As is my usual habit, I like to cover candidates’ forums (fora?) and the Fort Bend Employees Federation, affiliated with the Texas AFT – or “The Union” sponsored a candidates’ forum for the two open seats on the Fort Bend ISD’s Board of Trustees last night. School night or no, I had to go and see who these new guys were.
The forum was moderated by FBEF President Karrie Washenfelder, and the room was about 80% full with about 60 union members present.
Both candidates for the west side position, Position 3, were present but only one of the two candidates for the east side position, Position 7, made it to the meeting – somewhat disappointing.
Disappointing in that the candidate who didn’t make it to the meeting, and the one who didn’t submit answers to the union’s survey, Dr. Gerald Hawkins, is the only consistent Democratic primary-voting candidate on the ballot. Dr. Hawkins voted in the 2008 and 2010 Democratic primaries, giving him a leg up in my book. So I was not a happy camper that he didn’t show.
Hawkins’ opponent, Jim Babb, a Houston PD police sergeant, can best be characterized as an Independent, early voting in the 2010 Republican primary, but early voted in the 2008 Democratic primary.
They say that it is a non-partisan office, but from past performances I tend to like my Democratic board members (and former board members) and have had lots of trouble with their Republican counterparts.
So it is an issue with me.
But Babb, I think, despite the fact that he can’t seem to make up his mind on politics, has a proper pro-labor point of view, something that the FBEF was looking for. This came out in a long rant that he got on in the midst of answering a question on the district’s deficit spending, its $18 million budget shortfall, and its $98 million fund balance that sits in the bank collecting interest.
Summarizing, Babb wants to establish a baseline on what parts of the fund balance must be kept in reserve, and what can be used in discretionary spending. “I agree,” he said, “It’s great to have it there, but you know, if we need to use it we need to use it. And I would say if our fund balance is considered a rainy-day fund, I would say we are kind of in the eye of a storm right now.” The implications of his thought being, from his comments further on, that the district was about to undergo a Reduction In Force (aka layoffs) and that experienced employees were not only targeted but voluntarily leaving the district. A bad, bad thing in Babb’s opinion.
Now contrast that to the two bookends who are vying in the Position 3 race. While Clayton Alumbaugh is a former teacher and school counselor of many years in the district (who voted in the 2008 and 2006 Republican primaries, but did not vote in the 2008 primary at all), and James Rice (a Triple R Republican) is a businessman whose engineering company has participated in the building of several Fort Bend ISD facilities, both agreed that having $98 million in the bank while the district struggles with its finances seemed like a very good idea.
Indeed, the only two things that contrasted Alumbaugh and Rice were their attitudes toward the RIF. Alumbaugh took a pro-labor stance, and was all for going after the administrators:
The forum was moderated by FBEF President Karrie Washenfelder, and the room was about 80% full with about 60 union members present.
Both candidates for the west side position, Position 3, were present but only one of the two candidates for the east side position, Position 7, made it to the meeting – somewhat disappointing.
Disappointing in that the candidate who didn’t make it to the meeting, and the one who didn’t submit answers to the union’s survey, Dr. Gerald Hawkins, is the only consistent Democratic primary-voting candidate on the ballot. Dr. Hawkins voted in the 2008 and 2010 Democratic primaries, giving him a leg up in my book. So I was not a happy camper that he didn’t show.
Hawkins’ opponent, Jim Babb, a Houston PD police sergeant, can best be characterized as an Independent, early voting in the 2010 Republican primary, but early voted in the 2008 Democratic primary.
They say that it is a non-partisan office, but from past performances I tend to like my Democratic board members (and former board members) and have had lots of trouble with their Republican counterparts.
So it is an issue with me.
But Babb, I think, despite the fact that he can’t seem to make up his mind on politics, has a proper pro-labor point of view, something that the FBEF was looking for. This came out in a long rant that he got on in the midst of answering a question on the district’s deficit spending, its $18 million budget shortfall, and its $98 million fund balance that sits in the bank collecting interest.
Summarizing, Babb wants to establish a baseline on what parts of the fund balance must be kept in reserve, and what can be used in discretionary spending. “I agree,” he said, “It’s great to have it there, but you know, if we need to use it we need to use it. And I would say if our fund balance is considered a rainy-day fund, I would say we are kind of in the eye of a storm right now.” The implications of his thought being, from his comments further on, that the district was about to undergo a Reduction In Force (aka layoffs) and that experienced employees were not only targeted but voluntarily leaving the district. A bad, bad thing in Babb’s opinion.
Now contrast that to the two bookends who are vying in the Position 3 race. While Clayton Alumbaugh is a former teacher and school counselor of many years in the district (who voted in the 2008 and 2006 Republican primaries, but did not vote in the 2008 primary at all), and James Rice (a Triple R Republican) is a businessman whose engineering company has participated in the building of several Fort Bend ISD facilities, both agreed that having $98 million in the bank while the district struggles with its finances seemed like a very good idea.
Indeed, the only two things that contrasted Alumbaugh and Rice were their attitudes toward the RIF. Alumbaugh took a pro-labor stance, and was all for going after the administrators:
“It appears that the reductions are going to be in staff where they are taking care of math teachers here and there where it’s going to increase the size in classes and it seems to me like everything that is going to be reduced affects the students the most. And it seems to me that if I were on the board one of the first things I would do would be looking at the staff in the administration building. I’d like to know how much money they make, how much education they have, what their job is, and whether we can get rid of them or not.”There was more, but you get the drift. You might think that this elicited a few Ooohs and Amens from the audience, and you would be right in the thinking of that.
Rice, on the other hand, was predictable. He played the Compassionate Conservative and played it well.
“When you say the words Reduction In Force we know that behind every person that might be let go is a family that has needs and bills just like all of us so it hurts to think that we would have to let anyone go. And I don’t know how they are planning to do the Reduction In Force we do have a challenge in wrestling with our budget and still providing the quality education. It takes teachers to teach the kids in our classrooms. And I don’t know I don’t have all the information right now on how they are going to go about with any Reduction In Force or even how many they will have. I think that on an annual basis there are about 500 people who retire or leave the district under normal conditions. And …but right now I’m not sure they know who is planning to do that in our economy. But I will say that our current economic challenge is a severe challenge and unfortunately I believe it is 78% of the total budget is dedicated for employees. So it’s hard to reduce $18 million without cutting in some of the employees as painful as that is.”
So among the two Republicans vying for the same seat on the Board of Trustees, I think we know who the populist is, and who the economic hardliner is, and predictably it is the educator who comes off as the populist and the businessman who is willing to make those “painful” cuts.
So just looking at this from a labor point of view, appropriate for this forum I think, it is pretty clear who pro-labor voters should opt for in Position 3.
In Position 7, I am willing to say that anyone the voters choose in that race will be just fine.
So just looking at this from a labor point of view, appropriate for this forum I think, it is pretty clear who pro-labor voters should opt for in Position 3.
In Position 7, I am willing to say that anyone the voters choose in that race will be just fine.
5 comments:
Once a believer in FBISD as a quality district, and now, am not.
FBISD has not been a fair, ethical district for awhile now; and, these layoffs targeting only teachers who engage with students and therefore the reduction in teachers equates being anti-student and if the district is anti student, then, the cause and effect result is that the district has become anti-education. Further, substantiated by illogically, simultaneously protecting the big salaried administrators who do not engage with students, and thus, is a glaring indicator just how far off course FBISD has evolved. It is further evidence in revelation to all, if not aware, of the kind of district FBISD has become over the years in “not” being what it once was.
Moreover, I do not mean to be rude, but the Fort Bend Teachers' Union sucks! There are too many horror stories about how the Fort Bend Union did not come through for the teachers. The Union President is friends with the Head of HR in FBISD. Seems like a conflict of interest. Or maybe, it's just me who thinks this way.
To your last sentence, Anon, Yeah, probably.
Hal, I give you your propers for being a very informed individual and accurately astute on your topics as researched and written---but, on this one, I respectfully disagree based upon some inside info revealed to me by someone who suffered the brunt and was also privy and witness to some sad endings for others suffering the brunt of the Teachers Union not engaged in appropriate adequate representative of which may not be known to all.
Consequently, your referenced thinking in probable contrast thinking to my last sentence is fine and dandy. I would not possibly expect that you would know about this one due to different folks’ experiences based on whatever distinction that would make them knowledgeable about a distinguishing difference accorded to them.
Furthermore, sometimes, individuals who would not ordinarily be friends or on the same side might end up being so; depending on the differing circumstances and the distinguishing differences of the individuals involved.
Even though we may not share opinions on this particular instance as stated above, I will, however, continue to read and post on your blog because I think it is a great, thought provoking blog.
Dear Hal,
I find it intersting that you would equate Jim Babb and his oponent Dr. Hawkins for the FBISD BOT position 7 race. Dr. Hawkins has a very mysterious background. I'm sure he is a very nice family man, with one child already in college which is certainly commendable. However he calls himself a physician and child psychiatrist(which he is entitled to do since he did graduate from oseopath school), but has never had a license to practice medicine. He earned an institutional permit, that allowed him to practice for a few years only at UT Houston Med School. This permit expired in June of 2000and was not renewed. He also runs some type of school, the name of which has never been publicly divulged, and is not easily found on the internet. In addition, his Site of Hope non-profit organization is also not transparent. There is no obvious mission statement, statement of purpose, or source of funding. BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT HE HAS NOT ATTENDED A SINGLE PUBLIC CANDIDATE FORUM AND HAS REFUSED TO ANSWER SEVERAL QUESTIONAIRES.
In contrast, Mr. Babb has been all over FBISD and has spoken w/ hundreds of teachers, principals, nurses, and even support staff. He has run a completely clean,positive campaign, and will be the most transparent, community focused board member that FBISD has had in a long time. I hope you will reconsider your toss up recommendation for the position 7 race.
Anon, your alliances are commendable but have no place here. Babb is fine but has no demonstrable record in his vote. He is an Independent. That he has no problem with Union participation in dialogue is fine, and I almost believe he is sincere in his pro-Union stance, I just don't have 100% trust in that.
Hawkins has been disappointing in his candor and participation in the dialogue, I will grant you that. But I am partisan. I will not dismiss someone who exhibits the same partisanship that I do.
No, Anon. At this point I will not state a preference in that race.
Besides, no one who reads this actually listens to what I say seriously. I am about entertainment and information, not about promotion. I promote but no one takes that seriously.
A little self-awareness is not an awful thing after all.
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