Thursday, October 28, 2010

School board candidates in two heated races - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com

School board candidates in two heated races - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com

CAMPAIGN 2010 | MIAMI-DADE SCHOOL BOARD

School board candidates in two heated races

Two seats on the Miami-Dade School Board are up for grabs in the November election.

BY KATHLEEN MCGRORY

KMCGRORY@MIAMIHERALD.COM

The stakes are high in the two remaining races for Miami-Dade School Board.

In District 2, which covers much of Miami's urban core, the winning candidate will be tasked with improving the long-struggling inner-city schools.

Vying for the job: former state Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall and school district administrator Ronda A. Vangates.

In District 7, which includes Southwest Miami-Dade, the voters want teacher salaries increased and classrooms spared from further budget cuts. The candidates: political consultant Carlos Curbelo and former Miami-Dade School Board assistant Libby Perez.

Because no one in either race won more than half the votes cast in the August election, the candidates are heading to a run-off election Nov. 2.

The four School Board hopefuls have vastly different backgrounds and campaigning styles. But observers agree, in this topsy-turvy election cycle, anybody could win.

In District 2, both candidates have extensive education experience.

Bendross-Mindingall, 68, holds an education degree from Tuskegee University. She served a long tenure as principal of Lillie C. Evans Elementary in Liberty City before running for elected office.

Vangates, 39, an attorney, is a top administrator in the district's curriculum and instruction department. She also has a background in public policy, having worked for former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo and the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners.

The two women had a close finish in the August election. Among five candidates, Bendross-Mindingall captured about 30 percent of the vote, Vangates about 25 percent.

Both have raised about $130,000. And each has a trump card. For Vangates, it's the support of outgoing School Board member Solomon Stinson and his powerful political machine. For Bendross-Mindingall, its the endorsement of the Miami-Dade teachers' union.

If elected, Bendross-Mindingall said she would put her legislative experience to work. Among her top priorities: fighting for more money from Tallahassee to account for the high cost of living in Miami-Dade County.

That money, she said, could help boost teacher salaries. ``I plan to be the district's best lobbyist. I know the people [in Tallahassee]. I know what they expect. I can get the job done.''

Bendross-Mindingall also wants to address school safety and engage members of the business and faith-based communities.

Vangates hopes to bring new opportunities to the children in District 2. To start, she wants International Baccalaureate programs, language-immersion programs and K-8 centers -- all of which have been successful in other parts of the district, but have little or no presence in the urban core.

``It's time we look at what programs are working in other schools and bring those programs to District 2,'' Vangates said.

Vangates' other priorities include making the school system more accessible to parents. She'll start by making herself accessible and listening to parent concerns, she said.

In 2006, Vangates was involved in the alleged coverup of criminal charges made against a Northwestern High football player before a big game. As head of the school district's investigative unit, she stopped a police probe into the matter; she later said she was unaware the investigation was criminal and believed it was duplicating an administrative review already under way. Vangates was never charged.

In District 7, Curbelo and Perez are vying to finish the two years remaining in board member Ana Rivas Logan's term. Logan is leaving the board to run for the state House of Representatives.

Perez, 45, is a former assistant to School Board member Marta Pérez, to whom she is not related. She has also been a member of the Ferguson Senior High PTSA and a volunteer on the district's Ethics Advisory Council.

Curbelo, 30, is a top staffer to U.S. Sen. George LeMieux. Before that, he founded and ran a public and media relations firm.

Curbelo has raised more than $225,000 -- nearly 10 times more than Perez. His contributors include teachers, local businesses, law firms, political action committees and lobbyists.

Perez describes her campaign as a grassroots effort led by parents and teachers.

If the August election is any indication, Curbelo is the clear favorite. Among five candidates, he won a commanding 40 percent of the vote. Perez finished second with 19 percent. Fewer than 100 votes separated her from school uniform entrepreneur Eddy Barea, who came in third.

Perez says her priorities are protecting arts and music programs, increasing teacher pay and making sure individual students get more attention and support. She also hopes to give parents a stronger voice in schools and on the School Board.

``Many parents feel that they go to the school and whatever concerns they have are not addressed,'' Perez said. ``I want parents and taxpayers to feel they are part of the decision-making process.''

For Curbelo, the most critical issue facing the school district is funding. He wants to secure additional dollars from Tallahassee for Miami-Dade's public schools.

``We're asking for what is fair,'' he said, noting that the cost of living in Miami-Dade is higher than in most other counties.

Curbelo also supports cutting district bureaucracy and giving pay raises to teachers.

``If we pay teachers more, we're going to attract a high quality of people. . . and keep them,'' said Curbelo, who is endorsed by the teachers' union.

Five of the nine seats on the School Board were up for grabs this year.

Three have already been filled:

• Marta Pérez was automatically reelected when nobody ran against her.

• Veteran board member Perla Tabares Hantman fended off a challenge from Assistant Principal Manny Diaz Jr. in the August election by winning more than 50 percent of the vote.

• Attorney Raquel Regalado, the daughter of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, was elected to represent Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and Little Havana, beating out four other candidates. Like Hantman, Regalado won more than 50 percent of the votes in August.

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  • First of all, the Herald is full of it with so-called unbiased reporting, always slamming Vangates in the end. Vangates is clearly the better candidate. And when it comes to lawmaking, you can be a legislator for 20 years and bring home nothing! Or in the case of Miningall, ten years in Tallahassee only to bring home a social program to compete with the dozens of already strugling ones that exist - Thanks a lot. In an atmosphere of change, the anti-incumbent movement is strong. Mindingall's, Ms. Establishment/status-quo herself winning is like voting for the same ole thing. I got Vangates. Its time for a change.
  • UKnoe, are you serious??? How could Vangates be the better candidate when she clearly has no legislative experience and her involvement in that salacious scandal three years ago should have sent her to jail? She is a licensed attorney who played politics with a child's life and education. How could she be the better candidate when she didn't have the "cajones" to properly represent this urban district in a leadership capacity in 2007. It is insane to me how ignorant voters in this county join the political bandwagon of foolishness. She may seem like a better candidate to you because of Stinson and uninformed voters are only voting for her because of it. This is sickening, Uknoe!! Your judgment is about as bad as Vangates decision to stop an investigation into the alleged rape of a young girl.
  • Vangates is the better candidate because she understands the needs of the community she intends to serve. Ms Mindingall's ideas about education are antiquated and pander to UTD. Vangates has offered substantive options and seeks to provide educational equity to the entire District. Mindignall simply sounds UTD's 'teacher raise' bell... It takes 'cajones' to say 'whats good for one segment is good for all'; that is Ms. Vangates' position. Other than 'more money for teachers', what does Mindigall stand for?
  • I ABSOLUTELY AGREE!!! The Herald has shown itself to be completely devoid of fairness when it comes to the reporting of the District 2 race. Both candidates deserve respect.
  • This school board needs highly professional and experienced governance and not the run of the mill politico's it usually attracts! Have any of you readers ever listened to the school board meetings on the radio? Pathetic is not the word, sad is the operative word. If you listen closely, the unions waste your time with their bantering then others waltz up there for the rah-rah kudos and back patting which is meaningless. The bottom line is; the students are not being properly represented and the education is 3rd rate! When will we as a society place higher values for funding proper educations? When will politics and back room deals stop and place the kids first? From the needs to offer Physical Education, nutritional foods at lunch and bully/drug free surroundings finally to raising the bar with higher education. It will be a better day when this all happens but then again, it wont.
  • fberrizbeitia 10/26/2010 12:18 PM
    IN DISTRICT 7, the disparity in funding is obviously favoring the Republican 'Tea Party' candidate Carlos CURBELO. He is in favor of increasing the class sizes and has gone on record approving Amendment 8 in clear opposition to both the editorial position of the Herald and the Teachers Union. I also heard him say on a radio talk show where he is a regular guest that the Tallahassee Politicians have indeed complied and funded the "paramount duty" to Education as required by our Florida Constitution. If that were the case, why is our own Superintendent CARVALHO thinking of suing the State for not doing its constitutional duty?. Mr. CURBELO does not have any children in our Public school system nor did he attend a Public School as far as I know. Why are the Herald and the Teachers Union endorsing him if not because of the backing of the Big Political Guns? I value your judgment and the Editorial integrity of this local Paper. Again, why is the HERALD endorsing this fellow? Is it because his knowledge of the Political machinery in Tallahassee that this will result in benefits to our school Board as you seem to imply?
  • Very well said. If Curbelo had a child in our public schools he'd know that there's no way that Tallahassee politicians adequately funded education. I asked him why other counties in Florida get more per pupil funding than Miami-Dade and he was completely lost for an answer. He's probably looking to practice on our school system before he runs for something else. No way is he school board material.
  • ConcernedMIA 10/26/2010 02:20 PM
    Anyone who takes the time to review the cnadidates background for Dist 2 will see that it is a "no-brainer" for Bendross-Mindingall. Her whole career has been dedicated to education and children. She has taken responsibility and used her own ideas and innovations to get kids into the classroom and to get parents involved. Why would you take a risk with Vangates questionable background when there is a clear leader with a proven track record? If you speak w/ Ms. Bendross-Mindingall, you will be even more impressed and see that her heart is truly for the students...
  • Really? A 'no-brainer'? Obviously, you haven't paid attention to the school board meetings in several years! Mindignall wasn't interested until she decided to run for a position. If you had been watching, you would know that she didn't show up until recently! If YOU spoke with Ms. Vangates, you would be even more impressed and see that HER heart is truly for the students...
  • stricklyroots 10/26/2010 02:41 PM
    UKnoe, you're obviously a member of Vangates' campaign team. HOWEVER, my point is the reason we need an educator on the school board is because we need someone who'll focus on the needs of CHILDREN and EDUCATION. Your improper use of 'incumbent' is indicative of the need for a push in the educational excellence - incumbent means the person who is running for a seat which they ACTUALLY hold. With that being said, Ronda's BIGGEST supporter (which she doesn't even tout in public) is the person that SHE said has neglected the district that she wants to represent. Miami is the ONLY place in America where someone with her record be allowed to run for a seat where they'd be allowed to watch over children.


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/26/v-fullstory/1891141/school-board-candidates-in-two.html#disqus_thread#ixzz13g99YNRH

  • Someone with her record?! Did you vote for Bush (pick one, they're all the same)? They were criminals and yet, you allowed ALL of them to govern you for decades!!
  • In District 7, the ONLY choice for School Board is the PTA Mom, Libby Perez. I had the chance to talk to both Libby Perez and Carlos Curbelo outside the West Kendall early voting site. Perez really knows education, her children are in Miami-Dade Public Schools and she understands the perspectives of parents, teachers and administrators. She really knows where the inefficiencies are in the system. Curbelo just talked about new ideas, but couldn't really elaborate. But it's clear he's never sent a child to school. He does mention the UTD supports him, but he doesn't support their positions, including Amendment 8. I do know that all of the union teachers in my sons' schools are voting for Libby Perez. Even a steward told me that she's voting for Perez because Curbelo has no real understanding of educational issues.
  • VConnections21 10/26/2010 03:48 PM
    What I know for sure is that when people resort to baseless insults and impugning actions, it is often a desperate attempt to distract from the overwhelming value and outstanding abilities of the object of their attention and attacks.

    Apparently, Ronda Vangates’ vision that promotes academic excellence and multi-level educational substance is truly viable. Students, parents, educators, administrators and community citizens deserve School Board representation from someone who believes in their potential and has the character, competence & commitment to deliver the same.

    Thank you Atty. Vangates for your dignity and integrity. You show such honor by not stooping to the level of those who are obviously threatened by your ability to engage and enrich the learning experience and environment in Miami-Dade Public Schools.

    This time, District 2 voters will not be distracted or deceived. And we encourage you to draw inspiration from Lebron James’ new commercial…the empty chatter does not matter…”Just Do It!”

    Sending you and District 2 superabundant blessings for a November 2, 2010 great victory! Stay focused & prevail!!!
  • APPLE NATION!!!!
  • This Vangates woman is a joke. She covered up an investigation and got away with no jail time. She also got downright ghetto unfabulous at a Board meeting when she attempted to fight a man during the meeting. I hear she kicked off her $600.00 shoes in the process. This woman is a joke!!! She wants to be a School Board member? Now, I've heard EVERYTHING!!!


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