The deadline for candidates to file for the two open seats on the Santa Ana Unified School District’s Board of Education is today, at close of business over at the Orange County Voter Registrar’s office.
Thus far the two incumbents, John Palacio and Audrey Yamagata-Noji, who have been in office respectively for 12 and 20 years, are the only candidates, in addition to myself, to pull papers.
How is it possible that we had nine candidates for the SAUSD School Board in 2008, just two years ago, and now appear to have only three?
This is not how our democracy is supposed to work. When incumbents run unopposed it is a failure of our system, period. They should have to earn their votes.
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No matter how we slice it, 12-20 or more years in public office is water-down democracy. No wonder few or no one wants to file to run.
I wish could run but I am not qualified=(
Salzburg 2013,
Oh you don’t need any qualifications. You just have to be old enough to vote.
It helps in my case that I am a teacher, and that I have two college degrees, including a graduate degree. However, what a Trustee really needs is to be creative and to listen to the stakeholders. If one is current on the issues at hand, all the better.
Glad you are running Art. With just three running you should win for sure!
Good luck on your new endeavor! Kick them out one by one for the sake of our children. Thank you for running!
Ipad,
Thank you! I will do my best to bring change to the School Board and to the SAUSD!
Art…
If you want to beat Yamagata-Noji then it’s time to “out” the fact she is double-dipping with two pensions. Her small stipend for her too many years on the SAUSD board will be used by PERS for a second retirement in addition to the fat one she will receive for her years in STRS. The timing is right to make this an issue; no one else has done so before.
Chris