Letter in Support of Jim Link

The following was submitted to Radnor Patch for publication by Radnor resident Daniel Kozloff.

I am providing this letter to express my support and endorsement for Jim Link in the upcoming election for Radnor Township School Board.

I have known Jim Link and his family since they moved to the Philadelphia area almost eight years ago. He and I are colleagues providing financial and investment advice to state and local governments in the greater Philadelphia area and throughout the country. In his professional role, Jim deals with some of the most complicated, political, and generally difficult situations that state and local governments encounter. He has an exceptional background and a demeanor well suited to help the Radnor Township School District move past some of the recent divisiveness and into a future where our children are best prepared to achieve. I am voting for Jim because I have seen him in action in this kind of setting, and I know he will deliver as a member of the School Board, meeting the high standards and expectations that our community expects and deserves.

I have three pre-school children. My wife and I recently moved to Radnor in part for the schools. We want our children to be educated in a progressive district where learning is more than preparing for standardized tests and where both emotional and physical safety is valued. By the same token, our schools must be fiscally responsible and deliver value at a reasonable price. One of the things that Jim emphasizes is the need for a documented and vetted strategic plan that covers curriculum, facilities, finances, and safety. As a financial advisor in the government sector, I know firsthand that governments with guiding principles and documented strategic plans tend to outperform those that manage in less strategic and organized ways. That means having a plan for general fund reserves and budgeting for them with a thoughtful process for determining their optimal use. While I am in favor of the Board’s decision to implement a full day kindergarten program, I feel strongly that important decisions like these should have a thorough and transparent process for evaluating the merits of such endeavors.

While our politics are not necessarily directly aligned, I feel that Jim will be an exceptional School Board Director because of his experience, ethics, and demeanor. I know Jim to be thoughtful, open to a discussion of opposing views, and a deliberate and reasonable decision-maker. Furthermore, Jim’s ethical standards are indisputable and I trust that he will make well-informed decisions that will provide the best results for the District. I believe that Jim has the right ideas for initiating long-term planning processes in Radnor. You will find Jim on the ballot listed as Valentine James Link, Jr and I hope that you will join me in supporting him in the upcoming election.