Candidate for
Board Member; Santa Maria Joint Union High School District

I have a mid-western, depression era work ethic that won't allow me to give any undertaking less than my best effort and full attention. That is how I approached teaching and how I have approached my tenure on the school board. I have never dodged controversial issues and have never allowed possible political fallout to incluence a vote I have cast.

I am proud of my record as a board member and of the status of our schools. We passed the first bond election and built the first new comprehensive high school in the Santa Maria Valley in nearly a half centur. Our schools have all met or surpassed their respective student performance objectives and compare very favorably with schools in California and across the nation with similar demographics.

This district's most critical problems, both short and long term, are inseperably related - growth in enrollment and school site acquisition. To that end, I strongly support the school bond on the November ballot and construction of a fourth comprehensive high school as soon as a site can be identified and acquired. I oppose building on prime agricultural land and favor land-use policies that discourage or prevent all urban sprawl onto prime farm land.

Student health and nutrition are topics of extreme interest to me and, to that end, I have initiated policies that have curtailed the sale of non-nutritious food and beverage products on our campuses and that encourage students to adopt healthier, more physically active lifestyles.