Elections

Candidate questionnaire: Paul M. Roth

IslandPacket - info@islandpacket.com

Updated October 23, 2012 5:32 PM

Name: Paul M. Roth

Age: No response given

Office: Beaufort County Board of Education, District 6

Number of years living in the area you seek to represent: 17 years

Family: Son, Gavan, 17, and daughter, Dara, 22, two grown children with six grandchildren

Education: Bachelor of Arts and honorary doctorate from Allegheny College; master's in business administration from Harvard University

Current occupation/employer: licensed Life Producer, investor, self-employed

Employment, military and volunteer history: Producer of nationally syndicated television and news programming; owner, Marshview Inc. Life Insurance Services; former chairman of Olympic National Bank of Los Angeles; former chairman and CEO of IDC Services Inc.; former member of the board of directors of Kenyon & Eckhardt Advertising; member of the Hilton Head Island World Affairs Council; founding chairman and CEO of Main Street Youth Theater; member of the Southern Beaufort County Planning Committee; Hilton Head Island Planning Commission; Beaufort County Southern Corridor Review Board; member of Founders' Circle, American Film Institute; trustee of the executive committee of the Screen Actors Guild Pension Fund; trustee of Allegheny College

Please list all public offices to which you've been elected, when and where: None

Please list any unsuccessful runs for public office and when: Ran for Board of Education, 2007, special election

Other political and government experience: No answer provided

Key endorsements you've received: Leo Zabinski

Contributions: No campaign contributions or expenditures reported as of Oct. 12.

Expenditures: No campaign contributions or expenditures reported as of Oct. 12.

Highest contributor: No campaign contributions or expenditures reported as of Oct. 12.

Why should people vote for you? What separates you from your opponent?

My candidacy is based upon a life record of high-level leadership, community service, fiduciary capabilities and innovation. I have served as chairman and CEO of numerous public and nonprofit enterprises, handled billions of dollars as a fiduciary and excelled in community service.

During my 17 years in southern Beaufort County, I have served my community in local government. I was founding chairman and CEO of the Main Street Youth Theater for eight years, which was a startup, nonprofit theatrical education/enterprise for students to provide what did not exist in local schools. My opponent cannot provide anything close to this record.

What are the three most important issues you would address if elected?

Assisting with the hire of a truly qualified superintendent with a track record and advanced credentials. Some might say we can save $50,000 in salary from the current $200,000. But when you consider the size of the school budget -- $300 million -- this pales in comparison with the value and savings a first-class executive can leverage out of this kind of money. (Former superintendent Valerie) Truesdale was handcuffed and micromanaged by the board. This must change. The support of a strong board with newly elected members can make this happen and also build our operating credentials with the County Council.

The board must achieve a new level of fiduciary responsibility that will gain the respect of the public and the county council. The worst trespass was the construction of the Whale Branch School -- "the school located nowhere for no one." After this debacle, the succeeding public relations campaign "to pretend it had wonderful results" only distracted staff and the public from the fact that it was one of the worst performing schools. Using the iPad as a hook to increase their budget was typical of the board's push for money and resulted in public animosity.

The introduction of technology as a learning tool is the highest priority. It is inconceivable in year 2012 that it is finally on the agenda. The federal initiative to bring the iPad into the school was turned into a political circus totally "off point." It should have been in the budget and sold as the revolution it was. Its impact on learning will be exponential while it increases productivity. The focus must be on training teachers to implement the program. Students will adapt quickly.

What other issues do you see as important?

Educator Marshall McCluhan observed that organizations frequently "drive into the future using only the rear view mirror." This board has focused on where they have been without a leadership vision for the future. The Island Packet has published numerous operational flubs by the board too numerous to list. I see it in the overall picture as management incompetence by the board itself.

Fiduciary management. My business career has been always as a fiduciary, responsible over the years for billions of dollars. My career required making the best use of funds available. Not once was there a hint of impropriety during my career.

What specific steps will you take to make government more open and accessible to the public?

A fiduciary requires transparency in operations. In my advertising career, I was responsible for spending vast amounts of client funds. Errors, overspending, misspent dollars were not tolerated. As chairman and CEO of IDC Services Inc., an information and technology company (NASDAQ listed), I reported to the SEC, venture-capitalist owners, management and stockholders. Over 13 years of uninterrupted success, we prevailed without a single lawsuit or SEC complaint. It requires a style of management with open dealings, a statement of vision and clear objectives. I intend to maintain my own website to inform as we progress and demand personal accountability among staff.

Have you ever been convicted of a crime (felony), been disciplined by a professional licensing board or organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? If so, please give the details. No.

Have you ever filed bankruptcy, been delinquent on your federal, state or local taxes? If so, please give details. No.

Are there any personal details about yourself that voters would be interested in knowing?

I am retired, highly qualified and ready to devote whatever time is needed to work on the issues. I have the time to attend meetings, research needs, talk with constituents and think through strategic planning.

I hold a general aviation pilot's license rated for multi-engine and instrument operations.

I authored two books. They include the first textbook on media planning in advertising, titled "How to Plan Media," which was also translated in Japanese and Italian, and a satire on business ethics titled "Full Scheme Ahead."

I enjoy a tremendous amount of personal reading.

I enjoyed my career in advertising, motion pictures and television interacting with many well-known movers and shakers.

This story was originally published October 22, 2012 at 8:17 PM with the headline "Candidate questionnaire: Paul M. Roth."

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