School Board Election Roundup
With election day just around the corner, endorsements are starting to appear in newspapers, mailboxes and inboxes.
Here's the latest:
Willamette Week has endorsed three candidates for Portland School Board: Trudy Sargent, Sonja Henning, and Steve Buel. They had this to say about Steve Buel...
But this semi-retired teacher and former board member (1979-1983) won us over with his detail-oriented nature, willingness to ask tough questions and commitment to a better education in low-income schools. Buel needs to be more strategic in how he unleashes his combative nature. But Buel knows more about Portland schools than any of his opponents. And on a board stocked with team players, he wouldn't be just a rubber stamp.
Meanwhile, candidate Dan Ryan (running against Buel) announced an endorsement today from former city council opponents Sam Adams and Nick Fish:
As City Council candidates last year, we had a few differences of opinion. But one thing we agreed on strongly was how important our public schools are to our community, our kids and our future.That is why we are both supporting Dan Ryan for Portland School Board in Zone 4. We hope you will join us. Dan Ryan has a terrific mix of experience in the schools and commitment to kids, with financial and management skills that would be a real asset to the School Board.
Update: OPB's Oregon Considered is reporting that the other three candidates - Charles McGee, Juanita Johnson, and Steve Kayes - all support to some degree the teaching of creationism. Dan Ryan and Steve Buel were clearly opposed.
But only fellow front-runner, Steve Buel, agreed with [Dan] Ryan. The idea of teaching creationism found support among three of the other candidates, including 19 year-old Franklin High graduate, Charles McGee. McGee says Christian beliefs have a place in Portland's public schools. Two days after the forum, McGee says he is very religious, but he's being misrepresented. There were no reporters at the Methodist church debate, but several people who were there have confirmed that McGee spoke favorably of including creationism and Christian teaching in schools.
Discuss.
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April 28, 2005
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Apr 28, '05
I am a strong supporter of Charles McGee and believe he is being misrepresented. Charles is not about imposing his personal religious views on the schools. Are we saying that school board members cannot be Christians? As an atheist, I would strongly object to such a stance. What matters is that one's personal religious beliefs will not be imposed on the schools.
Charles issued this statement late this afternoon:
Dear Voters; In response to recent allegations of being a Creationist, I would like to publicly deny ever making such statements. I never aligned myself with any creationist theory nor am I familiar as to why anyone would start such unfounded rumors. I have personally contacted the individual who intermediaries have told me began those rumors. He has not returned my calls or e-mails. This attempt to derail my campaign appears to be a tactic to defocus of the important issues before us, and the media has taken the bait.
To set the record straight, I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state. I strongly believe that our students should have the best educational opportunities; I support the sciences and unbiased education. I believe that if an educator decides to teach the theory of creationism it must be taught in a comparison religion or world history class and not in a science class. I believe in science, I am not a creationist, but I am a Christian!
My beliefs as a Christian do not in any way tell me that suppression of knowledge is moral. My spiritual beliefs encourage me to support the rights of all people and to support a better education for all people. As a board member I would not use my position to further any agenda except closing the achievement gap; locating stable funding; and bringing more parents, community members, and students around the decision making table. Having stated that, I will continue to focus my energies on campaigning for a seat on the Portland Public Schools board of directors. I will be hosting a Charlesforschoolboard canvassing event this Saturday at 11:00 AM at my campaign headquarters located at 1516 NE Killingsworth. I welcome all citizens as we take back our school system. Please visit my website for more information about Saturdays canvass.
Very truly yours;
Charles McGee, III 1516 NE Killingsworth Portland, Oregon 97211 (503) 284.6600 -- Office [email protected] www.mcgeeforschoolboard.com
Apr 28, '05
The Charles is a "creationist" comment is pushed by a quack named Richard Ellmyer who has among other things said that Sen. Margaret Carter does not fight for "average people" because she wouldn't introduce his "Community Health Care Bill"
Apr 29, '05
"a tactic to defocus of the important issues before us, and the media has taken the bait."
Errrr.... um, yeah. Damn defocusers! As Bush or Quayle or someone would say, the important question is: "Is our children learning?"
Media (the term) is plural. Defocus is indeed a word (not just as in "adjust defocus, pleez"), but the phrase "to defocus of the important issues".... does he talk like this too?
Apr 29, '05
Grammer Nanny is a whoot.
If you really want to torture your ownself, tune into cable access for the PPS meetings.
Apr 29, '05
Anyone surprised that the Willamette Week, published by Ron Buel, endorses Steve Buel, Ron's brother? Yes, they disclosed this relationship in the endorsement (they really didn't have much choice as this relationship appears to be one of Steve Buel's platform planks), but how much freedom did the Willamette Week really have to endorse anyone other than Steve? Seems like a flagrant conflict of interest to me.
10:27 a.m.
Apr 29, '05
Ron Buel is the Founder of Willametter Week, Yes. However, He hasn't "Published it" in like 20 years. I don't think he even has a relationship with the paper anymore.
I mean they named him in their article on "Goldschmidt's evil web of power"
I like Steve Buel and thought he gave very detailed and well thought out answers at the debate the Bus threw.
Plus anyone who is that devoted to a feild campaign makes me love them just a little.
10:33 a.m.
Apr 29, '05
Ron Buel was the first publisher of the WW when he founded it more than 30 years ago, but he is not the publisher now - hasn't been for years. That's far from a "flagrant conflict of interest."
11:10 a.m.
Apr 29, '05
What I found most shocking at the Bus Project forum was when all four candidates said "yes" to the question: Would you support the distribution of condoms by school nurses in middle schools?
Chubby, you should have pushed them hard on that one.
11:20 a.m.
Apr 29, '05
I was surprised too. However, that issue turns out to be a non-issue according to those in the know. Plus that was the introductory segment and it was just a warm-up. Willie Smith who produced the event told me to roll through it due to time considerations. If I had had the time I would have ripped into them. I have no problem being an asshole, as many can attest to. But that night it was Misha's job.
May 1, '05
Have any of the candidates spoken in favor of capping employee/retiree wages, healthcare, and pension benefits?
That would allow some inflation in "classroom spending" while stabilizing the teacher/student ratio.
Where can I get the free condoms?
10:10 p.m.
May 1, '05
Chubster- The "game show" format worked surprisingly well. My only gripe about the format was that most of the audience were Bus project folks--i.e. about 10 years old with no kids!
Seriously, it was a good event. Sorry that I had to leave early.
May 3, '05
Should it be such a surprise that a school nurse would be able to hand out condoms to students who are putting themselves at risk of HIV/ STDs and pregnancy? They are not handing them out like candies to persuade kids to have sex - they are trying to prevent the most serious effects of unprotected sex for kids. I'm talking from experience here ; Hello! some of us were going to have sex whether or not our parents/teachers/ministers government approved.
May 16, '05
What about Dan Ryan? Charles McGee doesn't seem to have very much to say other than ideals and no real issues statements. Ryan seems to have alittle more to say. I have to say that I like McGee's generalizations but that really is just politics. Ryan seems to be alittle bit more upfront about what he wants to do.
McGee -vs- Ryan flips coin if I don't hear anything back.
May 16, '05
Ryan's the one person who supported the school closings. I think that's smart, decisive leadership that's needed, not kow-towing to a few upset folks.
I live in Edwards elementary district and support the closing.
McGee is pro-relgion in schools; I don't like that.