CARTHAGE — Seven people, including three incumbents, are running for the three open positions on the Carthage Central School District Board of Education.

In position three, incumbent Lori V. Habermann is being challenged by Thomas D. Wojcikowski and William J. Sochia.

Paul C. Marolf, incumbent in position four, is being challenged by Michael P. Chevier, and Tina Paragon Soukup, incumbent in position five, is challenged by Mary Louise Hunt.

Each seat holds a three-year term.

The Times spoke to each candidate about why he or she is running for the board and what they hope to accomplish.

Lori V. Habermann

Mrs. Habermann, who has been on the board for six years, said there are still many things she hopes to accomplish.

“I want to follow the gifted-and-talented program put in place at the elementary and middle school and some of the programs in the high school and make sure they are as successful as I hoped they would be,” she said.

She also said she hopes to bring down the dropout rate and continue to work with special-education parents.

“I was a special-ed parent, so I want to continue to be the voice for those special-education parents,” she said. “It’s a totally different road the special-ed children go down from the regular-ed children.”

Her favorite part of being on the board is “seeing programs we’ve put in place succeed and seeing kids flourish under them.”

Mrs. Habermann works as a histology technician at Sam-aritan Medical Center, Watertown.

Thomas D. Wojcikowski

Mr. Wojcikowski wants to be involved in his children’s education and he believes running for the school board is the best way to do so.

He said he will help the district pursue opportunities that will enhance the learning of all students.

“I’d like to see the district pursue some after-school and before-school programs,” he said. “I think there are a lot of opportunities for families out there.”

He said he will have an open mind to new initiatives brought to the board.

Mr. Wojcikowski works for Cornell Cooperative Extension as a community educator. He’s placed in the Copenhagen Central School District as part of the 21st Century Grant.

“Right now, everybody’s calling for a change, and I’d like to see everyone come out and vote for the change they’d like to see,” he said.

William J. Sochia

Mr. Sochia said he has been thinking of running for the school board for several years but never seriously considered it until he learned about the cuts proposed to special education in the 2008-09 budget.

“When I heard about that, I knew I had to do something,” he said. “I want to put my neck out there and I want to try to make a difference.”

Mr. Sochia’s daughter currently receives special-education services through the district.

“I think there’s a filter between current administration and the school board and the staff and the residents,” he said. “I don’t believe we should have this kind of friction so late in the year and while building a budget. We need to open the lines of communication with everyone involved in the school and the district.”

Mr. Sochia works at New York Air Brake, Watertown, as a floor supervisor. From his work there, he said, he has learned that a company’s biggest asset is its employees.

“I don’t want to take anything or anyone away from the students,” he said.

Paul C. Marolf

Mr. Marolf has been on the school board for 24 years and before that was an educator.

“I feel that the board members have a better background than the newcomers,” he said. “Education is so critical, especially now for the young people in the high school.”

Mr. Marolf said he’d like to implement a program to add another year of school.

Instead of four years at the high school, he’d like to see five.

“There’s such a demand placed on the students now, they have to get down to business and seriously study and get the degree,” he said. “I’ve talked to some of the guidance people and they seem to be receptive to my suggestions. I hope to bring this to fruition within the next year.”

He said his favorite part of being on the board is the relationship with the staff he’s built by spending many hours each week at the buildings.

Michael P. Chevier

Mr. Chevier said: “The board has lost touch with the community. It’s time for a change.”

He said he would try to cap budget increases for years to come.

“In today’s economy, it’s imperative to have fiscal responsibility,” Mr. Chevier said. “Now is not the time to be adding administration.”

Mr. Chevier retired from Fort Drum and settled in Carthage with his family.

“I’ve always wanted to contribute back to this community,” he said.

Tina Paragon Soukup

Mrs. Soukup has served six years on the board and said she would like to see some of the projects that have recently begun be successful.

“There’s the ninth grade academy, the Success for All program in the middle school and the building projects that I’d like to continue to see in the district,” she said. “I want to see all students graduate on time and the dropout rate lowered.”

“It’s been a very interesting year and I hope all the candidates have the students’ best interest in mind,” she said.

“I know the tax levy has been a big issue, and I feel that because we’ve had so many problems come up, a lot of people want to run to see if they can help the district,” she said. “But I hope that they only want to help the kids. I feel that every child needs a good education in order to better themselves in society.”

Mrs. Soukup is a paralegal administrator at Tim Farley Law Firm.

Mary Louise Hunt

Mrs. Hunt will be retiring after 35 years in the district as an elementary teacher and said she wants to continue her involvement in education.

“I still want to be involved in education, and I feel I can offer unique insight,” she said. “I understand what’s going on in the schools and a lot of the mandates from the states.”

She said she’d like to see communication within the district be more open.

She also wants to see the district’s Web site be used more.

“People don’t necessarily understand everything that goes on in education, and it’s our job to help present some of the information in the way people can understand it,” she said. “I’d also like to see the board be more proactive in the community.”

She said she’s been in favor of many of the changes to programs and curriculum and wants to see them continue.

She also said she doesn’t like all of the negative things being said about the district.

“It’s not helping the district and it’s not helping the education of the kids,” she said. “I’m going to go into this with a very positive attitude. If we want to achieve quality education, we have to pay for that.”