Candidate for
Board Member; Hayward Unified School District

My "political philosophy" is that political ideologies, agendas and self-interests have become one of the great hindrances to providing our children a good education. In Hayward, we have far too much internal political self-dealing, as well as external partisan politics in what is supposed to be a non-partisan position and cause: the education of our children. This continues to hurt the kids.

The selection of candidates for a school board should have little to do with politics, but everything to do with who will best serve our students, and who has the qualities most needed to do so. I will support any person and any policy/program that provides results and success for the students. I have and will vigorously oppose any that do not. Our financial and human resources are too few and precious to do otherwise.

My private sector business background gives me a core philosophy that demands results. I have a bottom-line, results driven, no-excuses attitude that requires accountability and results--in this case measured by the educational success and academic acheivement of the students.

If I have a reputation for anything, it is my demonstrated willingness to fight and criticize any individual or group who advocates for self interest over that of the students. Often that self interest is masked with euphemistic rhetoric, and it can require courage to expose and oppose it. I will continue to zealously fight anyone who subordinates the best interests of the students to their own.

In the opinion of my supporters, and even some of my past opponents, one of the greatest strengths I have brought to the school board, is my integrity and courage. I have come to believe that courage is perhaps the most rare and the most needed quality in this position. Few people who have not experienced it can understand the kind of pressure that is brought to bear on school board members by "adult" interests, and the kind of strength it takes to withstand such pressure when it is contrary to the interest of the students.