2023 Officers Sworn In, New School Choice Initiative Outlined

2023 Officers (L to R): Carole Chuckovich, 2nd vice president; Rachel Astrachan, 1st vice president; Patt Mayer, president; Edith Hites, treasurer. Absent: Denise Gianni, recording secretary.

US Marines Collecting for “Toys For Tots” are joined by Incoming President Patt Mayer, left, and Eve Gordon, outgoing president, Associate Member Rick DeSantos along with Eve’s two sons, Joe and David.

Julie Lynch, Luncheon Meeting Chair

At its annual luncheon meeting yesterday, Lamorinda Republican Women Federated voted in its 2023-2024 slate for officers. Patt Mayer is the new president with Rachael Astrachan, first vice president; Carole Chuckovich, second vice president; Denise Gianni, recording secretary; and Edith Hites, treasurer.

With some 55 members and guests attending, Associate Member Rick DeSantos, father of Terri DiLoreto, Ways and Means chair, was recognized for his service in the U.S. Marines and his participation on the Bay Area Honor Flight in which veterans were honored and flown to Washington, DC, last month.

Michael Alexander, guest speaker, gave a rousing talk on the school choice initiate his group is preparing to launch for the 2024 election. The chairman of California School Choice said his group intends to start collecting signatures starting early next year. He cited the poor performance of the California public schools as an incentive to parents to support school choice.

The initiative, if passed, will establish an Educational Savings Account for each child in kindergarten through 12th grade. Each year that account will be credited with $15,000, the student’s share of the Prop 96 funds. The parent then will be able to direct those funds to participating private or religious schools for tuition and other education expenses.

As Alexander noted, “The money will follow the child, not the politicians.” Further, any unspent funds can be spent on vocational training or other qualified educational expenses.