Candidate Giordano visits alma mater: Levering
The Review, Wednesday, June 2, 2010, page 5.
Serving Roxborough, Manayunk, Wissahickon, Andorra, East Falls
Candidate Giordano visits alma mater: Levering
The William Levering Elementary School in Roxborough held a Career Day on Tuesday, May 25. One of their invited guests was Hugh Giordano, who spoke with students in grades 7 and 8. Ms. Peggy Church, coordinator of the event, was so impressed with how Hugh connected with the students last year, that she invited him back again this year. “It is amazing,” said Giordano. “I graduated from this school over 12 years ago, and it still looks the same!”
Giordano, www.HughGiordano.com, is the Green Party candidate for Pennsylvania State Representative in District 194, which includes Roxborough. His topic of discussion with the Leverington students was his occupation. Giordano is a union organizer with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 152.
The students were interested to hear that Giordano, who sat in the very same desks, knew how it felt to be unsure what you want at their age. He made it clear that now is the time to start thinking about their future. “Even though you may not know what you want to be in 20 years, it is important to understand that — with education — the possibilities are endless.”
In the 8th grade, he won the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Leadership Award, and now he is organizing workers and fighting for the working class. Giordano asked the children, “Who would have thought that winning a award voted on by the teachers in 8th grade would have so much relevance today?” He also told them about his working class family and how he had to pay for his undergraduate and master degrees because his family did not have enough money. “I know how it feels to have nothing and to work hard for everything you have, but if you want to make it; the decision is up to you.”
Giordano spoke to some of the teachers afterwards, “It is important that we reach these kids on a personal basis and let them know that we are here for them and will do whatever it takes to make sure they are a success.” He also spoke with the Levering School teachers about the education system and made it clear that as State Representative, he will stand by the teachers and not the corporate-controlled Democrats and Republicans in Harrisburg .
“The problem with Harrisburg ,” said Giordano, “is that it’s controlled by business executives and corporate attorneys, I will be for the people of this district and state. I think it is important for the voters to understand that we have given the corporate-controlled Democrats and Republicans enough chances. It is now time for them to vote for a candidate from the Green Party, www.gpop.org, who will act for working class families,” said Giordano.
Following the Levering Career Day, Hugh Giordano said, “It was very exciting to see my school again, but at the same time I left there a bit upset. I know the kids in this school and other Philadelphia schools are being forgotten and their teachers are not given the funds and control they need.”
Giordano thinks it’s a disgrace that Philadelphia School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman received a $65,000 “performance bonus” from the School Reform Commission on top of her $325,000 salary. “Can anyone please tell me where the ‘reform’ is in paying such a ridiculous amount of money, when Philadelphia school students don’t have enough after school programs and books on the shelf?” Giordano said that this must be the Democrat and Republicans’ definition of “reform”, “This is why I am running as a Green Party candidate, because I am tired of the corrupt system.”
Hugh Giordano will be on the General Election ballot on Tuesday, November 2. Voters can find more information about the Green Party and their candidate at www.HughGiordano.com and 215-243-7103.