r/VoteDEM • u/jaurigue4schoolboard New Mexico • 3d ago

Please help me win my district's School Board election. Advice is more than welcome.

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I know this is a long shot, and I hate burdening others with my needs, but you all were so supportive on my last election. I'm running for my districts school board seat in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

I was confident in my chances and my campaign, but the local republican party is firing up a smear campaign calling into question my first term, as well as test scores. They have gone as far as asking one of the other 2 candidates to drop out to not split the republican ticket (even though it's supposed to be a non-partisan race). I only know this because that one called me in anger and frustration that they would ask her that. The local republican party has started "asking questions" about my past service and accusing me of tanking our districts test scores. I'm unsure on if I should bother responding or just let it slide and get my message out there again but I'm leaning towards not responding.

I'm very proud of my first term. We have expanded resources to students who don't fall into the typical model of "success" in our educational system. We are still the top district in our state, but have expanded options for students who are into things beyond the mainstream educational classes. Music, art, sports, trades, military service, these have all been supported and shored up in my time on the board. I’m most proud of us re-assessing our strategic plan and expanding on what “academic success” means.  Our town places a very high level of importance on science, math, or anything in the STEM pipeline.  But we promoted the fact that as long as our schools can provide something that excites the students thirst for knowledge, and it leads to some form of success after school, they achieved academic success.  If a kid joins the band, falls in love with music and makes a life with music after highschool…SUCCESS!  If they love shop class and go on to become a mechanic…SUCCESS!  Beyond that, I promoted a very high level of transparency.

Going further than just re-assessing what academic success means, I was a constant advocate for our district by regularly attending hearings at the state capitol and advocated for increased funding for our infrastructure and for state funded breakfast and lunch in our schools.

Included is my flyer that I've created for any feedback. I haven't printed them yet, but plan to and walk my district in the next few weeks before early voting starts. I'm hoping for some donations (HERE IS MY ActBlue link), or constructive criticism in how to win the election.

 

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9

u/braintornado_16 3d ago

Have you reached out to orgs like Run for Something that advise candidates?

6

u/jaurigue4schoolboard New Mexico 3d ago

I haven't. I will do that as well. Its weird because I killed it in the last election, but now I feel like I'm new to it all again, second guessing my flyer, my signs, whether I should respond to online hate/questions. Thanks for the tip.

3

u/braintornado_16 2d ago

Good luck!