On May 8th 2010 Austin voters will come to the polls to choose the next Austin Independent School Board. The Austin School Board has a year of daunting challenges ahead, including whether to tax more in order to provide raises, working with a new superintendent, and facing school closure due to under performance at two Austin area schools. In the seat for south Austin District 6 incumbent Lori Moya is running against Glen P. Mayes. Lori Moya is a State Employee and has served on the Austin School Board for four years. Her website states the she strives to "be the voice for those who don't have one." Glen P. Mayes works as a Juvenile Corrections Officer, working with at risk youth in an after school program.
According to the Chronicle endorsements of the School Board Candidates Lori Moya is the safe and best bet for District Seat 6. And after what I’ve read and seen I have to say I agree. Over the last four years, Lori Moya has represented Austin citizens’ interest with careful balance and tact. Working for a non-profit dedicated to strengthening AISD public schools, Austin Voices for Education and Youth, I’ve seen her at school board meetings, community conversations, and other school events. Moya not only attends these events, but is actively engaged and listening to the community. On the Statesmen blog Homeroom, the two candidates were asked about some of the larger issues facing AISD. Moya’s answers were not as definitive as Mayes, not out of an attempt to squirm out of answering hard question, but rather to represent the truth and the complexities of the circumstances. On the other hand, Mayes’ answers told the reader what they wanted to here, with no real plans on how he would do it. In the School Board Endorsements, the Chronicle mockingly refers to Mayes as a security guard, a comment I initially found distasteful; although with closer inspection of Mayes candidacy flyer I’m starting to think he may have been asking for it. Mayes’ flyer contained three major grammar errors including spelling impact as impajt, a terrible run on sentence, as well as stating: Glen Mayes is Higher Education of Christian…University. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying good grammar is the most important quality in a candidate, but the man needs to know how a sentence works to be on the school board!
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The Future Is Bright
ReplyDeleteAfter reading The Lone Star Debate blog about the past A.I.S.D. district 6 election I feel like the future of Austin is pretty bright. I really find it refreshing that someone of a younger generation is getting into a subject that should actually be near and dear to all of us. Especially someone like myself who has children. Alice G's article is very informative and she provides great links to her sources. I went to the two links she provided and read up on the two candidates that are running for south Austin District 6 school board, the incumbent and the challenger. The incumbent is Lori Moya who has held the position for the past four years. The challenger is Glen P. Mayes.
The part I really enjoyed is the fact that Alice G. really gives a sound reasoning for her choice in candidate. You really get a sense that she cares about what is happening in her community. I think if we had more people like Alice G. we would start seeing results around us immediately. I agree with your opinion, and I wish we did have more people like you.