Letter: Voters should look for candidates’ motivations
To the Editor-
Recently there has been some discussion around whether or not candidates that are running for Stevens Point Area school board are affiliated with a local political group, the Freedom Fighters of Central Wisconsin. The Freedom Fighters describe their group as follows: “Central Wisconsin’s community group that provides a platform for WE THE PEOPLE and new candidates that want to be involved with taking our freedoms back! FFCW.us is a fast-growing movement to help create change for future generations!”
The Freedom Fighters have been campaigning for three candidates in particular: Alex Sommers, Jennifer Bushman, and Miguel Campos, also known as the “ABC” candidates. Campaign efforts have included hosting public events, mailings, and the use of social media.
The ABC candidates have stated that they are in no way affiliated with this group, yet fail to explain why they are allowing an extreme right-wing group to endorse them. At the very least, they can try to understand why standing on a Freedom Fighter stage is upsetting to people within our community. As parents, we feel that it is in our community’s best interest to have a clear picture of who we are voting for, as well as to highlight some of the key characteristics we are seeking in our school board members.
In a Seattle Public University study, school board effectiveness is described as follows:
“Research findings on school board effectiveness can be applied to individual board member characteristics and beliefs. More specifically, studies give us a clue as to the individual characteristics that are seen in stable and more effective school boards. The point of importance is that more stable school boards with less turnover, experience less superintendent turnover, more stable principals and teachers, and higher student performance. While change is sometimes needed to improve a board, frequent turnover and contentious relations among board members are counter-productive.”
The complete list of qualifications and supporting references can be found here:
https://spu.edu/depts/uc/response/new/web-features/2014/effective-board-member-characteristics.pdf
It’s important to not only understand these qualifications but to take a discerning look at our local candidates and understand if they meet these criteria. Here are a few of the qualifications that stood out, as well as our subsequent concerns over the lack of these characteristics, particularly among the ABC trio.
Altruistic Service: Board members do not run for reasons of personal ego or prestige, a need for involvement, to correct a personal concern, to replace particular school employees, or as a step to future office. Board members run to serve the community, to fulfill a democratic responsibility, and to serve all students and all needs.
When some of the current candidates ran for a seat last spring, their run was fueled by frustration. This is a small community and we are well aware that the theme was not of mutual respect or genuine care for what our district was having to navigate. It’s no secret that there was a disdain for the individuals having to make the difficult decisions. The theme was: you’re doing it wrong, with a side of anger. As parents, we find no value in this disingenuous approach, especially in the midst of a pandemic. The intentions of these candidates feel misguided and lacking in transparency.
The Freedom Fighters use language like “drain the swamp” in reference to those that are currently serving our district. We find that kind of language unprofessional and insulting. Actions speak louder than words, no matter how you frame it or how eloquently you say it. The fact remains that the ABC candidates couldn’t even bother to put a mask on when they showed up at the district building to turn their candidacy paperwork in. Say what you will about masks, that alone demonstrated a lack of respect and character. Freedom Fighter member or not—there is clearly a shared ideology among the ABC trio and the Freedom Fighters.
Interest Driven: The board member avoids declaring allegiance to named organizations or ideologies, but seeks to understand multiple and conflicting interests of all constituents and seeks a solution that can satisfy multiple interests.
It is imperative that the community can make these important distinctions: do these candidates have a political ax to grind OR do they have a heart for the education of our children in this community? Any candidate that aligns with a fringe group of political activists is not respecting the values of this community, the boundaries of our democratic process as it relates to our school board or our children. Of course, people are free to have their own personal and political beliefs, but there is no place for that in a school board election campaign. We are not naive to the fact that people can and will vote simply on a matter of personal taste, a desire to support friends or family, or any number of reasons, including politics. We want opportunities to learn from our candidates. However, accepting invitations to speak at Freedom Fighter events is not only short-sighted but the polar opposite of a non-interest-driven approach.
What the voters may not understand is that the Freedom Fighters have gone out of their way to bully and intimidate members of this community. They use inflammatory and dehumanizing language. They elicit fear, to the point that people feel unsafe walking alone to their cars on district property. These aren’t anecdotal ramblings–these are disturbing facts. Is this who we want to be involved in our children’s education?
Use of Voice: The board member avoids over-talking to promote their own interest. They do not see communication as a competition. They promote civil dialogue with a goal to listen and discover a resolution that serves all interests.
Candidates are concerned that there is a lack of transparency and accountability on our school board and among district leadership. Of course, we fully expect that the individuals in positions of leadership are held accountable and uphold transparency. We want high standards for our students so that they can be responsible and well-rounded citizens. We want the voices of our community to be heard and not silenced. These are not pillars that our district has abandoned.
However, it’s difficult to have a healthy discourse when individuals refuse to be respectful of rules and regulations put in place for the greater good. Masking debates became a roadblock to the productive and thoughtful conversation. A vote for these three candidates is a vote for the organization that is working hard to dismantle our district. At the end of the day, we can all agree that we want our kids to be in school in person and that we want to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. We also want to hold board meetings and invite the community through open doors and ensure we are doing so in a way that is safe and respectful for our community.
What we have had to endure in the past couple of years is a complex, multi-faceted issue that unfortunately does affect everyone. We find ourselves having to teach our kids resilience beyond what we ever could have imagined. There is no road map other than our due diligence to follow safety protocols. Yet, it seems all grace is gone. The bottom line is that we are in a pandemic–a pandemic that has lasted nearly 2 years. Strong leaders will step up to do what’s right. Now more than ever, we need voices that reject division and drama.
We need voices that offer a hand to help through this difficult time, not a voice of disdain and perpetuating distrust. We need voices that have the capacity to grasp the unique challenges of the pandemic and public health, while simultaneously ensuring that we are collectively taking steps to meet both the academic and mental health needs of our students. These are qualities that embody a true leader that is fit for a school board seat. Marketing campaigns and buzz words aside, we need voices that connect our community through authenticity, trust, and mutual respect–and yes, that means wearing a mask in a building that requires it. Anything short of that is a disservice to our children and a threat to the district’s growth and stability.
This election season, we ask that you take a closer look at the candidates and ask these questions. Are they perpetuating conflict and misinformation? Do they have the keen ability to shift from a role of a trustee to delegate in times of chaos? Can they (and those that publicly endorse them) demonstrate respect? Don’t be fooled by performative kindness.
What our candidates say behind closed doors and among their peers and fellow freedom fighters should match their public talking points. Our community deserves it and most of all, our children deserve it. Vote Dennis Raabe, Jeff Ebel, Barb Portzen, and Rob Manzke for Stevens Point Area School District.
Ryan Fitzgerald
Stevens Point