TUSD School Board Candidate Forum Tonight

1. This email was sent from the Dietz Neighborhood Association.

   The first question is tendentious and assumes support for the TUSD Board and the Superintendent’s Policies. This is not a forum designed to objectively introduce all the TUSD Candidates, and their positions, to the Voters of TUSD. It is a Campaign Effort is support of Grijalva, TUSD Central Administration and their Policies.

   The use of TUSD Facilities, Students, and the participation of the Superintendent in this forum is, at best,, in my view, inappropriate.

   Dear TUSD Board Candidate,

   This email is to provide you with information concerning the forum held
   by the Dietz Neighborhood Association and retired educators at Palo
   Verde High School Auditorium on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, between 6:30
   and 8:30 p.m. Daniel Hernandez, Jr. will be serving as our Moderator.

   Please be at the school by 6 p.m., where you will be greeted by a
   student escort and provided a space in the lobby for any campaign
   materials you wish to bring. Voter Registration materials and a deputy
   registrar will also be present. You will have an opportunity to mingle
   with people as they arrive. A bottle of water will be provided for
   each candidate.

   The forum will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Each candidate will be
   given 2 minutes for an opening statement.

   Next will be two questions, which will be listed next. The candidates
   will have 1 and a half minutes each for responses.

   (1) The present TUSD Board has adopted a 5 year Strategic Plan with
   various initiatives. Which single initiative do you believe should be
   top priority and how should the new board address it?

   (2) What unique interpersonal skills do you bring to the functioning of
   this 5-member board that must operate under the AZ Open Meeting Law?

   Following these two, questions will be taken from cards containing
   questions from the audience. At least two of these questions will come
   from Palo Verde government students. We will take as many as time will
   allow, permitting each candidate 1 minute responses to all of these.
   There will probably be 6-8 questions.

   For closing statements, each candidate may have up to 1 minute.

   The forum will close at 8:30 sharp.

   Thank you for agreeing to participate in this final total group
   opportunity for voters to make choices. We appreciate your time and
   your willingness to serve..

2. So Francis, is this yet again, another forum you will not attend or will we actually get to hear from you?

3. Thank you for asking, Aztlan Mari:

   My Campaign Strategy has been a Direct Democracy approach; meeting the Voters of TUSD one-on-one in various venues; introducing myself as a Candidate, explaining my positions, and answering questions. This approach has been very positive and informative for both myself and the Voters. I get to explain the reasons for my Candidacy, and, I get to hear, directly, Voter concerns!

   Further, given the facts of their incumbency while serving on the Board, it is beyond debate, in my opinion, that the Grijalva and Hicks must be voted off the Board. This is NOT debatable!! I will NOT legitimize their candidacy by participating in a forum in which they are apart. Am I “shooting myself in the foot”? I think not.

   This election is not about me!! It is about a reconstitution of the TUSD Board, and a Central Administrative reorganization, starting with the removal of two incumbents, and replacing them with any Candidate that is NOT supportive of Hicks and Grijalva; starting the process of moving TUSD in a positive Academic direction for ALL Students.

   There are choices in this election. I have, and will continue to Campaign Directly to the Voters of TUSD.

4. If I had money to bet on this race, I’d surely not bet on any candidate who declines to participate in forums to which all candidates are invited. And a candidate who isn’t agile enough to get across his or her points no matter the format is going to have a tough time in the real world.

5. One of the advantages of “Direct Democracy” done in a one on one manner is that there is no chance to compare the thinking, the accuracy, or the comparative conduct of the candidate. A candidate can say anything he/she wants without fear of refutation of his/her claims. As uninformed as the general public generally is about school district matters, the candidate can only impress the individual with his diligence in seeking the position, since it is highly unlikely he/she (the candidate) will discuss the relative merits or be asked about anything substantive. Also, if the candidate has performed poorly in previous elections in debate formats, perhaps he/she is wise to avoid comparisons. Live and learn. Fortunately, the hundred or so citizens who came from around the district to hear the other candidates who did not fear debates will have provided information to assist the voter. And of course, the general public can see the tv quickie interviews and/or watch the lifestream debate on the TUSD website.

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