Moderator's Note: Each of the candidates for the APS School Board (District 2) were asked to answer 5 questions. They were limited to 35 word answers. I listened to the Candidate Forum last week and got a feel for each candidate. The budget crisis we face is probably the most important issue and there are a couple of candidates, in my opinion, who are better prepared to steer us in the right direction. I advise you to read their answers and go to their web sites (I will attempt to find them for each candidate). This is an important election! Make sure to check their backgrounds (work experience, education, community involvement, etc.) and make an educated choice when you head to the polls on February 1, 2011.
APS Board District 2 Q&A
1. New Mexico schools face a budget crisis that could result in a reduction of more than $40 million in APS’ budget next year. Given that less than 1 percent of the APS budget is central administration, what school-based cuts would you make and what other measures would you take to balance the budget?
2. Please give APS Superintendent Winston Brooks a letter grade, and explain.
3. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?
4. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?
5. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, or any misdemeanor or felony?
John D. Herrera
(Could not find a web site)
AGE: 66.
EDUCATION: University of Albuquerque, bachelor’s in health, physical education and recreation; Highlands University, master’s in counseling and guidance; education specialist, University of New Mexico; curriculum and instruction at New Mexico State University
OCCUPATION: 43 years in education, 39 of which were with APS.
FAMILY: None listed.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: President Chaparral PTA, first West Mesa Track, I-40/Coors Committee.
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: None listed.
1. Reduce high-level administrators and place them in classrooms. Superintendent and associates’ salaries in line with city and county. Examine car take-home policy. Proactive maintenance and efficiency. Improve security and safety. Build energy-efficient schools.
2. Winston Brooks should be graded according to the decisions he makes, 1.2 GPA = D. Fs for Rio Grande problems, La Cueva football coaches, Ruby Etheridge demotion, administrator raises. $20,000 budget loss.
3. No.
4. No.
5. No, thank God!
Katherine Korte http://www.kathy4kids.com/
AGE: 40
EDUCATION: University of Texas-El Paso, bachelor’s in journalism.
OCCUPATION: Regional elections coordinator.
FAMILY: Married to Tim Korte. Four children. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Parishioner, St. Joseph on the Rio Grande; Chamiza and LBJ PTAs ; Rancho Sereno Neighborhood Association.
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: None.
1. APS’ first quarter FY2011 operational budget comprises 11 percent of the roughly $5.8 billion state budget. That’s $628.9 million. Before cutting, we need a full accounting of APS expenditures. I support a districtwide independent audit.
2. C+. Praise: No-tolerance policies regarding employees who violate our trust. Frown: A perceived glass wall of public relations and top administrators who shield Brooks from the public he serves. More transparency and access is needed.
3. No.
4. No.
5. No.
Felix Nuñez Jr. (Could not find a web site)
AGE: 38
EDUCATION: Graduate of Albuquerque High and APS middle and elementary schools; finishing bachelor’s of science at University of Phoenix.
OCCUPATION: State of New Mexico law enforcement officer
FAMILY: Married with children
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Coaching several sports; board member and parent volunteer in various sports and activities at my students’ schools; religious education teacher; director of Junior Metro Law Enforcement Program; Certified Instructor for the state of New Mexico.
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: Candidate for Bernalillo County sheriff in 2010 Democratic primary; 18 years of budget and board relations within the local and state government. 1. I strongly believe in looking into all aspects/departments in APS to see how they are run and what it takes to run them. The core issue for me is to “Have the best interest of the West Side Students/Schools†in mind.
2. (B-) I think Superintendent Brooks has just begun to chip away at the brick wall in order to get to the core issues and concerns in our school district.
3. No, I have not.
4. No, I have not.
5. No, I have not.
Peter Sanchez http://www.sanchez4apsboard.com/
AGE: 49
EDUCATION: Navajo Elementary, Polk Middle and Rio Grande High; bachelor’s degree in business administration, UNM; law degree, University of Houston Law Center.
OCCUPATION: CEO of Atrisco Companies, which are composed of five separate companies: the Rio Grande Educational Collaborative, Atrisco Heritage Foundation, El Campo Santo Inc., Atrisco Oil and Gas LLC and Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque.
FAMILY: Wife, Claudia; three children, Max, 12, Sophia, 8 and Beliza, 5.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Chairman of the Board National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation; board member Golden Apple Foundation; board member Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce; advisory board member of the New Mexico Hispanic Youth Institute; advisory board member for the Center for Non Profit Excellence, an affiliate organization of the United Way of Central New Mexico.
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: No previous political experience.
1. There is an additional 35 percent of the APS budget that can be targeted (e.g. Central Services, M&O, etc.) before cutting from areas affecting direct instruction. As a last resort, we would cut from the classroom.
2. I would like to grade Superintendent Brooks in three key areas using an assessment parents and educators understand. 1. Valuing Academic Excellence: Nearing Proficiency 2. Organizational and Community Relations: Emerging Learner Operational and Fiscal Management: Not Proficient.
3. No.
4. No.
5. No.
Greg Snyder
AGE: 25
EDUCATION: University of New Mexico, bachelor’s in business administration
OCCUPATION: Work for a construction company.
FAMILY: Married. No children.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: We serve the community at church, leading a student Bible study.
POLITICAL/ GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: None listed.
1. One key to balancing the budget is efficiency. Cost savings should be rewarded, not penalized in the next budget. Technology is overused and should be cut. Attrition and hiring freezes need to be furthered.
2. “A-†There is still a lot work to be done, but Mr. Brooks has worked to improve accountability, such as removing the principal at Rio Grande. I prefer him as superintendent (over) his recent predecessors.
3. No, I have always paid my taxes on time and in full.
4. No, I have kept my personal finances in order such that I meet all of my obligations.
5. I have never been arrested or detained for any reason. The extent of my interaction with the law is limited to minor traffic violations, such as low speeding violations and as a teen, careless driving.
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