Meet School Board Candidate John Dowling

John Dowling

Age: 65

Family: married for 43 years and have three adult sons.  

Political Party Affiliation: I have cross filed.

Tell us about your educational background:

• Walsh University, Canton, Oh., 1969 – Finance
• Rutgers University, Newark, NJ. 1976 – MBA –Finance
• Numerous seminars and classes in finance and mergers/acquisitions at Wharton, Harvard and University of Michigan

Tell us about your professional/business background:

Employment:

1988-1997 Union Pacific Corporation – Vice President Corporate Development

1978-1988 – Warner Cable (now Time Warner) – Sr. V.P. and Treasurer

1973-1978 – National Utilities – Director of Corporate Development

1969-1973 – Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte & Touche) - CPA                   

Community Service:

• 1990-1998 St. Luke’s Hospital Board of Directors:  Committees; Finance, Investment, Building and Grounds, Advancement

• 1991-2003 Muhlenberg College Board of Directors: Committees; Finance, Investment, Building and Grounds

• 2006-2012 Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital: Finance sub-committee and investment sub-committee

• 2007-2013 Walsh University Board of Trustees: Committees; Finance,    Investment, Building and Grounds

Teaching Experience:

• 2000-2003- Muhlenberg College, Distinguished Visiting Instruction, (pro bono)  Taught Mergers and Acquisitions and Multinational Finance each for three semesters

Why are you running for school board?

I am running for the board because I believe the Saucon Valley teachers' union is attempting to take control of our school board in order to negotiate a very favorable contract, to the detriment of the taxpayers and the community at large. Five of the candidates have close personal ties to the union and since they are in the process of negotiating a new contract, their victory would result in the union negotiating with themselves. Those candidates are: Jeanie Reilly, Herb Payung, David Falcaro, Janie Hecker and Sandra Miller.

What qualifies you to serve on the board?

I have served on the boards of two colleges, Muhlenberg College and Walsh University, and St Luke's Hospital Board and Good Shepherd' finance and investment committees. I am an experienced financial executive and a CPA, now retired, with the time and commitment to make a quality board member. I have been active in local politics and have good relations with numerous Lehigh Valley state and national politicians.

My prior board experiences will make me a quality board member.  I am independent of both the union and the administration and will impartially represent the community at large.  

What do you see as the board's primary role and responsibilities?

A board member's primary responsibility is to attend the meetings, familiarize oneself with the issues, ask open minded question and make unbiased decisions. 

What's your position on outsourcing school bus drivers' jobs?

I do not have enough data to make an informed decision at this time since I have not been on the board nor had the chance to question the appropriate members of the school administration. 

SV teachers went on strike in 2005, 2008 and 2009, and they are currently working without a contract. Do you support the pay freeze teachers have been asked to accept, along with other district employees? What do you think must happen to avert another strike?

Declined to answer.

Tell us about any other major challenges facing the school district and how you would address them. (Please be as specific as possible):

Declined to answer.    

How much are you spending to run? How is your campaign being funded?

I am funding my campaign with a PAC, the meadows school board pac, and have contributed several hundred dollars and sought contribution.  I do not have a total cost as of yet but have purchased yard signs and will do some direct mail and advertising. 

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter.

I have not sought any endorsements and do not use social media.