One incumbent, Hydra Mendoza, clearly deserves another term. As education adviser to Mayor Gavin Newsom, Mendoza has helped bridge the working relationship between the school district and City Hall.
Mendoza, parent of two public-school students, blends a deep policy background with a practical sense of how district actions play in the classroom. She has been a positive force on a board that has become notably more collegial and effective in the past few years.
The other incumbent in the race, Kim-Shree Maufas, does not merit re-election. Her use of district credit cards for personal use showed a disturbing lack of regard for accountability with public funds. Even though she eventually paid back the charges for personal purchases, her actions led the district to tighten its policy on use of credit cards.
Margaret Brodkin, the city's pre-eminent advocate for children's issues, would bring a wealth of government and business connections to the board. She is as forceful and effective as anyone in this city when it comes to pushing a cause. Even when we have disagreed with her decidedly expansive view of government's role as regulator and provider, we respect the research and passion she puts into her positions - and her zest for vigorous public debate. Her presence on the board would be an enormous asset to San Francisco schools.
The final endorsement is a close call. Two of the candidates, Emily Murase and Omar Khalif, received our endorsement in a past run for the board. Each has children in the city's public schools and has done impressive volunteer work to benefit education. Bill Barnes, a veteran legislative aide at City Hall and in Sacramento, showed a refreshing willingness to challenge union dogma on issues such as teacher evaluations.
Natasha Hoehn, a Yale University graduate and former middle school teacher who now works in the nonprofit education reform movement, would provide the board with strong policy credentials and an eagerness to push ideas that have proved effective elsewhere. Her grasp of the issues and determination to "focus on student outcomes" instead of process would make her a welcome addition to a board that has been working well with Superintendent Carlos Garcia to upgrade performance and accountability.
Mendoza, Brodkin and Hoehn get our endorsement in the Nov. 2 election.
For more election-related news and information, visit our California Elections 2010 page.
This article appeared on page A - 13 of the San Francisco Chronicle
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