I am Al Steppich and I am running for a seat on the Sullivan West School Board. I grew up in the Beechwoods outside of Jeffersonville. I learned the machinist’s trade in my father’s shop and graduated from the Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School District.

After graduating from the University of Buffalo with an Associates Degree in tool and die design, I stayed on at UB as a research and development machinist-technician in the engineering and nuclear departments. I served a tour of duty in the United States Marine Corps (Sergeant E5) in an Engineer Battalion.

I raised two children with my wife, Loretta. My wife and I appreciate the value of our local schools and everything they did to prepare our children for the competitive challenges people face in today’s world. That is why I am looking forward to the opportunity to give back something to our local communities by serving on the Sullivan West School Board.

My wife worked in the Jeffersonville Nursery School for 20 years and was the sole proprietor and owner for another seven years. As you can see, my family and I have a deep understanding of the importance of education at all levels from pre-K to college.

I was a self-employed carpenter for 20 years and a machinist for Electro-Kinetics of Callicoon for 24 years. I spent 35 years with the Jeffersonville Fire Department and am a former building inspector for the Town of Delaware.

In these hard times, everyone in the Sullivan West Central School District needs representatives who are down to earth, hard working and practical. That is why I’m running.

As a school board member, I want to get the most bang for the buck, meaning the best education possible for the lowest cost. I want to squeeze the daylights out of every taxpayer dollar. Please vote for me on May 17.

Al Steppich

Callicoon, NY