The former co-owner of the Buffalo Sabres has thrown his hat into the rink for the Buffalo School Board elections. Larry Quinn, a long-time business leader, said he will run for an at-large seat.
Quinn, long-time businessman and community leader met with reporters Wednesday afternoon at Bacchus Restaurant on Chippewa.
Quinn said he city school district troubles are not about a lack of funding.
"And so when you take a billion dollars and you misspend it, misuse it, you don't plan it properly you'll be broke," said Quinn. "You read every day of the week very, very rich athletes that end up broke -- it's not that their poor, they just that they didn't managed their resources well. That's what this is about. It's not about we don't have money. We spend a billion dollars a year on education in Buffalo."
Quinn said his candidacy will be about a major structural innovation of the city school system. He believes the Board of Education is outdated.
"The Board of Education is trying to educate children today, in the year 2014, like it's 1942. It's the same method. It's the same mentality," said Quinn.
Quinn was encouraged to run by Park District school board member and Buffalo developer Carl Paladino.
Quinn is now among eight candidates vying for a spot on the ballot for one of three at-large board seats.
Two former mayoral candidates -- Sergio Rodriguez and Bernie Tolbert -- have declared their candidate for the school board. Other candidates include two incumbents, current school board president Barbara Seals Nevergold and board member John Licata. Also seeking a spot on the ballot, Erie Community College student Stephon Wright, first student to represent the board in 2012 and a Lancaster School District teacher's aide Adrian Harris, who unsuccessfully ran for Park District seat against current board member Paaldino last year and a member of the District Parent Coordinating Council Wendy Mistretta.
Candidates must file their nomination petitions by April 8th. Buffalo School Board elections will be held May 6th.