BOE election candidates 2024

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rolling Stone has taken notice of the Bethany Mandel campaign:

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/bethany-mandel-conservative-school-board-1234968716/

This is just click-bait.

She's not running as a Democrat. It's a nonpartisan race. She's registered as a Democrat because in this county it's the only way to have an impact on the primary race. I wish MD had open primaries.

Signed,
Stewart supporter

Someone should let Stewart it’s a nonpartisan race.

Signed,
A Democrat who voted for Jawando and Mink

When one of your opponents is Bethany Mandel, I don't think it's possible to campaign without mentioning partisan political issues.

It’s not the issues that bother me. It’s the “Vote for me because I’m a leader in the women’s democratic club” that bothers me.”

It's a relevant part of her background, no? Do you think she just shouldn't mention it?

Vote for her, don't vote for her, it's your decision not mine, but I do think it's interesting how the vast majority, like 90% of posts, on this thread are about one candidate, as though nobody else were running for BoE. It's also interesting how apparently this one candidate is bad both because she hides her background and also because she doesn't hide her background.

Yes, it’s relevant because it tells me that she wants to make the BOE another blatantly partisan governing body. That’s a good reason not to vote for her.

To your other question, the at-large race has a clearly better alternative to Harris in Kim and there’s not much to know about the District 2 race yet because it doesn’t seem like the candidates are campaigning yet. Stewart and Mandel are the only two really campaigning so far, so there’s more to discuss. Mandel is not worth discussing as an alternative to Evans, so it’s really about whether Stewart is a viable replacement for Evans. So far, the answer is no.

Whatever. You get to make your own decisions. I don't think this particular opinion of yours will be widely shared by the voters, but who knows.

I actually think the fact that she deleted all of her previous political statements and positions on twitter in lieu of just telling people in shorthand that she is Chair of x group or a VP of y democratic club means that she is trying to be less partisan and not bogged down in the weeds of the day-to-day political minutiae that she often commented on before her candidacy.

I didn't get the impression she did that to cover anything up but out of a concern for her personal privacy and safety.

such a sad testament to the state of affairs when someone who is a public figure like she is, who testifies publicly before the BOE, writes op-eds, etc. all while having a twitter account has to close it once she files for a BOE candidacy. No wonder why we can't attract good candidates if the mere act of running for BOE all of a sudden opens up an otherwise public figure to privacy and safety threats.

No current elected official in this county has felt the need to do this. Maybe it says more about one candidate than it does about the state of affairs.

She's not an elected official (yet). What does it say about the state of affairs that a couple of assiduous posters on DCUM are obsessed with this one candidate?

It says you might as well go with an incumbent because the alternatives aren’t good.

Really? It says to me that some people are already engaged in negative campaigning because they are very worried that this candidate might win. With good reason, since the alternatives are a nice incumbent who doesn't seem to have accomplished much, and a hatemongering culture warrior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rolling Stone has taken notice of the Bethany Mandel campaign:

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/bethany-mandel-conservative-school-board-1234968716/

This is just click-bait.

She's not running as a Democrat. It's a nonpartisan race. She's registered as a Democrat because in this county it's the only way to have an impact on the primary race. I wish MD had open primaries.

Signed,
Stewart supporter

Someone should let Stewart it’s a nonpartisan race.

Signed,
A Democrat who voted for Jawando and Mink

Pretty sure that "Stewart supported" was just an Evans supporter trying to make the other two look bad in the same breath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rolling Stone has taken notice of the Bethany Mandel campaign:

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/bethany-mandel-conservative-school-board-1234968716/

This is just click-bait.

She's not running as a Democrat. It's a nonpartisan race. She's registered as a Democrat because in this county it's the only way to have an impact on the primary race. I wish MD had open primaries.

Signed,
Stewart supporter

Someone should let Stewart it’s a nonpartisan race.

Signed,
A Democrat who voted for Jawando and Mink

Pretty sure that "Stewart supported" was just an Evans supporter trying to make the other two look bad in the same breath.

Nope. I can’t stand Evans. Voting Stewart but think that the Rolling Stone article is just click-bait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

I know it's open season for many people on incumbent BOE members after the McKnight-Beidleman fiasco, but Harris has been trying to hold the staff accountable. There is a well-oiled culture of stonewalling that has gone on for dozens of years in MCPS. Harris has taken plenty of push-back from staff and some BOE members during her tenure.

I would throw a few members off the BOE, but Harris isn't one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

I know it's open season for many people on incumbent BOE members after the McKnight-Beidleman fiasco, but Harris has been trying to hold the staff accountable. There is a well-oiled culture of stonewalling that has gone on for dozens of years in MCPS. Harris has taken plenty of push-back from staff and some BOE members during her tenure.

I would throw a few members off the BOE, but Harris isn't one of them.

Nothing against this PP at all because I agree for the most part, but isn’t the fact that we’re congratulating members of the BOE for merely asking questions of MCPS staff a sign that major structural reform is due? If the idea that asking some follow up questions of staff during a meeting that may or may not be answered via email to the member later on is a badge of honor worthy of reelection, I think we have a long way to go to get to the level of oversight and accountability that the toxic vipers nest of MCPS central office needs at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

I know it's open season for many people on incumbent BOE members after the McKnight-Beidleman fiasco, but Harris has been trying to hold the staff accountable. There is a well-oiled culture of stonewalling that has gone on for dozens of years in MCPS. Harris has taken plenty of push-back from staff and some BOE members during her tenure.

I would throw a few members off the BOE, but Harris isn't one of them.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

+1
Harris is much better than Evans. No question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

+1
Harris is much better than Evans. No question.

So much better. Harris had done just as little as Evans has as a member of the BOE but at least she asks the staff questions and makes sure the students’ voices are heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

I know it's open season for many people on incumbent BOE members after the McKnight-Beidleman fiasco, but Harris has been trying to hold the staff accountable. There is a well-oiled culture of stonewalling that has gone on for dozens of years in MCPS. Harris has taken plenty of push-back from staff and some BOE members during her tenure.

I would throw a few members off the BOE, but Harris isn't one of them.

Nothing against this PP at all because I agree for the most part, but isn’t the fact that we’re congratulating members of the BOE for merely asking questions of MCPS staff a sign that major structural reform is due? If the idea that asking some follow up questions of staff during a meeting that may or may not be answered via email to the member later on is a badge of honor worthy of reelection, I think we have a long way to go to get to the level of oversight and accountability that the toxic vipers nest of MCPS central office needs at this point.

DP. I agree that we need structural reform. With the current structure, the BOE is not able to direct and oversee MCPS, no matter who's on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

I know it's open season for many people on incumbent BOE members after the McKnight-Beidleman fiasco, but Harris has been trying to hold the staff accountable. There is a well-oiled culture of stonewalling that has gone on for dozens of years in MCPS. Harris has taken plenty of push-back from staff and some BOE members during her tenure.

I would throw a few members off the BOE, but Harris isn't one of them.

Nothing against this PP at all because I agree for the most part, but isn’t the fact that we’re congratulating members of the BOE for merely asking questions of MCPS staff a sign that major structural reform is due? If the idea that asking some follow up questions of staff during a meeting that may or may not be answered via email to the member later on is a badge of honor worthy of reelection, I think we have a long way to go to get to the level of oversight and accountability that the toxic vipers nest of MCPS central office needs at this point.

DP. I agree that we need structural reform. With the current structure, the BOE is not able to direct and oversee MCPS, no matter who's on it.

Agreed +1,000. If we don't demand it now, we will never get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

+1
Harris is much better than Evans. No question.

She's also not relevant to this topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of words to say she was definitely running against Evans but not Harris. There must be a big difference between the two but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Sure. Evans has been there eight years and does nothing but agree with central office staff. Time for her to go.

Pretty much

But we would never vote out the other do-nothing incumbent who happens to be Stewart’s bestie and carbon copy. Is there some magic number of years of BOE service when Lynne Harris becomes eligible for being voted out? 4 years isn’t enough apparently? Is 8 the magic number?

Have you ever even watched a board meeting? Nearly every meeting Harris is having budget items held from the block vote so staff have to come to the table and explain what is being requested and why. This is what board members should be doing, on behalf of the public. Evans just votes yes on anything without asking for any information.

+1
Harris is much better than Evans. No question.

She's also not relevant to this topic.

Yes she is.

https://moco360.media/2024/02/14/who-is-running-for-the-montgomery-county-school-board-in-the-2024-primary-election/