If Alexia wants to have any chance of winning she must improve the way she presents herself. She should put her hair up so she looks more professional as well. This is said to HELP her not hurt her. I want to see her get elected but it will take a lot more walking. Lastly, she needs to listen to someone who knows how to run a campaign and be disciplined in following through. If she does these things, she can win this race.

The only offices I have looked at running for are those that involve education. No one else in these races I have entered has more experience in the field of education than I do. My belief is that it is very difficult for a non-educator to make independent decisions on a Board of Education if they have never worked in this field. Too often, well meaning but inexperienced Board members are led astray and become puppets of the Supt. since they have to rely solely on what he/she feeds them about the field of education. Please refer to my website www.jerrywinant.com for the facts on my background. I have met and talked with both Alexia and Florice and enjoyed talking with both of them. I think they are good people and do not feel I need to 'trash' them to run against them. May the best and most qualified candidate win! Isn't that the American way? In the future, please present facts and not trash if you want to be considered a serious 'news' agency.

Jerry, firstly, this is a blog not a news agency. Secondly, you are dodging the bigger issue. Why did you decide to run after you PUBLICLY ENDORSED Hoffman?

Florice Hoffman- Not somebody that should get elected to a School Board. According to her fundraising form (form 460) her campaign has received donations from PLANNED PARENTHOOD, and numerous unions.

OMG - Planned Parenthood!? And... UNIONS????

Scary stuff.

Jerry,

I do not dislike you personally but you have chosen to let a very unpopular person be heavily involved in your campaign. Not only did you switch parties to better position yourself to run but you are allowing Carol Rudat to play a big role in your campaign. Am I wrong about these two things? I would be happy to hear your position on things, but you really have to explain the whole Carol Rudat thing.

Yes, Unions and Planned Parenthood are scary.

The teachers union whose only goals it seems is to impede any reform to education, no matter how basic; to obstruct the expansion of and close charter schools that have out performed them; to protect teachers from being fired, no matter how incompetent or dangerous they are.

Planned Parenthood, an organization that took money from a racist that was to be earmarked for abortions of black babies. Continuing the legacy of Margaret Sanger.

Stay classy Planned Parenthood.

This really is Alexia's last chance to get elected to public office. She has already lost 3 elections Central Committee twice and School Board once. If she loses this she will not be able to run for City Council or School Board again with a realistic chance at winning. She needs to put her heart and soul into this campaign because she really needs to win.

What I have heard from supporters of her campaign is that she is not taking this election very seriously. She is supposedly taking a week off from her campaign to go to the Republican National Convention. This does not sound like a person who is working hard to win. I hope she picks things up because this race will be tough for all candidates.

I wholeheartedly agree with "Alexia's Friend." Alexia has a chance to win this IF and I repeat IF she listens. There's a certain image that must be projected for any public office and School Board is no exception. Dress conservatively and get out in front of those who can actually vote for you fast and often. Thirty percent of the votes will come in within one week of the ABs being mailed. There's no time for vacations or distractions of any kind. I for one will be watching and if I see Alexia doing what she needs to to win, I will support and help her. If she doesn't than I will ignore her race completely.

I wouldn't worry. Alexia is a smart political player who knows she will have to raise tens of thousands of dollars and walk countless precincts to win this race. She's not foolish enough to go on vacation unless that vacation is a fundraising trip. She definitely understands that she shouldn't burn bridges with her supporters by abandoning them. I think it's safe to assume Alexia will running with everything she's got because this race is made for her.

To Chris Emami

I will always be happy to talk to anyone who wants to discuss education (with a little mix of politics ). Carol encouraged me to attend a function in Huntington Beach where I got to meet Alexia and some other people. I met Carol when I went to the Orange Women's Club 'Meet the Candidates' event several months ago. Carol is not in any way a part of my campaign staff. I did not speak with her, or listen to her, any more than I would speak with or listen to any of you who had concerns that you wanted to share. I enjoy listening to people's opinions. I think that being a good listener and open minded to other opinions is a necessary quality for a good Board member. This is a non-partisan election. I switched to register as a Republican for other personal reasons; none of them connected with this election. Actually, I probably could have had more support from voters and contributors if I had stayed Democrat but it is not what I wished to do. I do not wish to be looked at as a Republican or as a Democrat. Education doesn't need people on their school boards with political agendas. My agenda is to help make the education for all of our children the best experience possible! Actually (I am sure I will get some flak for this), but I beleive that partisan politics is part of what has hurt the educational process. Candidates too often look at it as a political stepping stone and have no real knowledge of the educational system. I have no desire to be anything else in politics other than a school board member.

OUSD used to be a leader in the field of education. I think that they can quickly, with the right leadership, get back on top!

I hope I answered your question, Chris. I would be happy to answer any questions or talk with you and any other interested
parties about my goals and qualifications for this position. My email is winant@hotmail.com.

To OCNative:
You asked the question, "Why did you decide to run after you PUBLICLY ENDORSED Hoffman?"

I found out that I made a mistake. All was not what I thought it was.

I admit that I make mistakes.....but when I realize that I do, I blame no one else.....I simply fix them. I admit I am probably the worst politician of the three of us running. I have no political connections. I have no base of support. BUT, I know that there is no one even close to me as far as background and success in the field of education. Being an educator is not just a job for me. I love what I do and I am very good at it! My pet peeve as an educator has always been that we elect board members who do not know enough about education. Therefore, they have to rely on what the Supt. feeds them. They become pawns of the leadership and ineffective as educational leaders themselves. If it is more important that you elect a strong Republican, then you should vote for Alexia. If you want a strong Democrat, vote for Florice. If you want a lousy politician but a strong educational leader who could make a signinficant difference in the OUSD for the benefit of your children, then I am your only choice!

My best to you, OCNative!

Alexia Will Do Good,

I have talked with Alexia and she is fundraising hard right now. I know that she is not walking precincts yet, but it is way to early to start walking. She is not the kind of person that will rely on everybody else to do her work. I know that she will work hard everyday up until election day.

I think a great deal of the commenters here are being pretty tough on Alexia. Granted she has not had the greatest luck in the past but she just filed yesterday so it is really hard to predict what she will and won't do as an outsider to her campaign.

Jerry,

I have to be honest with you that I probably won't be voting for you as I have known Alexia for a long time. I do respect the fact that you came here into hostile territory and stood up for yourself. I am glad to hear that Carol Rudat is not involved in your campaign (you might want to let her know). I would be happy to discuss the issues with you via e-mail. I hope you do realize that you and I will probably disagree on a lot of issues though.

So I want to make sure that it is safe to state that you have now revoked your endorsement of Florice Hoffman.

I promise you that I will send you an e-mail in the next few days, and would be open to what ideas that you have in place.

To Chris Emami:
Yes, it is safe to state that I have now revoked my endorsement of Florice Hoffman.

I look forward to an email dialogue with you.

Chris,

Thank you for raising the issue of the health and safety of our young women an issue. Planned Parenthood is focused on ensuring our young men and women get the information they need to make healthy choices, including abstinence. Here in Irvine we have the most Planned Parent-friendly school board in Orange County, yet I've seen little data suggesting there is a burgeoning teen-pregnancy problem here in Irvine. Unlike parts of OUSD trustee area three....

Since you seem to think Planned Parenthood matters in this school board election, could you please elucidate what you see as the key educational issue in this race?

-tylerh

Tyler,

That is just the thing, planned parenthood should not matter in this race. They should not be donating $2500 to any candidate. I would make the same complaint of The Sierra Club or some Republican interest groups as well such as the NRA. I can guarantee you that if the NRA donated to Alexia the Democrats would be up in arms (no pun intended).

Although I do not like the local teachers union as they do not always play fair I do see a reason for them to donate. The point that I am trying to make is that their are certain interest groups that have a reason to get involved and others that do not.

The key educational issue that I see in this race is the lack of dollars going into the classroom. Administrators are getting huge salaries including the infamous "Golden Handshake." This is going on while teachers and classrooms suffer. When it comes time for the money to go to classrooms the School Board majority criues about how not enough money is available and they need to pass a bond.

Alexia Will Do Good said, "Alexia is a smart political player..." Well, if that's true, why has she lost three elections in a row? Her upcoming vacation is just that, a vacation. She doesn't even have a campaign set up yet so how is she going to fundraise?

I realize that I am not very knowledgable when it comes to politics but I agree with her friends that she needs to really focus on OUSD voters 24/7 if she wants to win this race.