Last night, the Voice of San Diego produced a panel discussion featuring several candidates for school board.  I spent the last of our family’s babysitter budget to attend.

Each year at least one or two people (all my readers) ask me for my thoughts about the candidates and I’ll presume since you’re reading this, you have some interest.  Remember, a blogger is not a journalist, so I have no obligation to neutral balanced reporting nor proper spelling or punctuation. It’s a good gig, no stress.  Pay is not so good.

Beginning on our far left is Kevin Beiser (www.kevinbeiser.com) who is clearly a gifted and dedicated teacher. He’s dedicated to bring a teacher’s perspective to the board. Probably has forgotten more about teaching than I’ll ever know.  I found him to be one of the least-appealing candidates on the panel.  He did hit his main bullet points over and over, but his manner and tone was so shrill it was nearly unbearable.  I can only imagine what his influence on the already divisive board would be.  No thank you.  NO.

Next to Kevin, and now possibly deaf in her right ear, is Katherine Nakamura. (www.nakamura2010.com) When people want “fresh blood” in organizations, they usually want a talented and dedicated few to remain as the guiding and stabilizing influence.  That would be Nakamura. I’m not fond of her website- I’m fussy that way- but ideologically we’re aligned.  Possibly because we both want what’s best for children, the most important part of the education system. I think Nakamura is the last lone voice of reason.  I like her, she’s easily my best choice in that race.

On her left is Steve Rosen (www.rosenforschools.com) who’s website I like. And I’m inclined to like Rosen, too. I would like a fact check on the number of gallons (60?!) of blood his wife has donated- pints maybe?  Lots of excellent education background, and his candidacy was grown at a grass roots level out of Jerebek.  I did find him to be slim on specifics, however, always hitting the note of revisiting the budget book and looking for ways to save money.  Nothing wrong with that, but I have a strong suspicion that’s already been done.  And he’s big on paradigm-shifting, connect-the-dot clichés.  Another candidate, however, that I don’t really want to watch at board meetings.  Agitated, anxious and extremely nervous, blurting out answers to questions in a rush to cram too much into too little time rather than thoughtful, clear approaches to complicated issues.

Note: Would I be nervous in the same situation?  Sure, and maybe that means I shouldn’t have the job either.

Moving south on the panel is my biggest dilemma, Scott Barnett.(www.barnettforschoolboard.org) I really, really want to like this guy- ideologically, we’re very closely aligned.  He’s got a CV a mile long full of exactly the right stuff for a school board candidate.  But Barnett was so obnoxious at the panel I just can’t pull the trigger. He could have just told us about himself, his qualifications and his vision, and I would have waved the flag high for him.  Instead he spent such a large amount of his time and energy blasting away at his opponent. I think he gave us a very strong indication of his character- and it was not pretty. Barnett’s manner and demeanor while fellow panelists (not just his opponent) were speaking was that of boredom liberally sprinkled with both eye-rolling and a clear distaste for opinions other than his own. I’ve seen this in other boards- the City Council as well as the Board of Education.  During public commentary, members will openly chatter, fiddle, grimace, chomp gum, doodle, text, tap toes, fumble with their pens and any number of body language ways of saying the same thing in no uncertain terms: I can’t be bothered with what you have to say. I’m impressed with his qualifications and his opponent certainly has his weaknesses- but Barnett does not deserve my vote. I hope he’s not on the board next year- any benefit he’d bring is far outweighed by his manner and conduct, and I don’t want to have to watch that performance.  Damn.

Next to Barnett is Michelle Crisci, who’s platform is to siphon enough votes away from Barnett in the primary so deBeck can have a clear shot moving forward. A waste of time, money and energy.  Probably great at her job, though. ‘Nuff said.

Finally, the wizened veteran John deBeck. (if he has a website, I can’t find it)If I were to cast a role for school boardmember, deBeck would be the colorful character that, among the strangest rants and raves, comes up with enough brilliance that he can’t be ignored. DeBeck is unapologetically eighty years old, and has the experience to prove it. I think deBeck still has plenty of miles and some solid ideas, but I’ve seen him in action a few times and was not pleased.  During one board workshop, he became so incensed at Nakamura he gathered his things and stormed out of the room. But he’s a straight-shootin’ sonofagun as well, and made an interesting point last night about closing the “achievement gap”.  I think deBeck still has the chops for the job but my support is only partially-hearted.

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