| projo.com | The Providence Journal

11.8.2000 02:18
Casey wins seat in District 2 school board race
By M. BRADFORD GRABOWSKI
Journal Staff Writer

LINCOLN -- Democrat Erin E. Casey easily defeated independent Charles J. Pytel for the School Committee District 2 seat.

Casey, who garnered about 62 percent of the vote according to unofficial Providence Journal results, will serve a four-year term as Lonsdale's representative on the school board.

In the only other School Committee election yesterday, Democrat Scott D. Barr, the school board chairman, won reelection to the District 4 seat in an uncontested race. Barr represents the Albion-Quinnville-Lime Rock area.

Casey and Barr join Republican Susan E. McClain and independents Lucille J. Mandeville and Patricia A. Iannelli on the committee.

"I worked very hard, walked every street, paid attention to voters and got my message out through the news media," Casey said in explaining why she thought she won.

Pytel said he thought he lost because not enough school parents came out to vote in the election.

"That's my strongest support group," he said. "They're the ones who know my face, who know the hard work I've been doing at the school."

Both Pytel and Casey have similar qualities. Both candidates are parents of young children, both said their expertise could benefit the school board, and both listed as their main goals expanding the town's overcrowded school facilities and renovating the aging Lonsdale Elementary School.

Casey, 38, is a lawyer employed by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp. She lives on River Road with her husband, Robert G. Fredette, and their son, who will enter school in Lincoln next fall. As a lawyer, she said she'll be able to help the School Committee negotiate the next teachers' contract. She said she also has experience with grant writing and hopes to help the School Department tap into new sources of funding.

Pytel, 43, is a contractor and is also employed by the R.I. Housing and Mortgage Finance Corp. He lives on Garden Drive with his wife, Catherine, and their three children, who attend Lincoln schools. Pytel said during his campaign that his background in construction would aid the School Department in its expansion plans.

Democrat John W. Flynn previously held the Lonsdale seat but opted not to run for reelection.

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