Candidate forced to withdraw from Lyndonville BOE election explains reason

Photo by Tom Rivers: Matt Heinsler speaks during Monday’s Lyndonville Board of Education meeting.

LYNDONVILLE – Matthew Heinsler looks forward to giving back to the Lyndonville school district that he said has given so much to his children.

Heinsler wanted to serve on the Board of Education, and submitted a petition with enough signatures to be on the May 21 ballot.

Heinsler, however, was forced to withdraw from the race. He works as a full-time squadron commander for the U.S. Air Force. He checked with the base to see if he could be on the local school board and was told that wouldn’t be a problem.

But, upon further review, Air Force officials at the state level said the current policy does not allow service on the Board of Education for a full-time Air Force officer.

Heinsler said he would like to see that policy changed, but for now he can’t be on the board.

“I apologize for the amount of time for the redo to have to happen,” he said at Monday’s BOE meeting.

The district reopened the petition process and George Avery met the deadline to be on the ballot. Avery, a former Walmart store manager,  now works as an advisor for Camping World in Churchville. He has two children in the district and has served on the PTSA and as a parent rep on school hiring committees.

Other candidates on the ballot will be Megan Bruning, Susan Hrovat, Ted Lewis, Steve Vann and Patrick Whipple.