Malverne Man Throws Hat in School Board Race

The school board election in Malverne just got interesting.

It appears Board of Education President Patrick Coonan may now have some competition in his bid for re-election when voters head to the polls on May 17.

Malverne resident Don Pupke has thrown his hat into the ring, announcing on the "I Love Malverne But Want More From Our Schools" Facebook group Thursday afternoon that he is launching a campaign to take Coonan's seat as a "write-in" candidate.

Pupke started the Facebook group in late March and has been one of the more vocal members, using it to debate issues with other district residents and report his observations of the discussions that have taken place at recent board meetings.

He wrote Thursday afternoon, "As the discussions on this page attest, it’s become clear to any objective observer, that the current Board of Education is dysfunctional, insular, and remote. The Board and its President have allowed the District Administration far too much freedom to waste our tax dollars, with far too little oversight."

He has applauded the efforts of board member Gina Genti in the past, but stated that "the Board cannot operate properly when there is only one member who’s willing to ask hard questions and to challenge the status quo."

While the deadline for candidates to be placed on the ballot has passed, Pupke is asking residents to fill in his name instead of voting for Coonan next Tuesday.

"Many people, myself included, believe that we can’t stand by and allow him to be reelected," Pupke posted on Facebook. "The continued damage to the District will be too great."

He explained that he made the decision to put his name in the running after speaking with several residents.

"I realize that it's somewhat late in the game, there are only five days until the election, but I also believe that we need to act for change now," Pupke said. "We need to express this at the polls and we need to bring transparency and openness to the Board and Administration."

Pupke has had some experience in local politics and community affairs.

In the past he has served as trustee and deputy mayor for the village of Malverne, a board member of the Theodore Roosevelt Council for the Boy Scout and on the board of directors of Malverne Little League. He's been a Little League baseball coach and today coaches lacrosse for the Malverne Mohawks.

"I've lived in Malverne for 20 years and in that time have been very active in the community," Pupke told Patch. "I've been actively involved in the school district issues for several years and became more involved last year when I led the fight for busing for private school high school students."

Pupke is family man, married to his wife, Nancy for 22 years, a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Parish and a father of three. Although his children do not attend the public schools in Malverne, Pupke himself is a graduate of Valley Stream South High School.

"I was class president and an Eagle Scout," he said.

Pupke went on to attend SUNY Oneonta, where he graduated with Honors, obtained his law degree from St. John's University in 1985 and today works as an attorney in a private practice in Garden City.

He also teaches graduate classes on Law and Public Policy as an adjunct professor at C.W. Post University.  

To promote Pupke's campaign for school board, fellow Malvernite Tom Grech created another Facebook group Thursday afternoon titled "Stand up for Malverne Public Schools - Vote for Write-in candidate DON PUPKE." 

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, the group had 26 members and some residents pledged their support by commenting on Pupke's post in the "I Love Malverne.." page.

"Good luck, Don," Christine Gibbons Trabulsi wrote. "It's time for some real changes. You're just the man to make things happen."