1. Name as it will appear on the ballot
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First Name |
Middle Initial or Nick Name |
Last Name |
2. Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):
3. Are you the incumbent? Yes No
4. How long have you resided in this district/city?
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I have been a Seattle resident nearly 11years, 13 months at my present address |
5. How long have you resided in King County?
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Since 1988, except for just over one year on Whidbey Island (1992-1993) |
6. Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan? Partisan Nonpartisan
CAMPAIGN CONTACTS
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Campaign Name: |
Citizens for Cardamone |
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Address: |
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1. Beginning with the most recent position, please list public offices which you have held. Include positions on appointive Boards or Commissions.
Public Office |
Elective or Appointive? |
Dates Held |
Leadership Role (if any) |
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2. If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:
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Year of Run |
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In this section, we are seeking responses that reflect the four ratings criteria: involvement, effectiveness, character, and knowledge. These are defined as follows:
1. In a page or less, why are you running for this office? (Note: the interview committee will be given a copy of this statement before your interview; at the beginning of your interview you will have the opportunity to expand on this statement in any way you wish.)
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I am running for election because laborers, teachers, administrators, students, parents and other citizens have asked me to step in. I am running because I have seen how profoundly my activisim as a citizen has impacted Seattle Public Schools, and I can imagine what a difference my one vote will make in instituting sound policies. In looking at the voting record over the last two years, the District 7 vote would have reversed several crucial decisions.
I am running because I believe that my assets are complimentary to those of the members of the School Board who will be continuing on. I believe in bringing out the best in each other, and can visualize the Seattle School Board as being one whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Due to my extreme vigilance in tracking the threads of District issues, I can hit the ground running once elected.
I am running BECAUSE I am not a career politician. I am an ethical and effective leader and representative of the People, with a track record of success. As a School Board member I will:
Promote equity and access for all students to programs that best fit their academic and social needs. Ensure effective administration of Seattle Public Schools through collaboration with Board colleagues and critical oversight of the Superintendent's implementation of Board policies. Organize a coalition of school districts to lobby legislators for full funding of public education and removal of the WASL graduation requirement. Provide alternative assessments that make sense to teachers and students. Leave no student unprepared to graduate as a productive citizen by sending the bulk of the district education dollars to the classrooms. Engage citizens authentically to build a student/teacher based education system that represents the people it serves.
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2. Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.
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I am an excellent listener, with an ability to understand the feelings which often drive a person's actions. These qualities were put into use at my children's school, where I was often called on to mediate conflicts between students and sometimes between staff members or parents. I hosted a five-month workshop in Non-Violent Communication, and worked to establish conflict resolution strategies grades K-8. Good listening skills are particularly necessary when working with communities who are different from yourself and each other. Open ears and an open heart will allow for understandings to develop.
It is my personal style to deeply engage myself in any activity to which I am committed. I would extend that hands-on approach to all of the schools in my District, being in the buildings as much as possible to fully understand their unique communities and needs. I see myself as a liasion between the People and the rest of the Board.
Although I have strong opinions, I am a collaborative worker who can listen to divergent views and find a middle ground. Nearly every issue facing the School Board requires this capability. Does the Board vote to move a school community across town while their building is being renovated, or do they find a way to house the students closer to home? Should there be an open hire for Superintendent, or should there not? What gets cut from or added to the District budget? Prudent, inclusive decision-making demands collaborative skills.
I am a team player and my team is the citizens of Seattle and the School Board they have elected to represent them. I am not a career politician, or beholding to any machine or single agenda. With me, what you see is what you get. My word is good, and my loyalty cannot be bought, but must be earned. I am not unduly impressed by people in positions of power or celebrity. When faced with a challenge, I prepare myself, do the necessary research, and follow through to the finish.
I take the attitude that all things are possible, and when I am convinced that something is worth fighting for, I will go the distance. This approach would be helpful in extending the collaboration between the District and the greater community, particularly when public education issues need advocates in Olympia. I have honed these skills in the last two years, accompanying School Board members to lobby against charter schools and speaking to local civic groups and the House Education and Appropriations Committees.
I don't believe in burning bridges, I prefer to build new alliances. For example, even though Representative Dave Quall (author of the charter school bill) and I were on different sides of that issue, we recognized a common interest in wanting to do what was best for kids. He later accepted my invitation to visit innovative school models in Seattle. Every public official should exhibit not only an ability to find commonality, but the desire to seek it.
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3. Please describe in sufficient detail, one to three accomplishments or contributions of which you are most proud. These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities you think apply to the office you are seeking. These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life.
4. Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills that relate to the office you seek. Include your role in the activity and the year(s) in which you were involved. Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life.
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Founding Member/Director- Citizens for Effective Administration of Seattle Education (CEASE) 2002-present- A coalition of citizen groups citywide who formed to network with and support each other in matters dealing with public education in Seattle. This organization sprang from the relationships established by concerned individuals who heard each others many petitions and entreaties to the School Board over the last few years. It is a grassroots effort to share knowledge, information and energy.
Member- Save Our (Southend) Schools (SOS)- 2002-present- A citizen's group focused on bringing equity to public education in the south end of the city. Concerns range from disproportional outcomes for students to equitable funding of programs.
Site Council Chair at Alternative School #1- 1998-2001 and 2002-2003 - The Site Council consists of all current students, staff and families of this K-8 public school. It is a model of site-based governance, each member having equal voting power. Being the Chair of a diverse, multi-aged community of families from all across the city provided me with an irreplaceable depth of experience.
Vice President/Director- Sir Herbert Read Consortium- 1998-present- A non-profit entity that supports alternative learning. SHRC has also acted as fiscal agent for various community imrovement projects, such as the playground improvements at AS#1, and the updating of Pinehurst Community Park. SHRC is also fiscal agent for AS#1 committees, such as our Equity Committee which was awarded one of the Race and Social Justice grants.
Education activist- 1971-present- In junior high, my activism was lit when military recruiters came into our school of 7th-9th grade students. We organized a counter-assembly, inviting "Chicago 7" notable Rennie Davis. (Although we were forced to meet off school grounds in the park next door). After the 2003 primary, I spearheaded, by direct personal action, an effort to delay Superintendent selection until the new Board was seated. I lobbied in Olympia with members of the School Board in opposition to charter schools. I campaigned to Reject R-55 in meeting halls and on freeway overpasses. I am a frequent speaker in front of the School Board, advocating for action on a variety of issues. I was the first citizen to daylight the Superintendent's plan to close schools back in December prompting the District to set up community forums. My opinion on education issues is solicited by a wide variety of individuals and groups.
Playground Renovation at AS#1-2000- With Elaine Schmidt, co-wrote and won over $70,000 in grants to transform asphalt into creative playareas including playscapes, grass field and other community-use improvements. Those included a measurable-distance running track and regulation basketball hoops. We were also responsible for overseeing the project to completion. Yes, that included shoveling the woodchips and watering the grass.
Leading Fundraiser- 1990 - Give Peace A Dance
Salmon Bay Park Playground Renovation Tile Project- 2000- Volunteer
Broadway Bound Children's Theatre- 2001-present- Volunteer
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The locally elected Seattle School Board members have been delegated the direct control and operation of the district's program by the State of Washington.
Seattle Public Schools Board Bylaws clearly state that "the School Board members serve as elected representatives of the community" and further that "The Board must endeavor to translate the desires and needs of the community into a balanced and workable program of public education. To achieve this end, the Board must establish effective communication with parents and other responsible and representative members of the community".
Additionally, "the Seattle School Board's primary function is to establish policy and to fix responsibility for the execution or implementation of policy..Board action is concerned generally with planning, policy making and appraisal. "
I believe that the requirement to honor community needs and desires in creating policies is critical. Although the present Board believes deeply in this value, there would appear to be strategies still in place with District administration to shoehorn diverse constituencies into a narrow agenda, rather than starting with community needs. Since they do not have a staff, the Board must rely on the Superintendent's staff to bring them a full array of unbiased data on each issue. This is a conflict of interest whenever the Superintendent's plans do not reflect the voice of the people. Because of it, School Board members must back up data provided by staff with that provided by the greater community and their own research.
Inclusive decision making is key to generating parental/community involvement in public education. Involved and satisfied families provide a necessary boost to increased academic achievement. They are one side of the triangle of power: the student, the school, the family. I was a catalyst for refining the Principal Selection process, suggesting it in public testimony and participating to the extent a citizen was allowed. The resulting changes, while far from perfect, allow more authentic community input into placement of principals in schools. The Board must encourage similar community engagement guarantees.
Board members need to be physically present and interactive with the schools they serve, in order to understand their unique concerns. Director Bass established a model for monthly, interactive community meetings that provide a two-way conduit of information sharing. Other Board members have established similar opportunities. If elected, I would do the same, keeping in mind that the time/place may vary in order to be most accessible to the widest variety of people. Other means, such as a Board-appointed citizens panel that includes high school student representatives, could be established to network information to and from the Board and participate in strategic planning. Public access television viewing of all Board meetings is finally a reality. Adding work sessions and some committee meetings to that package would allow more observation and future input from many more people. Changing the way the Board Meetings are run to allow for interaction with petitioners would be helpful.
The School Board is responsible for approving and monitoring a budget of nearly half a billion dollars. They approve or disapprove the hiring of teachers, bus drivers, construction firms, etc. The Board is charged with monitoring, and holding accountable, those to whom implementation of policy is charged, namely the Superintendent. Their Bylaws state that "appraisal" is one of the Board duties. That would include a fair and honest appraisal of themselves and the Superintendent on a quarterly basis. I favor the establishment of a citizen panel to review the Board quarterly as well. |
EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report is distributed to voters in print and/or on our website. It includes a summary of the candidate’s education. Please summarize your education in 120 characters (letters, punctuation, and space all combined). The League will delete material that exceeds the space limit by beginning with the last entry. Suggested order is (degree) (subject) (school) (year, if desired).
Note: If this question is left blank the League will not include education information in your candidate profile.
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FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report also includes a summary of each candidate’s civic involvement. Please summarize your civic involvement in the space below. We will make every attempt to include the information in the Candidate Evaluation Report as submitted. Due to space restrictions in the Report, your response is limited to 500 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces all combined). It is important that you list your involvement beginning with the most important and ending with the least important. If you exceed the length of response permitted, or if the League should find it necessary to shorten responses for publication purposes, deletions will be made beginning with the last item listed.
Note: This information will appear verbatim on the League’s Candidate Evaluation Report. If this question is left blank, the Municipal League will not include information on your civic involvement in the Report.
Check here if you would like the Municipal League to copy the first 500 characters from Question 4 to paste into this section.
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2002-present Founding Member/Director- Citizens for Effective Administration of Seattle Education- a coalition of citizen groups citywide who formed to network with and support each other in matters dealing with public education in Seattle. 2002-present Member- Save Our Southend Schools (SOS)- citizens group focused on bringing equity to south end schools. 1998-present Vice-President- Sir Herbert Read Consortium- an non-profit formed to support alternative learning at AS#1, fiscal agent for community improvement projects. 1990- leading fundraiser GIve Peace a Dance marathon. |
Finished!
If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (rebecca@munileague.org). Mail and fax numbers are listed below. If the League has not contacted you to schedule an interview, please call the League office at your earliest convenience.
Don’t forget to send the following to the Municipal League: a resume, a photo, campaign literature, and, if you are an incumbent, constituent newsletters and other materials. Please use the check-off list on the cover sheet of this packet to indicate which items you have sent.
Candidate Evaluation Coordinator: Rebecca Cooper
Seattle, WA 98104-1614 Fax: 425-671-0506 Website: www.munileague.org