Candidate for
Trustee; San Mateo County Board of Education; Trustee Area 4

We need to elect a trustee who will represent our best interests!

We face a critical time for protecting the educational well being of our children and students. With imbalances in state funding of education, what we do not want is mishandling of our tax funds. We must manage and do with what we already have. The politics of education must not take away from our duties and goals: the education of our County Californians, our students and youth. Our San Mateo County schools need to secure the future of our children and future generations. We have the chance to become the advocates of educational excellence and the stewards that we need to be. Please help me and our children see this reality.

The education of our youth will ensure that America remains strong. We need a vision of educational excellence. We need to participate. As a candidate, I will be giving back to our community of students, parents, youths, teachers, staff and working people.

I will bring valuable experience to the board. In my role as a Lions Club president, I am heading fundraising efforts to raise funds to bridge the gap between the "haves and the have-nots." Those children who will fall "through the cracks through no fault of theirs will indeed fail if no one can lend a helping hand."

With my invaluable experience with foundations, direct mail and fundraising efforts, I will work with corporations, private firms, and others to get communities involved in efforts to maintain educational funding. If government cannot lend a hand, let us work with other resources. The ultimate goal of political office is to help others. I want to help our youth and students!

I do not want our tax monies misspent. Nor do I want to raise taxes whenever the need arises in order to meet short term needs and goals. "Instant gratification" cannot be tolerated in governance. We must plan and plan well. Our children will need our expertise. We cannot mishandle the future inheritances of our current and future generations. I believe I can offer the needed expertise to ensure their educational success.

In addition, I have managed strategic planning, led staff hiring and training, and oversaw small and large budgets. I have trained and mentored professionals and potential leaders in various capacities.

I have taught mid-career professional who wanted to be finance analysts. I helped develop skills training and led training programs for dozens of hires who wished to work in a new field.

This experience will be critical in the Board. Managing budgets and handling expense and cost analyses require the right person with the right credentials. I believe that with my MBA and JD degrees, I will ensure that our youth will have the best "voice" to protect their interests.

I believe that leaders in education should not interfere in the learning process unless they have a true say in the outcome. As a trustee I will find how we can bring solutions to our various challenges.

To develop viable solutions, I will focus on the following:

[a] Implementation of the priorities of the Education Board and the Education Code (California). Adhere to strict STAR and academic standards.

[b]Strengthening our organizational purpose to put students and children ahead of other priorities. I will ensure that all students work in a positive environment so students can excel. We want a proactive approach to educational success.

[c] Ensuring a strong political say is critical too. I want to develop a strategic action for innovative programs that can save tax monies while improving education. I want to provide budgetary advice to our duly elected Superintendant. I want to see a well managed budget that will ensure proper school funding, not excessive spending. Planning for the future requires a fiscally responsible, responsive and effective organization. This group will be shaped by all trustees. I want to be your voice. I will ensure transparency and complete accountability to you, the taxpayer, parents, students, and youth.

I respectfully ask for your vote.

To learn more about me please go to http://www.AmistadForTrustee.org