Responses to HMB Review’s endorsements

I sent a letter to the HMB Review responding to their endorsement of Gardner and Moseley for the CUSD board.  They responded that it is their editorial policy "not to print partisan letters to the editor this campaign season".  Since they ran an editorial stating their partisan opinion, a contrary opinion deserves a voice, too.  Accordingly, I’m posting my letter here on Coastsider.

[em]EDITOR’S NOTE: I’ve moved Stephen’s letter to the "read more" link on this story and I’m inviting others who want to reply to the Review’s editorial endorsements for Cabrillo Unified School District, Pescadero Unified School District, and Harbor District, and to post comments on this story.[/em]

[em]I will post my endorsements for CUSD soon, and will accept all comments from the community and the candidates. [/em]

Dear Editor,

In your October 20 Editorial Endorsement of CUSD candidates Gardner and Moseley, you point out that Jonathon Lundell is "reasonable, articulate and engaged" while you describe Mr. Gardner as "use to pushing through multimillion dollar projects".  You say you support Gardner and Moseley "precisely because [you] believe they can get a school built and move on."

In his presidential campaign, Senator Kerry has done a great job arguing that it is vital for leaders to face facts and make sound decisions going forward. He argues that the current administration is blind to the facts and obstinately sticks to its guns because it is unwilling to admit that its failed policies need to be reconsidered in the face of a changing reality. 

I think the same argument can be made here, and I commend Mr. Lundell for injecting a bit of reality in the face of what has been effectively failed policy.  Mr. Lundell alone of these candidates has demonstrated an understanding of local demographics and has promoted constructive ideas about how our limited funds can best serve the needs of the community.

More important, regardless of the outcome of Wavecrest, we need effective leadership on the school board. It’s worth noting that the same issue of the Review that ran your endorsement carries a front-page article on how two public shools on the coast are failing to meet federal standards. Perhaps it would be better to challenge the status quo than to "get a school built move on".  Move on to what?

We will be better served with a represenative on the board who can comprehend current and future realities of our local schools and who can make sound policy decisions how to deal with the challenges we face.

Stephen Miller