Letter: Candidates should engage community

Published 1:30 am Friday, October 15, 2021

Editor,

I was disappointed in the school board part of the League of Women Voters Candidates Forum. The three incumbents seemed exactly alike in their viewpoints and best friends besides — if I closed my eyes I couldn’t tell them apart. I don’t think that’s necessarily healthy. I prefer decision groups that are collegial, but diverse in viewpoints and not too chummy with each other. That gives more room for independent thinking, to my mind.

Looking for an alternative, I read The Record articles for information on the challengers. Dawn Tarantino did not bother to respond to The Record and also refused to participate in the Candidates Forum. Nope.

Farrah Manning Davis doesn’t support masks, doesn’t send her kids to public schools and also refused to participate in the Candidates Forum. Nope.

Challenger Bree Kramer-Nelson has been a longtime strong volunteer for the district, supports COVID restrictions, and sounds like a sensible person. I could consider voting for her, but I have a hard time getting over her not participating in the Candidates Forum. Does it mean she is unwilling to engage with people who think differently from her? If so, not a good sign since board members need to talk things over constantly.

Anyway, feeling a little dissatisfied about the whole thing and wishing the challengers had been willing to show up and talk about what they wanted to accomplish. We are a diverse district and the board should reflect that, but we don’t need people who won’t engage with the whole community.

Sharon Emerson

Langley