WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. August 29, 2006: A reader, former councilman for the City of White Plains, and Co-Chair of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee writes in reaction to the Board of Education decision Monday night to ask the voters of White Plains to approve a $69.6 Million capital project bond October 17.:

John
What is the rationale for going through the expense of a referendum just a few weeks before a general election which is already being paid for by other governmental units and in which a much greater turnout of voters is expected? I think that an issue of this magnitude should be put before as many voters as possible. How many voters will even know that there is a vote in October? I would estimate that this issue will be decided by a miniscule number of voters. Count on it.

John Martin.

WPCNR NOTES:  The Board of Education has publicly  said that the extra expense of renting election machines if they were to hold the referendum on the same day as election day, and the confusion that might affect voters who have to go to two different polling places (school Districts where the referendum vote would be held, as opposed to Election Districts polling places), as the primary reasons for a separate date. There is no legal reason why the school referendum could not be on the Election Day ballot.