Like grandmother, like granddaughters

by JOHN LASKO

News-Times reporter

For the past 19 years, Kathleen Litkovitz has been involved in local politics. Now her two granddaughters, Megan and Madeline Fulper, are following in her footsteps.

Megan, an eighth grader at St. Joseph School, currently serves as student council president. Her campaign slogan was "Stick with Fulper," which was printed on a pack of gum. She admits she took the idea from her grandma who did the very same thing when she ran for city treasurer.

"I made posters and I had to get two fifth, two sixth, two seventh and two eighth graders to sign a petition saying I could run," Megan said, noting the election was held last May.

"We had to make one campaign speech and I told them I would respect all of the students' ideas and I told them I was a leader and I would lead the student body and take in to consideration everyone's input and ideas," she said.

Last year, Megan served as vice president; she was class representative while she was in the fifth and sixth grades. She plans on attending Steele High School next year.

Her sister Madeline, who is a seventh grader at St. Joe, was elected vice president of the student body.

"I wanted to help our school, not just be a student, but by helping other people get what they need," Madeline said.

She too had to make campaign signs and literature to had out to students, as well as make a speech.

As part of her campaign speech, she promised to respect the ideas of her fellow students and keep her promises.

As a sixth grader, Madeline was the commissioner of service and then served two years as a class representative while she was in the fourth and fifth grades.

"I couldn't be prouder," Litkovitz said. "Just listening to them, I think about something my father had said to me probably 55 years ago. He said, 'Life is like a relay race and each generation hands down the baton to the next generation and you hope they can run faster and farther,' and that is what I hope for them."

Both Megan and Madeline and he rest of their student council representatives are responsible for organizing events such as dances, fundraisers, community service projects and outreach programs. Student council meets two times each month. The first Monday is what's called executive session where only the council's six officers meet. The third Monday is when the full council meets.

"I look at them as a chip off the old block," Litkovitz said, adding both Megan and Madeline have appeared alongside her in parades. The banner on the car reads "Kathleen Litkovitz, Amherst city treasurer and her little treasurers."

"It's a great experience for the both of them," their mother, Rebecca Wisniewski said. "It makes them good leaders as well."

Litkovitz has been involved in politics since she was 18 years old.

In 1979, she ran for fourth ward council and lost to the incumbent by only 45 votes.

"However, she did not tell her constituents she was moving out of town until after the election," she said.

The existing council members voted Litkovitz to the position and she spent nearly two years there both as ward four councilwoman and chairwoman of the finance committee.

She ran for city treasurer twice. She lost in 1986, but was elected in 1989 after the treasurer decided not to seek re-election.

She is currently the only female treasurer Amherst has had and is also the longest seated treasurer. This year is her fifth term in office.