Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Committee On Political Education Endorses FBISD Trustee Candidates

The Fort Bend Employees Federation, affiliated with the Texas Federation of Teachers, has released the endorsements of C.O.P.E. for three Fort Bend ISD Trustee positions that will be decided by the voters this coming May 10th.

Position 1 (West) is a position currently occupied by former teacher Stan Magee. Challenging Magee for his seat is Susan Hohnbaum, who has received the teacher’s union endorsement. Magee, it was reported today, will not be actively campaigning to remain on the board, noting that “new personal commitments in his life and commitments to his family needed to take precedence over candidate forums and debates”. Magee did not appear at the FB Employee’s Federation candidates forum, and did not submit answers to their questionnaire.

One would wonder, then, on the remote chance that Magee were re-elected to Position 1, whether he would have the time to attend board meetings, or to prepare for them.

C.O.P.E.’s endorsement of Hohnbaum is a no-brainer for this and many reasons.

Their endorsement for Position 4 At Large, however, went to a candidate who, similar to Magee, was a no-show at the FBEF’s forum. While Daniel Menendez did complete their questionnaire, I do wonder about an endorsement for someone who did not have time in his personal or professional life to attend the forum.

I am therefore a little perplexed at their endorsement of Menendez. Rodrigo Carreon, who opposes Menendez in this open seat that is being vacated by Cynthia Knox, did make it to the forum, as he did when he served on the Board’s bond committee meetings, as he does in nearly every regular school board meeting, as he does in every other kind of meeting in and around the county.

I tend to lean toward Carreon. He may be all over the map when he makes a case, but we all know where his heart is. A Democratic heart, by the way.

But I am in hearty agreement with C.O.P.E.’s endorsement of Dr. Jonita Reynolds for Position 5 (East). Reynolds is highly qualified for this position notwithstanding the on the job training that her opponent has received over the past few years. Trustee Caldwell, who Dr. Reynolds is opposing, was once in a voting bloc with Stan Magee. These two represent the 3rd and 4th members of the “new majority” that was voted in a few years back. A “new majority” that got out a broom and ended the career of Dr. Betty Baitland, someone who one can successfully argue was the best administrator the district has had in years. After their broom job, the board ran up the district’s charge accounts and caused general mayhem. Dr. Reynolds will provide a much-needed breath of fresh air on the board.

So the union got it almost all right. Near perfect really. As they say in the “Meat Loaf” song, two out of three ain’t bad.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sure will be nice having 3 school board candidates closely tied to one development company calling the tax and bond shots on the board from the same neighborhood. Isn't it great! We could build as many schools as we want and pay the same vendors over and over again. I love it!

Anonymous said...

"I am therefore a little perplexed at their endorsement of Menendez. Rodrigo Carreon, who opposes Menendez in this open seat that is being vacated by Cynthia Knox, did make it to the forum, as he did when he served on the Board’s bond committee meetings, as he does in nearly every regular school board meeting, as he does in every other kind of meeting in and around the county.

I tend to lean toward Carreon. He may be all over the map when he makes a case, but we all know where his heart is. A Democratic heart, by the way."

I agree with this 150%. Repeatedly the union has ignored someone like this with a strong heart. Someone who shames all of us with his involvement to the community. I only wish I had half his drive.

Anonymous said...

I want to second some of these comments and add a few. Increasingly traditional grass-roots groups have formed in the past to provide opposition to the mainstream corporate efforts that dominate local boards. It seems to not take very long before these groups form official organizations and then become co-opted by the very mainstream clique they formed to oppose. What if grass-roots stayed grass-roots and just continue to provide alternate debate and a platform for increasing democracy rather than seeing the same pattern repeated for a small corporate clique time and time again used by opportunist seeking public office?

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading this blog piece; however, with all due respect, I must beg to differ with your analysis that Baitland was the "best" superintendent within memory. I will not hold it against you though because I'm sure you'll like most, you have not experienced the alternative (which is not good) to make a different assessment.

I agree that Rodrigo Carreon is committed as is his heart. I do worry a little about him being all over the place.

Regarding the union's endorsement:
I cannot help but wonder are there tell-tell signs of elitism in the union's endorsement of a "No Show" like Menedez.

In all of Mr. Carreon's commentary, he has never mentioned any other school graduation other than Blue Ridge. If my memory serves me correctly from when Mr. Menedez ran before, I do believe Mr. Menedez is an engineer.

I do hope I am incorrect in thinking that, perhaps, elitism is the root cause of this perplexing endorsement by the Teacher's Union.

Hal said...

No, I have been in the room where Rodrigo emphasizes his K through 12 FBISD experience. I also know that he makes his living as an electrician. That notwithstanding, what makes Rodrigo Carreon the better candidate is his dedication to public advocacy.

Agreed. my memory of school superintendents is short, but I do know that Betty Baitland, with all of her hands off faults, made the district work during a very trying time of growth in the county.