Election Day 2021

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.
• Merideth Bucher
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Producer of WITF's Smart Talk

 Kate Landis / WITF

A sign outside the Mount Joy Borough Offices directs voters on Nov. 3, 2020.

Airdate: Tuesday, October 2, 2021

Election Day on November 2, may not be for a presidential vote or the much anticipated mid-term Congressional contest, but there are still candidates and measures on the ballot that will make a big impact.

Local school board races are garnering a lot of attention, particularly in places experiencing debates on contentious issues like masking and Critical Race Theory (CRT). A typical school board meeting in the past will have one or two people in attendance, unless a tax increase or budget was being considered by the board. Not so for this school year. Dozens and sometimes hundreds of parents and school district residents have shown up — often to protest mask or vaccine mandates, books in the school curriculum or library or how racial history is taught.

As a result, much more money has been spent on campaigns for the unpaid position on school boards.

WHYY in Philadelphia’s Katie Meyer joins us on Tuesday’s Smart Talk to discuss school boards and Sam Dunklau, WITF’s Capitol Bureau Chief for WITF appears to layout Election Day coverage.

WITF’s Election coverage is supported by the law firm of Saul Ewing, Arnstein and Lehr