BAINBRIDGE – For the each of the last three elections, Bainbridge-Guilford residents have had little choice at the polls, with the number of candidates equaling the number of open seats on the district’s board of education. This year, however, three candidates are vying for two vacancies, both carry a three year term.
The seats are currently held by Howard Lockhart and Jeanne Shields. Both are running for re-election. They will be joined on the ballot by challenger Patrick McElligott.

In the order they will appear on the ballot:
Howard Lockhart is completely his first three-year term on the B-G school board.
“My reason for joining the board was to find out why the taxes kept increasing so much,” he said. “And rather than complain, I decided to get a first hand look.” After first serving a year on the district’s budget advisory committee, he ran for a seat on the board in 2008. He is now seeking a second term in office.
Lockhart believes he offers a “unique perspective” to the board since he was not born and raised in the area. A Rochester native, he moved to the district in 2002. He and his wife have three children.
“I bring to the table experience in business and the private sector,” said Lockhart, an engineer who has worked for Mineral Technologies for 34 years.
“I would like to think that I am on the side of the district, the taxpayer and the employees,” Lockhart said, explaining that he uses the skills he employs in his professional role “to analyze current situations and forecast to provide ideas and future direction” for the district.
He says the school has done a “good job” of staying to its priorities of providing a quality of education to help all students reach their potential as members of society, and bringing “a sense of identity and pride” to the community. But he does see room for improvement.
“Better communications both internally and externally to the community, clearly defined higher expectation levels for both students and employees, and resolution of fair teacher and support staff contracts are needed to take B-G to the next level of achievement,” he said.

Patrick McElligott is making his first run for school board.
“In my opinion the most pressing concern is the continued threat of decreased aid from the state and federal levels,” said McElligott, who has lived in the district for more than two decades.
Originally from Sidney, McElligott, now a retired social worker, says he and his wife chose to move to the Town of Guilford specifically because of the school system’s reputation. The couple has two teenage “scholar athletes,” and are currently hosting a foreign exchange student.
“I think that B-G is the best,” he said, explaining that he’d like to see the school not only continue to provide the level of education it is known for, but also improve.
The self-described “fast learner” says he feels he could be useful to the board, particularly because of his experience dealing with the state and government bureaucracy.
While, McElligott has never before held public office, he has served on a number of boards including that of the Southern Tier Aids Program, the Environmental Management Council and the Sidney Youth Bureau. He is a founding member of the Sidney Center Historical Society, and serves as a trustee on the Guilford Historical Society. Because of his passion for local history and his role .
“I’ve been active with B-G schools and a number of schools,” he said, explaining that because of his passion for local history and his role as a community activist he has been asked to speak to students at many area schools and colleges.
After becoming involved with one of the booster organizations at B-G, McElligot said he decided it was time to “take the next step” and run for board.

Jeanne Shields has served on the B-G board of education for 12 years, and is seeking her fifth term in office.
“I take my responsibility as a School Board Member very seriously and I enjoy it greatly. I would be honored to continue to serve this district in that capacity,” said Shields, is herself a B-G graduate. She and her husband have lived in the district since 1986. They have two children, the youngest of which will graduate this year. She has been employed at Sidney Federal Credit Union for 15 years. She has been a fixture at J’s Quickway in Guilford, where she works part time, for an equal number of years.
“Our district is like most others in New York State in having great concern for the future of our district in regard to our ability to financially support our current standards, goals and needs,” Shields said. “We continue to look at ways to better provide for the future of our district.”

Polls will be open from Noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Bainbridge Town Hall and Guilford Town Hall.