Chris Van Vechten for School Board, Position #2

With just 11 days left before voting ends, garnering endorsements is hardly at the top of my “to-do-list.”  But today, one seemingly fell into my lap.  I was out reinforcing our yard sign presence in South and West Tacoma when former Fircrest Mayor David Viafore pulled over.  He said he’d been watching my campaign and was excited to have, in his words, “someone with the courage to start a meaningful dialogue” in the race for our school board.  He gave me his endorsement, and left with a yard sign in his van.    

Today, we learned of our latest endorsement, the Tacoma Federation of ParaEducators (AFT local 461).  This 600 strong organization is a welcome addition to our growing list of supporters.  I look forward to working with our para members and leadership in the months to come on issues related to displacement, healthcare coverage, and more. 

Dear Friends,

Last night, I had the opportunity to sit down with my five opponents as well as representatives of the League of Women Voters and the University of Washington’s Urban Government program for a recorded candidate forum that will be broadcast over TV Tacoma in the coming weeks.  While one hour is hardly enough time to weight all the issues and fully gain a perspective on what this race means for the Tacoma School District, I do hope visitors to this website take the time to view it.  I was universally impressed by my opponent’s breadth of knowledge and experience and only wish we all had been awarded more time to expound on our ideas.     

While the forum was recorded inside TV Tacoma studios, outside between 6-8 supporters of our campaign waved signs and cheered at passing motorists off Martin Luther King Jr Way.  The commitment of our volunteers continues to inspire me as I continue to campaign for your vote.  For too long, too many have felt detached from the system that forms the very foundation of our society.  It’s time for all of us to step up and demand a change from the tired rhetoric and reasoning that has dominated the politics of public education for my entire life.  It’s time for all of us to “step up to the plate” and demand to be more than recipients of the system.

Though State Senator Steve Hobbs (Democrat, Lake Stevens) and I have disagreed in the past over issues related to public funding for the arts and the role of arts commissions in the community; one thing we do agree on is that for too long schools districts across our state failed to make  career and technical education a priority.  In 2008, Hobbs prime sponsored and passed SB6377  which then Superintendent of Public Instruction, Terry Bergeson, called “a watershed” for CTE.  

I had the opportunity to serve as Senator Hobbs’ session aide in Olympia that year.  I am proud to have his endorsement and look forward to working with him again – this time as a representative of the Tacoma School District.

Title: Tacoma School District Director Position 2, Candidate Forum
Location: 1224 So. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Description: TV Tacoma is partnering with the League of Women Voters and the University of Washington Urban Government course to produce a Candidate Forum television program to better educate and inform our viewers about the upcoming election.

The taping time for all candidates who have filed for the office of Tacoma School District Director Position 2 is on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 5:45pm to 6:45pm. The location will be at the TV Tacoma studio on South 13th and Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Tacoma (1224 So. Martin Luther King Jr. Way).
Start Time: 17:45
Date: 2009-07-15
End Time: 18:45

The Young Democrats is a sub-faction of the national Democratic Party which internally promotes issues that face Americans under the age of 36.  Yesterday I received the sole endorsement of the Pierce County Chapter of the YD.  To say I value this endorsement would be an understatement.  In the context of this race, the YD’s seal of approval is significant because no other faction of the Democratic Party is more in touch with the struggles students and recent graduates face than the YD.  

I look forward to working with the YD in the weeks to come as our campaign moves forward to victory.  

JohnMark Taylor, (Valedictorian, Curtis High – class of 2009) is a 4.0 student who nearly scored a perfect SAT.  An accomplished violist, he recently received a full ride to Yale University, which he plans to attend this August.  But not before first spending the rest of June and July door belling for our campaign.  

I am honored to have JohnMark’s support and look forward to working with him on developing a recession-proof commitment to arts/athletic programs, expanding existing financial literacy/economics classes, implementing healthier alternatives into our schools’ lunch programs and generally improving the overall educational experience of our parents, teachers and students.

From “All-Star Grads: An Inspiration to Everybody.”  Tacoma News Tribune; 6/14/2009.

JOHNMARK TAYLOR

Curtis High School

Parents: Ross Taylor and Pamela Norris-Taylor

Residence: University Place

GPA: 4.0

To challenge himself, JohnMark took Advanced Placement tests for calculus and European history. He earned top scores on both and didn’t take a class to prepare for either.

It’s an example of his intelligence, dedication and potential.

The lifelong University Place resident has maintained a perfect GPA with a schedule heavy with advanced courses. At times, he says, his family suggested he not overload his schedule, but he did it anyway.

He also was captain of Curtis’ Knowledge Bowl and Math teams, leading both to the state finals last year.

JohnMark balances his life with activities outside the classroom. He’s played viola for the Tacoma Youth Symphony for seven years. He learned to play the instrument at 4 years old with the help of his grandmother.

“I couldn’t imagine my life without music and having been exposed to classical music,” he said.

Now he has a problem most students would gladly welcome: All of his hard work has left him with plenty of career options.

“There’s so many doors opening, I don’t know which one to pick,” he said.

We’ve just received word that I am to receive the sole endorsement of the Progressive Party of Washington State.   

History buffs may recall the Progressive Party (also known as the Bull Moose Party).  It was formed in 1912 after former president, Teddy Roosevelt, was snubbed by GOP bosses at the 1912 Chicago convention.  Refusing to back down, Roosevelt decided to “take a walk” and used  his unbridled energy to crush Republican candidate, William Howard Taft in the general election, thereby becoming the only third party candidate to come in second in a presidential election.  Roosevelt won many states as a Progressive (including Washington) and his party went on to elect 50 candidates to the State Legislature between 1913-1927.

While I am proud to now carry the Progressive Banner (as I am proud to also carry the Democrat (D) ) I am running for a non-partisan office and intend to serve in a non-partisan capacity.  The people I seek to represent are neither Democrats, Republicans, nor even Progressives.  They are mostly unregistered youth, enrolled in our schools, yet largely detached from the decisions that shape their world.  My hope is that I can speak on their behalf, not that of any party, as I go forward in this race.

Former School Board Director, Dick Sonntag, passed away on Sunday (Father’s Day).  Like his brother, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, Dick was a passionate champion for transparency and for extracurricular activities that motivate students to succeed.  His wife Allison even served on the Pierce County Arts Commission.   

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dick this past August to discuss the future of Tacoma Schools for The Melon.  It was one of only three times we talked, but he struck me as very generous and compassionate.

The interview is available here. 

On behalf of The Melon and the Pierce County Arts Commission, I would like to thank Mr. Sonntag for his service.