Karla Silvestre joins Julie Yang in jumping ship from the BOE in favor of County Council

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And this is the kind of discussion which turns a lot of talented people against running for BOE. Who wants to be subject to so much public criticism for negligible compensation?

Its a board position a few times a week. Its not a full-time job. Karla works at MC, which is why they funnel so much money to it. Real question is how much work does she actually do at MC if 2-3 days a week she's doing BOE stuff.

They did a study (trying to convince the state legislature to allow them to be paid more) and they work 40+ hours a week most weeks. And honestly there are a lot of things they aren't doing that they should do on top of that too, like requesting and reading relevant materials in-depth in advance of meetings to be able to ask the right questions and conduct real oversight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Silvestre was a member of the BOE that hired Monifa McKnight. She was the BOE president during the Beidleman scandal. How does anyone get elected after that?

I think she'll have no trouble getting elected to the council. She was the president who got McKnight to step down and hired Taylor, which are largely viewed as positive developments.

Two BOE members lost their elections for getting McKnight to step down and they hired Taylor too. How does Silvestre get a pass, while Harris and Evans did not?

I suspect that's why she's bailing because she knows she'll most likely be voted out.

I agree. So what makes Karla Silvestre think that she could win a council seat if she couldn't even retain her seat on the BOE? What qualifies her for the county council?

I'm sure she's hoping that the connection to education (usually a plus) doesn't get sullied in the electorate's minds by the actual performance related to schools during her BOE tenure. The voting public can be rather daft, forgetting the latter but recalling the former when considering a council race.

That and favorable demographics. We'll have to see what her platform is for things besides schools, or how she connects those to her education angle.

It'll be relatively easier to get elected to an at-large council seat, since there are four of them, and three of the incumbents aren't running. The top four Democratic candidates in the primary advance to the November election, and they will almost certainly win.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is great news. Frees up spots that new candidates can take with fresh ideas. Look at the success of newcomers like Laura Stewart so far for a preview of what's possible once the old timers step down!

What “success,” praytell, has Laura Stewart had???

You should watch the BOE meetings. She’s really engaged and says a lot/asks a lot of questions.

Are we watching the same meetings? She barely sounds literate and references Star Wars entirely too frequently to be taken seriously. And I voted for her, but what a disappointment she is. I didn't realize how little education she actually has and sadly it shows.

The thing is, I don't think she's actually unintelligent. But she is horribly unconfident, nerve-wracked and not a good public speaker. Plus, she has an unfortunate habit of putting on a ditzy affect when she wants to appear likable or to soften what should be sharp and incisive commentary.

She needs serious training in public speaking.

Every statement she makes sounds like a question. She absolutely needs some training.

That's her style? Its perfectly fine. If that's the worst thing you can say, she's doing just fine. At least she's asking questions and trying.

Have you watched her in BOE meetings? She is not at all effective. She is meek and does not hold MCPS to account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Silvestre was a member of the BOE that hired Monifa McKnight. She was the BOE president during the Beidleman scandal. How does anyone get elected after that?

I think she'll have no trouble getting elected to the council. She was the president who got McKnight to step down and hired Taylor, which are largely viewed as positive developments.

Two BOE members lost their elections for getting McKnight to step down and they hired Taylor too. How does Silvestre get a pass, while Harris and Evans did not?

I suspect that's why she's bailing because she knows she'll most likely be voted out.

I agree. So what makes Karla Silvestre think that she could win a council seat if she couldn't even retain her seat on the BOE? What qualifies her for the county council?

I'm sure she's hoping that the connection to education (usually a plus) doesn't get sullied in the electorate's minds by the actual performance related to schools during her BOE tenure. The voting public can be rather daft, forgetting the latter but recalling the former when considering a council race.

That and favorable demographics. We'll have to see what her platform is for things besides schools, or how she connects those to her education angle.

It'll be relatively easier to get elected to an at-large council seat, since there are four of them, and three of the incumbents aren't running. The top four Democratic candidates in the primary advance to the November election, and they will almost certainly win.

LOL

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Silvestre was a member of the BOE that hired Monifa McKnight. She was the BOE president during the Beidleman scandal. How does anyone get elected after that?

I think she'll have no trouble getting elected to the council. She was the president who got McKnight to step down and hired Taylor, which are largely viewed as positive developments.

Two BOE members lost their elections for getting McKnight to step down and they hired Taylor too. How does Silvestre get a pass, while Harris and Evans did not?

I suspect that's why she's bailing because she knows she'll most likely be voted out.

I agree. So what makes Karla Silvestre think that she could win a council seat if she couldn't even retain her seat on the BOE? What qualifies her for the county council?

I'm sure she's hoping that the connection to education (usually a plus) doesn't get sullied in the electorate's minds by the actual performance related to schools during her BOE tenure. The voting public can be rather daft, forgetting the latter but recalling the former when considering a council race.

That and favorable demographics. We'll have to see what her platform is for things besides schools, or how she connects those to her education angle.

It'll be relatively easier to get elected to an at-large council seat, since there are four of them, and three of the incumbents aren't running. The top four Democratic candidates in the primary advance to the November election, and they will almost certainly win.

LOL

No

You think MoCo voters will elect a Republican to county council?!

[Anonymous]

Of course any current member of the school board should absolutely not be elected to the County Council after the McKnight, Biedleman and other scandals. It should be a complete non starter.

But if Yang, Silvestre, (or both) get the Apple Ballot endorsement, they probably win. What a county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And this is the kind of discussion which turns a lot of talented people against running for BOE. Who wants to be subject to so much public criticism for negligible compensation?

Its a board position a few times a week. Its not a full-time job. Karla works at MC, which is why they funnel so much money to it. Real question is how much work does she actually do at MC if 2-3 days a week she's doing BOE stuff.

They did a study (trying to convince the state legislature to allow them to be paid more) and they work 40+ hours a week most weeks. And honestly there are a lot of things they aren't doing that they should do on top of that too, like requesting and reading relevant materials in-depth in advance of meetings to be able to ask the right questions and conduct real oversight.

Even if they were paid more they would not all that. Let’s be real. Most board members receive no compensation as it’s not a true job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course any current member of the school board should absolutely not be elected to the County Council after the McKnight, Biedleman and other scandals. It should be a complete non starter.

But if Yang, Silvestre, (or both) get the Apple Ballot endorsement, they probably win. What a county.

I doubt they will and if they do it’s appalling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course any current member of the school board should absolutely not be elected to the County Council after the McKnight, Biedleman and other scandals. It should be a complete non starter.

But if Yang, Silvestre, (or both) get the Apple Ballot endorsement, they probably win. What a county.

I doubt they will and if they do it’s appalling.

If the MCEA endorses Silvestre and Yang, they will lose a lot of credibility.