Reply to Arlington School Board Caucus

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Dem and I agree 100% with getting rid of the caucus. First off, last year was the first and only time I’ve ever been able to participate. It’s not a friendly process to working parents who presumably make up the bulk of people who have kids in schools. Second, our schools are not served well by filling the Board with party insiders looking to use the school board as a stepping stone in a bigger political career. Some of the more recent choices have been completely lackluster and wouldn’t have gone anywhere without being on the Dem sample ballot, which is saying something. Third, I support federal employees running, and I think they should have a fair shot. Under the current system they really have no chance at all.

The Dems can still “endorse” certain candidates and those candidates will probably still win, but at least it opens up the possibility for a fed or non-insider to get their voices out there in a serious way.

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How is the Dems endorsing and putting that person on a sample ballot any different that what we have now? A Fed or "non-insider" candidate can NOW run in the general. If the Dems do away with the caucus, then the endorsement becomes a backroom deal by a few. Then everyone will have their hands all up in the air that it wasn't fair and the candidates are still lackluster.

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The candidates can all actually run in the general, for starters. [/quote]

True, but how does that help achieve greater minority engagement and improved school outcomes for minority students? [/quote]

More candidates to support, more people out supporting them.  If your candidate didn't win the caucus, you're less likely to vote in the general election. More people vote in the general election, so the caucus-losing candidates could find more support among the larger population but never get that chance because they aren't on the Nov ballot.

Also, just because a candidate won the caucus doesn't make them the best choice for minority students' interests and concerns.  The winners are always ACDC members, active, and considered "good Democrats" by ACDC.  There are many other "good Democrats" who aren't active in the party.... Qualification shouldn't be impacted by how active the candidate is in the local party.  So eliminating the caucus would help other good democrat, but not hardcore political party activists, have a shot at serving on the school board.

Supposedly, ACDC just wants to make sure Democratic values are on the board, right?  ONE time an independent made it onto the board.  That outlier was no extremist and did not decimate APS schools.  Arlington is VAST majority democrat and can figure out which candidate(s) most align with their democratic values AND which candidates' ideas they like better.[/quote]

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