Anna
Lavanga, former vice president of the John F. Kennedy School
Parent-Teacher Association, is running for Niedergang's seat. Among her
chief concerns, she said, was a lack of accountability for school
officials.

"The school system needs to be held responsible for
what it does," Lavanga said. "The open door policy is non-existent.
Parents are not getting their problems addressed. We need to protect
the children from the school system."

Lavanga, who grew up in
Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School in 1987, began
what she said was one of the first after school language programs for
elementary students, teaching Italian. She said she would like to see
more of such programs provided to students.

"I'm just going to state what I believe in and (Niedergang) will state his record, and we'll let people choose," Lavanga said.

In
response to Lavanga's concerns about school accountability, Niedergang,
the committee vice chairperson, said school staff members work hard to
address parents' concerns but that the committee is always looking at
ways to help the system improve.

"We don't do enough parent
outreach, especially to low income parents and immigrant parents,"
Niedergang said. "In order to get parents to participate in their
child's education, the district needs to go to them. I've advocated for
staff knocking on doors and trying to get parents involved."

Christine
Rafal, who describes herself as a curriculum writer and classroom
researcher, said that she decided to run for Norton's seat to give
voters a choice – adding that she has worked extensively with him in
the past.

"I obviously want to try to win, but I certainly
respect (Norton) as an opponent," Rafal said. "I really want to offer
the ward a choice because I think we both have good strengths."

Rafal
almost ran for the Ward 4 seat in 2007, when incumbent Charlene Harris
failed to turn in her election paperwork and was forced to run as a
write-in candidate, but said she changed her mind after taking out
nomination papers. Two years later, Rafal said she's ready for the
campaign, adding that while it's difficult to run against an incumbent
she wants to give Ward 4 voters a choice

"People are reluctant to put up a challenge," Rafal said. "It's a lot easier to wait for a seat to open up."

James
Norton, editor of The Somerville News and co-owner of real estate
company ERA The Norton Group, has held the Ward 4 seat since winning a
sticker race against Harris in 2007. He previously served in the
position from 1994-95 after an unsuccessful run in 1989.

Norton
said he is confident that his record will stand out in the election,
and that Rafal has yet to explain how she would be a better committee
member.

"She has no reason to run other than getting her name
out there," Norton said. "If she comes up with reasons after the fact,
she's grasping at straws."

"I'm happy to stand on the issues facing the Somerville public schools today, tomorrow and the next day," Norton added.

Both
Niedergang and Norton said they look forward to running a campaign to
share the committee's accomplishments with their constituents.

"I
take my hat off to Ms. Lavanga; I admire her for running," Niedergang
said. "I think it's lamentable that there are so few people running for
office this year. It gives me a chance to run on my record."

Norton said he will be knocking on every door in Ward 4 while the committee is in recess during July and August.