Racial Tension in the Monona School District

Last night I sat in on the School Board meeting and listened to Charlie Ellis plead with the Board to take action on the abuses that some of the students in this District are dealing with at the hand of other students. I was in absolute awe as I listened to him speak about a student throwing a half stick of dynamite on another student's porch "just for fun". My stomach lurched as he told the tale of a young girl being cornered in a parking lot and how it has traumatized her. Racial slurs; threats of bodily harm; students wandering around armed... This is unacceptable and I hope that the Board takes swift action to impose a no tolerance policy of this behavior. These activities all fall under the same umbrella - bullying - and it is unacceptable at our schools. The right a student has to feel safe at school is non-negotiable. Period.

Post-election ponderings.

Well, the fervor of the campaign is over and I have taken some time to reflect. While I am dissappointed with the outcome, I am not dissappointed in the race I ran. I appreciate all the help I received from so many amazing people. It is a bit humbling to have so many people support me! It was equally humbling to receive the many, many phone calls, emails and posts on Facebook telling me how they wished I would have won and, most importantly and inspiring - don't quit. And so I won't. The issues didn't die with the election and there is work to be done. There is work to be done.

Forward!!!

The Flyer Heard Round The World!!

Well, the blogosphere is buzzing today! Who knew a Get Out The Vote Flyer could cause such a commotion! And the Monona Rag! Jeesh!! I am the candidate not to vote for because I tout saving programming and teachers...bad candidate...bad! I am absolutely amazed at the time some people have on their hands to worry and fret over some of this stuff. I, personally, spent the better part of the morning and afternoon with my kids and enjoyed the sunshine - and left over chocolate from Easter. It was great.

We are nearing the last 24 hours of this campaign and I just wanted to say thank you for those of you who took the time to call me, email or meet with me. That has by far been the most rewarding part of my campaign. Win or lose tomorrow, I have learned even more about the people of this school district and that has been worth the journey! Talking about actual issues has been so worth while. Whether we agree or agree to disagree, getting to know each other and being able to get in each others shoes and see the view from the other side is a huge step in the right direction.

Now, time to wrap it up and get to the polls! Don't forget to vote tomorrow! If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!

See you at the polls!

And so the mudslinging commences....

I have tried so hard to run a clean campaign, but I am not sure how I can compete with the attacks that are being made. This morning I received a phone call from Susan Fox telling me that a Get Out The Vote flyer that was sent out by the PTO was against board policy. Hmmmm..... Doesn't the PTO govern itself? And how is a get out the vote flyer inappropriate? Do we not want people to vote? Another report I got today was that Susan Fox and Susan Manning implied that my literature was not to be dropped with Monona City Council candidate literature. Seriously? Threatening volunteers who are dropping information that they had best think about aligning themselves with a person from Cottage Grove? Is this the standard of conduct we expect from people? This is OK???? Turning a get out the vote flyer into a divisive tool that is used to suit their own purpose? Wow. Apparently the bridge building that is being claimed to be done is only lip service. Unbelieveable. Apparently some people will do anything...anything at all....