PATRICIA SIEVER LOVES CULVER CITY AND THANKS THE CANDIDATES

By Patricia G. Siever

PATRICIA SIEVER LOVES CULVER CITY & THANKS THE CANDIDATES DATED 10-29-2009

I love Culver City, I always have. I know you agree with me that our community has a very desirable and traditional "Americana" feel to it that makes it a great place to raise our children. Our city has been growing, and I applaud the City Council for their oversight in maintaining this "Small Town" feel while ensuring we have an excellent infrastructure, including police, fire, school and city services.

My children have all grown up and are on their way to successful careers. Now it's time for me to give back to my community the best way I know how - through education.

As a professor and educator for many years I know what kind of educational environment our children need in order to flourish. I have taught over 15,000 students in my career. They are now successful citizens located all over the world. This is the positive result of my work and I am proud of it.

Culver City can use my help...

For me it's not about money (they pay $200 per month), it's about our children growing up as our future artists, doctors, and entrepreneurs in this rapidly changing world. It is about working with the city council and all the great people that make this city function like a finely tuned clock, so we can enjoy our pursuit of happiness.

This November 3rd, please go to your polling place and vote for your school board members. You will be asked to pick three candidates out of seven that are running. (The last name on the ballot dropped out of the race.) Please vote for Patricia Siever, the Professor and Educator... I won't let you down. I love Culver City.

Oh, one last thing - should you have any questions about the duties and responsibilities of administrating the Culver City School District please call me at (310) 287-2877.

Warmly,

Patricia Siever School Board Candidate

THANKING THE CANDIDATES DATED - October 29, 2009

If we think that we have the right to judge another, then perhaps that judgment should be based "...upon the content of a person's character..." (Paraphrasing from Dr. Martin Luther King).

As parents and educators we teach our children the humanness of tolerance. When I first entered the arena as a candidate for the CCUSD school board - almost immediately, an article appeared in the Front Page's Letters to the Editor, with the title "...Where Has Siever Been...?". This was written by a person who is supporting other candidates in this race. Another person even wondered why would a professor/educator want to run to be a member of the CCUSD school board (implying that I was overqualified for the position!?). It appeared to be beyond their comprehension that there could be someone like me who really loves our young people and is committed and honored to educating them. I did not respond to either of the above persons because if they were earnest, they could have called me (my home phone number is listed on all of my public documents...); whereupon, we could have had a genuine one-on-one conversation. Also, I did not want to participate in an impersonal, online discussion that would just evolve into what is called the "band wagon" effect (i.e., everyone gets on board...).

I have dedicated my life to the education of our youth + it is more than a passion. I've found that education is "portable wealth" - it enriches the mind, body and soul. It helps us to come together, as a people, as human beings who can work together for the common good.

I've lived in Culver City since 1973 and all of my four children were educated in Culver City schools. I am proud to have seen Culver City grow to the heights that it is today.

My maiden name is Gammage, a name pretty well known in Arizona. My father, who was born in Douglas, Arizona and was a mixture of White Mountain Apache and African. My mother's people were from Tennessee and I was born and raised in south central, Los Angeles. And, I must say that I have seen and fought against intolerance, "close up."

In closing, as a candidate for the CCUSD school board, I've tried to conduct a campaign that concentrated on those issues that would strengthen and expedite our CCUSD's movement toward academic excellence, because our young will have to compete in the global context.

I respect all of my colleagues who are running for the School Board. All of us have taken time out from our lives and families to engage in this more than worthy enterprise. To all of my colleagues, I have learned a lot from each of you and really look forward to working with you in the future. Now is the time to "Thank you" for sharing this exciting journey.

Sincerely,

Patricia Siever