Chilmonik takes the opposite side of every issue just for the publicity of it - the headlines and sound bites. I challenge the Bonita News or any other media outlet to actually spend time looking into this board member's allegations - sit down and look at what he CLAIMS is wrong or what is going on and see if there is ANY evidence or data to support his claims. In the past 3-4 years, all Chilmonik has done is b**ch and moan, grandstand and throw around wild accusations - and he's backed up by that idiot Traube and the rest of that ilk (who, by the way, also support Rodrigues)

A year or so ago Chilmonik provided his "report" to the Board members and every taxpayer in this town should have been embarrassed by it. It contained absolutely NO relevant information, but rather harped on issues that had been resolved months - or years - before. What it DID contain is grammatical and spelling errors that would make any English teacher cringe.

the fact Chilmonik, Traube and the rest of those dolts continue to get attention from the media is a joke - any real journalist would realize these people for what they are and dismiss them as gadflies, nothing more.

The media in this town have absolutely no interest - or talent - to actually dig and see what this board member is doing. They would rather allow him to spew his venom and cause controversy because THAT sells papers or makes people tune in to TV. But like they said in that old Wendy's commercial: "Where's the beef?"

Let's go Mr. Clark - how about it? How about taking any of the "issues" Chilmonik and his cronies continue to focus on and really - REALLY - spend time researching it. What are you afraid of, proving that your quote-machine is full of BS? if you really show these people for what they are, you'd lose your weekly letters to the editor and guest editorials that do nothing but cast aspersions against teachers and staff.

Stop the WASTE ... elect a new Board majority

Ray Rodrigues .. Lee School Dist-3
http://www.isayray.com/

James Middlebrooks .. Lee School Dist-2
http://middlebrooks08.com/

Not sure where to begin based on "obesrving2" comments. Well, in no particular order.

This story just highlights the great divide on the Board, and the he said/she said mentality. Kuckel and Doozier want to have back door meetings and bring forth only "agreed to" items. Chilmonik does not roll that way, and is labeled by the Kuck and Dooz, and the above poster as a "headline grabbing" whatever...Well, I am not sure I agree with that assertion. I have no problem with public debate and disagreement. It lets the public understand both sides of the issue.

I cannot support nor oppose the idea of Chilmonik's report being valid or not. But the post above is full of accusations, but no examples as it relates to the report. In short, "where is the beef?"

"Spewing venom..." Well, if Chilmonik or Traube or "the rest of that ilk" disagree they are trouble makers, but if they agree they are going along with the good ol boy network that permeates Lee County. I would rather have "gadflies" challenging the status quo than a bunch of people just going along.

The job of the Board is to provide contrast, and come up with the best ideas. What is wrong with that? What is wrong with having and presenting the opposite view? Why is it wrong for the press to cover that?

It is too bad that some of the Board members do not like to be challenged. Oh well. That is the job.

In my opinion, the Board is severely divided...and it is a camp follower mentality. The post above is quick to park in the Kuck and Dooz camp and oppose the others. That is fine. You can do that. But it is fairly hypocritical to point fingers at the others being the problem.

Rodrigues is right. We need transparency and and a civil, public process. The attacks and acrimony at the Board meetings is not a productive use of taxpayer funds for the time of the meeting. People should not be publicly attacked or ridiculed. Those are not the type of people I want on my school Board. Come August 26th, we should all vote for those who we believe will work in the best interest of the kids and our schools in a respectful, productive manner.

I wonder if the article was written tongue in cheek because it does nothing to disprove the rubber stamp accusations, in fact supports it.
In my opinion, Browder was put into this job to be a yes man. The board has for years dodged scandal by pointing any accusations back at the accuser. I and many parents like me are disgusted by the board's tactics and administration. Chilmonik isn't a rabble rouser, more a voice of reason and dissention amongst good ole boys and girls. Didn't the papers report on the Contract approved by Browder for 24999.99 to get under the required Board approval (oh but wasn't that refunded lmao)? Transportation scandals year after year? New construction and land deals planning out of control, outrageously in the face of an obvious eventual real estate bust which is what the economy around here had been booming with and student enrollment accordingly? The latest reports of course the Las Vegas junket that was as valuable to our students as junk. I could go on and on but any reasonable and well researched voter can easily see from historical archives the truth of what this present board has given us. The above quote in the story says it all!!!!

""""“I’m not going to bring items forward that we don’t agree on,” Browder said. “I would be stupid if I did that.”

Dozier said Browder’s days are numbered if he starts doing that."""

Truer words were never spoken........ Tow the line Jumbo Browder or you are out of a job it seems...

But in this case put those board members out of a job and vote for the sunshiney and professional candidates. Vote out the Kukoo and the Doozy. VOTE RODRIGUES AND MIDDLEBROOKS!!!!!!!

I'm with JackTanner and SgtSteiner. Let's bring people on board who don't need to have back room conversations. People who have integrity aren't afraid to have transparency. Chilmonik is the only one challenging the status quo. The other board members are a clique and just stroke each others backs. The time is right on to elect members to our school board who can think for themselves, act with integrity, and put the students of Lee County first. Rodrigues will do the job and do it well!

You people just don't get it - there is NOTHING wrong with public debate if the people bringing forward the items to debate have something to prove their point - or to at least have some shred of evidence to cause the discussion. But to continue to harp on the same issues over and over and over and over...the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Well, that's what Chilmonik and the rest of those dolts do - they continue to harp on issues just for the sake of hearing their own voices. Had they had anything to back up what they were saying, I am sure others - including members of the legal community and those in Tallahassee - would take notice.

But that hasn't happened.

These people have no intent on fixing anything - they just want to bring up this, that or the other thing to create controversy, cast aspersions at staff and get their name in the paper or on TV.

You want to see Chilmonik's report from a year or so ago - simply call the Board office and ask for a copy, it's a public document and you can get one if you want. But I venture to say you won't, because once you read it and see how poorly it was written, the fact it lacks any evidence - references issues from 3-5 years ago which have already been addressed and corrected and is FILLED with grammatical and spelling errors, you'd see for yourselves that Big Bob and his Merry Bunch of Idiots are full of hot air, nothing more.

And if there is SO MUCH CORRUPTION here, why doesn't Big Bob give a quick call to the folks in Tallahassee - if there TRULY is mismanagement and corruption, don't you think any evidence he has could be used to start a state investigation?

Oh, but I guess if you got some outsiders to look into things and they didn't find any evidence of what Big Bob and his group say is happening, that would then prove those people for what they are...

You can sit here and claim all kinds of wild things, but if these gadflies - your savior Rodrigues included - had any real evidence, and if they REALLY cared like they say they do, they would have brought it forward and started an investigation.

and as an elected official, if Chilmonik has any shred of evidence of impropriety, malfeasances, “back door deals” or mismanagement, it is his DUTY to bring that evidence to the proper authorities, not to grandstand for the local media every 2 weeks a Board meetings. He hasn’t done so – so he is either full of baloney or isn’t doing what you all elected him to do…either way, it’s outrageous.

Wow. It just seems so easy to call out Chilmonik as a grandstander, lousy report, etc.

What YOU do not get is that you are assuming the opinions of posters are based on one report, one issue, one idea. The bottom line that this article points out, that everyone else is clued into, is that Browder and his cronies do not want public discussion. They want to settle issues in private and present a feel good approach to all issues. If not, why is it such a problem to have a disagreement in public? You indicate that public debate is good...well, not in the eyes of most of the Board. The quotes say it all.

I am surprised that anyone with such an axe to grind against Chilmonik would not take as hard as a stance with the rest of the board. Question Chilmonik's integrity if you must, but what about the rest?

Dozier is reported to have falsely claimed to have received a BUPAC endorsement? If you don't believe me, look it up. Check out the news press forums. But you won't? You won't because this is not about what is in the best interest of the county, just attacking Chilmonik.

Rodrigues a savior? No. Nobody is. But anyone who is outside of the good ole boy system of Lee County is already one step ahead of the others. Nevermind the fact that in any public forum against his opponent he outshines in just about every category. He already has endorsements from NDN, Cape Coral Breeze and BUPAC. Savior? No. Worthy of a spot on the Board..more so than certain encumbants.

Gadflies? Lack of data? Uh, no. Certain Board members will gladly spin the facts so they look good. For example, drop out rates. Is it not slanting the data when you measure drop outs to discount middle school kids to make the numbers look better? Who is doing that? Rodrigues? Gadflies? Not Chilmonik or "his ilk". Just the very people who prevent others from speaking.