Solon School Board Election 2011: John Heckman

Editor's Note: As part of Solon Patch's local election coverage, we will provide profiles of each of the candidates running for office. These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voters, make more-informed decisions at the ballot box. We also will have a short video of each candidate that will help you learn more about them.

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Name: John Heckman

Age: 50

Occupation: Certified Public Accountant, Kirtland Capital Partners Vice President of Finance

Education: B.S. Accounting Gannon University; MBA Gannon University

Political Affiliation: Democrat

Office Sought: Solon Board of Education
 

Previous Political Office Sought or Held: None

Candidate Statement: I believe in the Solon School District.  I want to make a difference and be a fiscal agent for our schools and for the children of Solon and Glenwillow.

As a Certified Public Accountant with 24 years of experience in both the private and public sectors coupled with my current involvement with the District, I believe that I am well suited for a school board position.

My family and I moved to Solon over six years ago due to the outstanding reputation of the city and School District.  The quality of education my children are receiving has exceeded my expectations and it is time for me to give back.  

My wife, Lisa and I are very involved in the school district.  Currently, Lisa is in her second term as president of Parkside Elementary PTA and prior to that she served as Treasurer.  At Parkside Elementary, I served on the PTA Audit Committee, prepared their tax return and volunteer at the majority of their PTA functions.  In addition, I have tutored elementary children twice a week in the Moving Math Along Program.  

In the fall of 2010 I served as a member of the Solon School District Strategic Planning Committee and   last spring, I had the privilege of serving as co-chair of the Strategic Planning Finance Action Team with district treasurer, Tim Pickana.

I would like to continue to work toward ensuring the financial stability of the Solon School District. The key to success is being able to forecast and stay ahead of funding discussions at the state level. Dialogue is the key component.  Open communication and working collaboratively with school educators and staff, government officials, residents and business owners/executives in both Solon and Glenwillow is imperative to the system’s financial strength.  I believe it is extremely important for the district to continue to challenge state budget constraints so the quality of education in Solon remains unchanged.  

It will be my job as a board member and your job as parents and supporters of the Solon Schools to be involved as advocates and partners with the Solon School District.

I hope you will consider my candidacy and provide me with the opportunity to be a financial steward for this district.