Saturday, March 27, 2010

Who to Vote for in the School Board Elections - Crispin Rea and Kyleen Carroll

I wrote a column at KCFreePress.com about the challenges of choosing candidates in the 6 person, 2 winner at large elections. Even if you try to get informed, it's tough to tell one candidate from another. They all say nice, inspiring things and don't talk much about policy differences.

Enough of that analytical even-handedness!

Vote for Crispin Rea and Kyleen Carroll. If you live in his district, vote for Joseph Jackson.

The fundamental question is whether to support the Superintendent's "Right Sizing" Plan. Short answer, it's not perfect, but it's pretty darned well-thought-out and it is the only hope for transformative change in the District. I think it's the right thing to do.

That knocks Cokethea Hill and Kenneth Hughlon off the list of candidates. They do not support the superintendent or the plan; the superintendent will be gone in a few months if those two win seats.

Here's where the politics gets a little difficult. All of the other four candidates are good people, and will support necessary change. It's tempting to take a "pick 'em" stance and advise voting for whichever one you happen to prefer.

VOTE FOR CRISPIN REA AND KYLEEN CARROLL!

Do the math. It's not that a vote for Robert Peterson or Rose Marie Bell is a vote for a bad person or even someone who will serve ineffectively. It's just that if the people stuck in the status quo unite behind their two candidates, and the people who support change spread their votes among four, change loses.

Kansas Citians United for Educational Achievement - the only organization worth listening to on school board matters, in my opinion - has endorsed Crispin Rea and Kyleen Carroll. (They have also endorsed Joseph Jackson, who is running for the 4th subdistrict, which is the east part of midtown - if you live in subdistrict 4, memorize his name, too!)

It is really important that voters get out and vote on April 6. If you want an absentee ballot, get it here and return it before 5:00 on March 31. You can be sure that the people who are profiting from mismanagement and the entrenched status quo in the School District will be getting out and voting on April 6.

April 6 is an opportunity to move the district past constant turmoil and forward to a new vision. If you fail to vote, you may be abandoning thousands of children and families whose hope lies in change.

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5 Comments:

Blogger Dan said...

Shame on you, anonymous. Your hatred and lies won't pass unaddressed.

Crispin Rea is a Democrat - in fact, he has been elected to serve as a Democratic committeeman. So, shame on you for that lie.

Second, stop and think for a moment. Even if you were correct, and you most definitely are not, would you really be so foolish as to reject a candidate who is ready, able and willing to do the right thing for the children in the KCMSD simply because of a party label? Really? Because that would be the most shockingly corrupt position you could possibly take in a school board election. The Democratic national party - heck, even the local Democratic party - has not taken a position on the Right Sizing plan. So what kind of person would elevate party label over doing what is right for children?? Shame on you for suggesting such a thing.

Finally, you disgust me with your smear involving Theresa Garza Ruiz, even though I'm not even certain what you are trying to claim.

(I thought about simply not publishing your vile comment, but I figured it would be more appropriate to expose your illogic and ignorance, because cowards like you probably spread the same sort of crap in a whispering campaign.)

3/27/2010 1:30 PM  
Blogger KC Sponge said...

Heck ya, a vote for Crispin and Kyleen is a vote for the kids of Kansas City!

Vote, people, vote!!

3/29/2010 11:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great response, Dan. Usually it's best to ignore the trolls, but sometimes its better to beat one up and mount his head on a pike.

3/29/2010 11:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know for a fact Kenneth Hughlon supports the Superintendent as they are friends and have made this public knowledge. Also, Hughlon does support right sizing, but allowing the community to be fully engaged in the process and engaging them on what should be the right size.

Therefore, He is still on the list. I hate when blogs provide unfactual information in order to pursuade people. Tell the truth. Hughlon is a smart, driven, young person dedicated to youth development. No other candidate can say they have the same experience and background as he to be more qualified than him for this position.

I urge you to Vote for him on April 6, 2010 - I am!

3/30/2010 12:05 AM  
Anonymous Fight the Lobbyist said...

I was deeply disappointed to learn that it is actually the overpaid city lobbyist Kim Carlos who is behind Crispan and Kyleen's candidacy. A sad truth that is noted in a recent email from Airick Leonard West:

FUNDRAISING
Leaders: Stephen R. Bough (KCU4EA treasurer & Jackson County Democratic Party chairman), Kim Carlos (KCU4EA organizer & KC Consulting owner) & airick leonard west (KCU4EA chair & Freedom, Inc member).

I cannot vote for anyone connected to that corrupt lobbyist.

3/30/2010 3:26 PM  

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