AUBURN - Tom Ryan showcases his interest in politics on his television show, Maroon Morning Madness. Politics is his passion, and now he's taking it to the next level.

Ryan, 18, of Owasco, is one of six people so far running for a seat on the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education. The deadline to submit petitions is today.

A senior at Auburn High School, Ryan said his experiences in school coupled with his political fervor motivated him to take this step.

“I've seen the good and the bad in the school district, mostly good,” he said, “and this is a chance to give back to the school district.”

There are three, three-year seats open on the nine-member board of education, and there are many familiar names vying for them. Incumbents Sam Giangreco and Joe Leogrande are both running for re-election, while a third seat is vacant due to a recent resignation.

Giangreco, who was appointed to the board in 2005 and won his bid for his first full term in 2006, said he wants to continue with the school board so he can “make a dent in things.

“I think that we're making progress in a lot of areas, and I think I can be a very intricate part of that down the road,” the Auburn man said. “So far I've been doing a pretty good job, I hope, and I'm doing it for the kids. It's all for the kids to help them be successful.”

Leogrande, of Auburn, who unsuccessfully ran in 2005 but was elected a year later, strongly considered not running for his second term.

“Many people came up to me and said, ‘Joe, you've got to run. You've got to run,'” he said. “I just felt I had to do it.”

Ernest Hyde III, of Auburn, credits the board for being more open with the community this year, specifically mentioning the open forums the board hosted to discuss the 2009-10 budget. But he believes more can be done.

“I think some things need to be changed,” said Hyde, who will be making his third bid for the board. “I think the school board needs to solicit more from the public.”

Hyde has seven children in the school district, so he says he sees every aspect of education, from elementary school to high school.

Merritt Fletcher, of Auburn, decided to try a second time for the board “because I feel there has to be someone on the board that, every once in a while, says 'Stop,' or says, 'No, I don't agree,' or has to be convinced to agree,” he said. “Otherwise there is no reason to have nine people on the board. You can have three.”

The last person to submit a petition so far is someone who is very familiar with the Auburn board. Bill Andre, of Auburn, who sat on the board for nine years and opted not to run for a fourth term last May, is ready to give it another shot.

“Last year I had some minor health issues, and I felt that after nine years it was time to take a step back,” he said. “But then I realized that I missed it and wanted to be a part of it again.”

He believes that there is no better way to be a public servant than to serve on a board of education, and now he's going to practice what he preaches.

“I still have a lot to give and I want to be a part of it,” he said. “I want to continue to move us forward.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net