showed up on task. It was the right recipe.

I went on to develop curriculum systems that empower students to develop analytical thinking skills and engage in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math, beginning in elementary school. In my capacity as an education specialist I’ve helped schools secure over a million dollars of private grants, increase MCAS test scores 12-33 percentage points, and developed communication strategies. Now I employ nearly a dozen people and support the efforts of many other classroom teachers and thousands of their students.      

Do you think that owning a company that sells education software to schools creates a conflict of interest for you, when Salem may need your product?

Ethical practices are my first priority. I’m volunteering my time as a member of the school committee to help improve this district for everyone with no intent or desire to profit. Throughout my service, I will continue to abide by state ethics laws avoiding conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest. In the case of an overwhelming need there are provisions under Mass General Law 268A, section 20 that would allow other members of the School Committee in concert with City Council to pursue a product.

Does the Salem Public School System currently buy your product?

Saltonstall made a small retail purchase of curriculum and materials last year. 

You're a Mensa member? Seriously? Isn't Mensa just a club for smaht kids to feel superior and be snobby?

It’s true. I’m a member. Seriously. We’re hardly a pretentious crew; in fact we get together at Gulu, play games and grab dinner. Who knew? You’re all invited to do these wicked smaht things too. People in Mensa are genuine folks who enjoy sharing ideas and the company of others. I guess that makes it a club like any other club.

Why should voters make the effort to head out to the primary polls and vote for you?

I’ve experienced what works and what doesn’t work from every angle and can use my experience to guide our superintendant, develop policy, and inform budgeting to change tomorrow for our students today. I’m the only candidate that represents active business experience, active public school teaching experience, and active administrative experience with a proven ability to influence student learning outcomes.

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There you have it. Sounds pretty qualified to me. For more information, see his website, Facebook page, or this press release posted by Salem Patch today.

H is for honor?

Did you know that Rainn Wilson used to live in Salem? He says he waited tables in Salem while his mom was a witch in a haunted house. Interesting. Anyone know where he worked? Why isn't Destination Salem promoting this?

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A tweeter pointed out the below video to me. It's funny, so I had to share. With extra honor, I guess.





Yup, honor.

Updates on three

I frequently have a couple of pending items floating around in this blog, half written. Here are three I'm finishing now.

First, I wrote about the seeming difference in handling of the recent Christian Day disciplinary matter and the complaint against Spellbound Tours here.

I received an email with a proposed answer to why this happened.

From: REDACTED@REDACTED.com to keepitklassysalem@gmail.com

You were wondering why Christian Day got a closed-door hearing while Spellbound's was public?

 Day's lawyer is Joan Lovely's husband.

 During the hearing, Day got red in the face, kicked over a chair and shouted "I don't have to listen to this! Fuck you!" as he stormed out of the room. As the hearing wasn't over, he was made to return.

You're right: Destination Salem must be so proud.

Well then. I'm not sure I buy that the reason for the difference is that Day's lawyer is connected to a city councilor. I think it's much more likely that City Council and the Licensing Board just operate differently. It's an interesting thought, though.

The account of what took place during the closed-door hearing is simply awesome. Somehow I can see it happening just like that. Captain Hothead doesn't like to be questioned. This particular source has proved reliable in the past, as well. Can anyone else confirm or deny? If he did behave this way, isn't that kind of proof that the leopard can't change his spots? If he's going to behave that way in front of the people who have power over his license, do they really think he won't act that way with his competitors?

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Item number two was seen and overheard at a kickoff barbecue for Ward 3 council candidate Todd Siegel back on August 14th. That evening at-large councilor Pinto was seen vigorously pumping an attendee who happens to be a friend of mine for my identity. LOL! It went something like this.

Steve Pinto: I know you know who writes that website.
Unsub: Yes, I do.
SP: Who?
Unsub: I'm not going to tell you who he is.
SP: So you admit it's a he!
Unsub: He's said so several times. He also says he lives in Ward 1.
SP: You really aren't going to tell me?
Unsub: No. Ask the mayor, she figured it out.
SP: I know, that pisses me off. Why aren't you going to tell me? (Ed. note: Doesn't everything she does piss him off?)
Unsub: I've met you four times and I've known him for years.
SP: Well, is he at least qualified?!


OK, that's enough, you get the gist. I guess it went on for a while, and I'm sure that's not word for word correct. Now obviously, I've been pretty tough on councilor Pinto several times. The facts are these. I don't know him, and haven't even ever met him. We've been in the same room once or twice, at public meetings. All of my criticisms of him are directly related to his actions as a councilor. It's not remotely personal. In fact, if he spent the small amount of time he spent pestering that young woman about who I am actually explaining his rationale on the items I've criticized him on, to the voters, the paper, someone, I'd have much more respect for the esteemed councilor. I guess the caption on this picture should be "Todd Siegel and Steve Pinto puzzle over Keep it Klassy, Salem!"

I do have to add, seriously? Am I qualified ... to post opinions on the Internet? That might be one of the funniest things I've ever heard.

Reminds me of these:

I'm a guy, with a mortgage, and a property tax bill directly related to the spending appropriated by the body you sit on. That's the only qualification I need. Beyond that, however, I have a degree in political science, with an econ minor, from one of the elite institutions of higher learning in this country.

Do a meet the candidate Q&A with me, Steve. I'll be fair. I'll ask you about the things I've criticized you for, but I'll be fair. You can even use the IP address I send you the questions from to try to figure out who I am. It's about the worst kept secret around at this point.

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The following comment was left on a previous post about the Ward 2 Social Club possibly being bought by the VFW. Sounds like bad news for the VFW, and good news for the Social Club. Also bad news for Brewer Hawthorne Cove Marina, which was rumored to be interested in buying the VFW building. I wonder if this impacts their plans to build a large building just on the other side of the fence from the Blaney Street parking lot.

"Just a fyi update! The management finally resigned along with entire family. The club will have a entire new board of people in control and they will try to work out a deal with the DOR and get the doors back open to a historic club! Best wishes to the new management and I hope to see the club open asap!!"

Anyone have any more details about the Ward 2 situation? More details on Brewer's plans for a building abutting the Ferry lot? Maybe they'll improve or remove the rusty fence topped with barbed wire that marks the current border.

{Edit: I was driving home, with this post all ready to publish, when I passed Sosnowski's metal box, and saw a sign on it saying that the Ward 2 Social Club would open Friday at 5. Sure enough I swung by the club and there were cars, as well as more signs on the building proclaiming that they were open. I almost went in to say hello. Good for them. I had big plans for that VFW property. Bad news for me.}

Whaddya want? I was driving while shooting!

While we're on the subject of this box, and I may or may not have mentioned this before, how does Ward 2 Councilor Sosnowski have the energy to get all indignant about this box, and demand that it be redone, at taxpayer expense, but he never makes a peep about the roller coaster/jump in the road at Winter and Bridge?

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School committee candidate Francis Vigeant has a campaign website. You can check it out here. Interesting and topical background. Look for a "Meet the candidate" as soon as I send him questions. Any other takers? One more city councilor at large candidate coming up as soon as I receive the answers back.