In Piedmont’s upcoming election, there are two open seats for School Board and three for City Council. The candidates getting my votes are those who are most experienced, thoughtful, and collaborative.
Having served on our School Board for the last six years, currently as its president, I’ve found that — while members each bring different perspectives and talents — the most effective members are those who collaborate and work well with others.
To be successful, members need to learn about the issues by listening carefully, asking questions and talking with stakeholders. But the true key to success is working as a governance team. If a member comes into the role thinking they have all the answers, or they can do this alone, they will not be effective.
In the School Board race, I am supporting Ruchi Medhekar and Lindsay Thomasson. They both have been engaged with school issues for several years. Serving as parent club presidents during the height of the pandemic gave them each a deep understanding of the issues the district faces and the complexity of balancing stakeholder interests. But what has impressed me more than their volunteerism is their willingness to learn and collaborate to develop solutions.
For City Council, I am supporting Betsy Andersen, Jennifer Long, and Tom Ramsey. These three candidates have experience, either from serving on Council, or serving on our Planning Commission, and will strengthen our community’s strong foundation. They are currently doing the hard work, and moreover understand how to work with their peers to get things done.
Please join me in voting for these five candidates who have the experience, engagement and collaborative spirit that Piedmont needs.