Candidate Statements

2008 Primary Election

David Blomstrom

Blomstrom vs The Seattle Mafia
5011 Brooklyn NE Apt 3
Seattle, WA 98105
http://www.seattle-mafia.org/

Biographical Information

Education: Western Washington University/Huxley and University of Alaska at Fairbanks; BS in Ecology

Significant Career Experience: Worked for the Seattle School District for 16 years (mostly teaching), followed by political activism, including two previous bids for this office

Candidate Statement

Viva Chavez! No, I haven’t lost my mind - just my profession (teaching) and students.* Disgusted by voter apathy, I’m trying to tap into the energy generated by Venezuela’s president. Hugo Chavez has some good ideas, too - like holding corrupt corporations accountable and nationalizing strategic industries. In fact, public education’s biggest problem is corporate corruption, the de facto privatization of our schools. Yet the media have once again turned this race into a forum on the WASL - which I’ve fought for over a decade. So why do the media ignore and even lie about me? This race has also been dominated by corrupt teachers unions, another scourge I’ve been attacking for over a decade. This isn’t a tea party, folks. We’re at war with our own government, with Corporate America, and we’re getting our butts kicked, liberals, conservatives and independents alike. Well, I’m not afraid to fight. I’m even attacking Bill Gates, right in his home town. I don’t respect software terrorists who exploit children. How can we take back America if we can’t even rescue our local schools? *www.seattle-mafia.org - Information, blogs, forums, polls, news.

Teresa (Terry) Bergeson

Dr. Teresa “Terry” Bergeson
PO Box 11910
Olympia, WA 98508
(360) 539-4792
Terry@TerryBergeson2008.com
http://www.TerryBergeson2008.com

Biographical Information

Current Occupation/Employer: State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Education: B.A. in English from Emmanuel College, Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance from Western Michigan University, Doctorate in Education from the University of Washington.

Significant Career Experience: Dr. Bergeson is a former classroom teacher, school counselor, school district administrator and Executive Director of the Washington State Commission on Student Learning.

Candidate Statement

Dr. Teresa “Terry” Bergeson is a lifelong educator who has devoted her career to helping students achieve academic excellence. She cares deeply about our children and has worked tirelessly to ensure our public schools work for our students.

Today Washington leads the nation in accountability with some of the most rigorous academic standards in the U.S. Terry Bergeson led the effort to adopt these standards, and continues to strongly support them.

We know that high standards are working. In June, more than 91% of the Class of 2008 met new graduation requirements in reading and writing. Washington leads the nation in SAT scores. Academic achievement for students in all ethnic groups has improved significantly. More career and technical opportunities are available.

Just as important, Terry’s courageous leadership has helped create schools that pay more personal attention to every single student. She believes every child can meet high expectations with the right amount of support, and she’s a partner with our schools to make that happen.

Vote for Terry Bergeson to protect Washington’s high standards, and help all of our children build strong foundations for their future.

Terry Bergeson for Superintendent of Public Instruction: for students, for teachers, for the future.

John Patterson Blair

John Blair for SPI
26410 Vashon Highway SW
Vashon , WA 98070-8321
(206) 391-8780
JohnBlair2008@centurytel.net
http://www.JohnBlair2008.org

Biographical Information

Current Occupation/Employer: Owner, Thermal Control Inc. (HVAC&R Service Company)

Education: Haverford College, BA Sociology; Temple University, Masters Science Education

Elected Experience: Vashon School Board 2000-04

Family: Married 38 years, two daughters, and two granddaughters

Significant Career Experience: High School Science Teacher 1969-77; Developed and taught a high school Special Education to mainstream Science transition curriculum 1970 –72; Union negotiator 1970-72; A founding and participating teacher, Cinnaminson (NJ) Alternative High School (170 students) 1972-76 ; A founding and participating parent, Vashon (WA) Parent Involvement Program Alternative Elementary School (40 students) 1983-90; Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction 2004, finished 3rd of 6 candidates, 92,000 votes, 9% of the vote statewide.

Candidate Statement

Every family should have the right, the opportunity and funds to individualize the public education for each of their own children. Therefore, I propose a Public Education System, parallel to the existing Public School System, consisting of:

Voluntary Individual Student Trust Accounts, created and funded annually using each student’s existing $9000 state education voucher. With approval, each student’s parents may spend these accumulating funds at the registered Public Education Program(s) of their choice. A registered Public Education Program would be any educational program, regardless of ownership, which: accepts only trust funds as tuition, i.e. “free”; fills at least 80% of its openings without admission qualification, i.e. “open enrollment”; permits no organized devotional instruction or activities; and publishes measurable educational and behavioral goals for its students, students not achieving these goals may be dismissed by the program.

Neighborhood Education Districts, staffed by three locally elected trustees, who oversee the public educational progress of 50 to 200 participating students. The trustees must approve parental Education Program choices for students passing applicable WASL tests.

Community Facility Districts which own, operate and maintain public buildings. Life cycle maintenance funds will be included in the original bond funding.

If you agree, vote for John Blair.

Randy Dorn

People for Randy Dorn
PO Box 906
Auburn, WA 98071
(253) 833-9253
randy@randydorn2008.com
http://www.randydorn2008.com

Biographical Information

Current Occupation/Employer: Executive Director, Public School Employees of Washington

Education: M.A. Education, Pacific Lutheran University, 1980; B.A. Education, University of Idaho, 1975

Elected Experience: Seven years in State House of Representatives; Chairman of House Education Committee

Family: Lives in Eatonville with his wife, Kate, a public school librarian. They are the parents of three grown sons, one is a public school teacher, while another is studying to be a teacher.

Significant Career Experience: Elementary and Middle School teacher; Elementary and High School principal; Recipient: • National Service Award – American Vocational Association • President’s Award – Association of Washington School Principals • Golden Gavel Award – Washington Association of School Administrators

Candidate Statement

Terry Bergeson has had 12 years to bring reform and change to our schools. Where are we after 12 years? Still studying how to fund basic education. Still arguing about how to implement education reform. It’s time for a change!

The Superintendent of Public Instruction needs to be an experienced educator and a political leader. Randy Dorn is both.

Randy was an elementary and middle school teacher and, for 10 years, an elementary and high school principal. Randy Dorn knows the classroom.

But Randy Dorn also knows how to get things done in Olympia. Randy served seven years in the House of Representatives and was Chairman of the Education Committee. Today, he is the Executive Director of Public School Employees of Washington, the state’s second largest educational employee organization.

Randy Dorn will be a forceful advocate for school funding, reminding the legislature it is their paramount duty to fully fund a basic education rather than relying on local levies.

And Randy Dorn will replace the WASL with a testing system that is more fair, more understandable, and takes less time, so testing doesn’t dominate curriculum and the school calendar.

It’s time for Randy Dorn. Leadership… for a change.

Enid Duncan

Commitee to Elect Enid Duncan State Superintendent of Public Instruction
900 Meridian Avenue East #19-427
Milton, WA 98354
(253) 334-0296
EnidDuncan@aol.com

Biographical Information

Current Occupation/Employer: CEO, Higrade Company, Edgewood, WA

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Pacific Lutheran University and Masters of Education, Goddard College, Vermont

Elected Experience: City Council Member, City of Edgewood

Family: Married with three children

Significant Career Experience: Worked to help define and pass Dyslexia Pilot Program bill, former Pierce County Arts Commissioner, taught ECEAP/AVANZA early intervention program, featured in 1994 Washington CEO Magazine, worked for former First Lady of Costa Rica

Candidate Statement

I am running because I believe the original goals of education reform have been abandoned by the current superintendent. I am committed to restoring the original goals of improving student performance and supporting quality instruction for all students. Each student is unique. I will uphold the standards and demand accountability for teaching and learning but will also work to include a variety of appropriate tools and opportunities for graduating students to demonstrate their abilities to pursue their life goals. I will go to Olympia to free us from the WASL obsession of the incumbent. I will work hard for all students in our state to insure every learning opportunity is afforded to them. Addressing learning differences (learning disabilities) are a priority for me. I will always be a champion for the rights of parents to be involved in every aspect of their child’s education. I believe very strongly in fiscal responsibility and have a reputation for maximizing taxpayer’s value. I want teachers to get the training and tools to provide the best education possible for all students. If you feel we can do better than we are in providing education to the children of Washington, please support me.

Don Hansler

Hansler for SPI
22711 66th Avenue Court E
Spanaway, WA 98387
(253) 846-3354
donhansler1@aol.com

Biographical Information

Current Occupation/Employer: Retired; volunteer teacher for 16 classes in 7 different schools each week.

Education: B.S. in Fisheries, M.S. in Fisheries, and Teaching Certificate, all from the University of Washington.

Family: Married to Marge Keister Hansler since 1958. Three daughters and 6 grandchildren.

Significant Career Experience: Teacher of science and math for 13 years. Supervisor of the science program for 32 Bellevue schools for 12 years. Adjunct instructor for Seattle Pacific University since 1986. Published a 417-page college textbook on methods of teaching thinking skills. Served on numerous advisory boards in Issaquah Schools and served as district levy chairman.

Candidate Statement

I have the characteristics that are essential for a Superintendent of Public Instruction who can lead this state into becoming a place where everyone has the opportunity for a good education. I recognize the need for significant changes in our state educational system in order to make it more “user-friendly” – for students, teachers, and parents. Some of the major changes that I will advocate during my term in office are the following: 1. Bonuses for teachers who are rated to be outstanding by parents of students. 2. Full state funding of K-12 education, accompanied by a ban on special levies for operations. 3. Establishment of a two-level high school diploma system: basic and advanced. 4. Revision of the WASL program, in order to eliminate some important flaws that it has. 5. Promotion of the methods of teaching that will improve students’ thinking skills. Details of these changes and others that I will pursue are presented in my 3-page official campaign statement, which can be obtained by e-mailing me your US mail address at: donhansler1@aol.com.

Can’t afford to donate money to my campaign? No problem! You can join the team by simply visiting Urban Dictionary > Seattle Mafia and clicking the yellow thumbs up icon , indicating you agree with my definition. Doing so will help publicize the fact that there IS a Seattle Mafia. If you’re working for the Seattle Mafia and want to click the thumbs down icon , that’s fine, too. Either way, you’re helping my campaign. :)

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