Burnt Orange Endorsements: AISD & ACC

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Tue May 09, 2006 at 11:16 PM CDT

AISD Place 7: Robert Schneider

We endorse the incumbent Robert Schneider over challenger Mel Fuller. He was also endorsed by the Chronicle. We care so little about this race, no BOR writers even mentioned in their responses to me, and I flipped the endorsement from Mel Fuller to Schneider in the process of writing this post.

AISD Place 8: Annette LoVoi

Though both well qualified, Annette LoVoi receives our endorsement and considering that she also has the support of former Gov. Ann Richards, that is more than enough for us in a local race like this.  We wish we could link to Ed Leo's website, but it tend to take forever to open and crashes some browsers.

AISD Place 9: Karen Dulaney Smith

Running against Alberto Gonzales (whose website also won't open in all cases so we won't link to it), Karen received a unanimous endorsement from those BOR writers that responded. She was also endorsed by the Chronicle.

ACC Board Place 8: James McGuffee

This is a difficult race as both candidates are very likable. I wish both could be elected and the BOR crew was somewhat split. But James McGuffee reminds us of politicians like Bruce Elfant and Herb Evans, people who do a great job in office and have not expressed higher ambitions, allowing them to become badasses in the offices they hold.  The ACC Board is all McGuffee wants. Rodney Ahardt would be a great candidate for other offices which we feel he may run for at some point anyways, including Dawna Dukes seat after she retires among others. We very well would support him in those efforts, but we support McGuffee for Place 8.

ACC Place 9: Ana Mejia-Dietche

Running against incumbent Allen Kaplan, we support challenger Ana Mejia-Dietche. A favorite quote?

At its best, ACC is like my grandmothers living room. It gives students what they need, when they need it. By doing so, it changes lives. I want to continue my grandmother’s work.

Plus, and we are sure it is of no relation, those Kaplan test prep people are really annoying.

Calling Jennifer Gale

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Thu Feb 16, 2006 at 03:42 PM CST

Austin School Board President Doyle Valdez announced today that he will resign, after eight years on the job, when his successor is elected and sworn in later this spring.

With two years remaining on his term, Valdez said his announcement was timed to allow a special election for his at-large seat to coincide with the school board elections for five other open trustee positions that have already been scheduled for May 13. Any necessary runoff election would be held in June.