Tom,
Good for you! Your virtual reputation precedes your announcement. I
support you 100%, sight unseen.
(You wouldn't happen to be a black Jew, would ya? What a coup THAT would
be!)
AMH
trying my best to abdicate in the
West End
"Ode to SPIF"
SPIF is blind
yet SPIF can see
that I'm like you
and you're like me
SPIF won't know
if you're stuck in a chair
or use an inhaler
or have combed-over hair
SPIF can't smell
your awful perfume
or know of the weird sh!t
on display in your room
SPIF won't touch
you in forbidden regions
make fun of your acne
or poison-induced lesions
SPIF can't sense
if you're timid or shy,
if you own a large doll
or are a regular guy
SPIF can't taste
that stuff you call food
and won't show up late
or do other things rude
SPIF is your outlet
your access, your ticket
your soapbox, your bullhorn
and, at times, sticky wicket.
Go with SPIF's flow
and ride with SPIF's tide
but when you opt for some rapids
SPIF's still on your side
-Spiffin' Jack Wordsworthless 2005
Andrew M. Hine
Corporate Research Materials Laboratory
3M Center 201-1W-28
St. Paul MN
55144-1000
USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel: (651) 733-1070
Fax: (651) 737-5335
Lab 201-W110
Forum Manager
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To
Sent by: "St. Paul Issues Forum"
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <[email protected]>
forum.org cc
Subject
03/09/2005 05:13 [StPaul] [AN] Tom Goldstein for
PM School Board
Announcement - From Tom Goldstein
--------------------------------------------
I am choosing to announce my candidacy for the St. Paul School Board
via the St. Paul e-democracy issues list as a way of underscoring
that I plan to have a campaign very different from what we often see
in city politics. For one thing, I don't have a big ego, so I can
focus on what's best for the community rather than what might be best
for me. Second, while I can point to several accomplishments that I
believe I've played an integral role in bringing about in
our community, I know that nobody is successful without the help of
many other folks they bring to the table with them. Third, I make
mistakes, I've got a sense of humor, and I'm not afraid to admit when
I'm wrong or when somebody might have a better way of doing things.
Why do I want to run for school board? Simply put, I'm tired of the
defunding and marginalization of public education and all the great
things that good schools can do for children and communities, and I'm
no longer willing to sit by and watch it happen without trying to use
my skills, talents, and experience in as visible a fashion as
possible. We should be talking about what more we can do for kids,
not how much less we're willing to accept. How does cutting staffs,
neglecting libraries, eliminating sports teams and extra-curricular
activities make us a better community? How do larger class sizes and
deferred maintenance make our children better and broaden their
horizons? It's great to talk about efficiencies and cost-saving
measures, but I've yet to see how pushing all kids to fit into one
particular learning track makes them better citizens or opens their
minds to the kind of creativity they need to develop if they're going
to survive and thrive in this global economy that promises no jobs or
a certain future to anyone.
I have served as a PTO chair, member of a site council, and on the
steering committee of a statewide parents organization that has been
pushing for funding increases in education for the past two years.
But I believe that simply relying on parents to provide the
leadership we need to change the dynamic on how we fund and value
public schools is an abdication of the responsibility that elected
officials have--at the city, county, and state level--to give us the
best schools possible. While I do not consider myself a reform
candidate, I do plan on being an activist school board member who
makes his colleagues better while also tending to the important "nuts
and bolts" duties that board members have for balancing budgets,
approving contracts, dealing with curriculum issues, etc.
Those who have worked with me know that I am not afraid to be
combative on an issue if that is what the situation requires, but my
general style is to work collaboratively and effectively at achieving
the best solution possible. I have a lot of respect for the school
district and the way in which the school board has dramatically
improved in the past few years, but no system is perfect, and
complacency is always a concern for any bureaucratic institution. The
years ahead will pose many challenges for St. Paul schools, given the
continued outflux of students to the suburbs and private schools.
To reverse that trend, we will need leadership at all levels of city
government, from the mayor's office on down, fully engaging the
business community and all the other stakeholders in the city. I'd
like to be an integral part of that effort.
Okay, that's enough for now. I will provide my personal details and
background in another post to this list. And yes, for those who are
curious, I intend to seek and abide by the DFL endorsement.
If you are interested in learning more about my campaign, like what I
have to say, want to volunteer, or, better yet, would like to talk
about making a contribution (we will have a campaign committee
established shortly), please give me a call at 651-644-8558. If you
are a delegate to the city convention, plan on hearing from me in the
next several weeks. Better yet, if you will be attending the Ward 1
convention on March 12th or the Ward 2 convention on March 19th,
please be sure to introduce yourself.
Tom Goldstein
(now in Hamline-Midway)
--
Tim Erickson
Forum Manager
St. Paul Issues Forum
http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/
Hamline Midway Resident
651-246-5045
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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