tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post7824779553319937338..comments2008-04-11T11:37:18.770-04:00dan reed!http://www.blogger.com/profile/10594208011755406956noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-61389404483963839442008-04-11T11:37:00.000-04:002008-04-11T11:37:00.000-04:00Navarro has a well financed PR machine running at full steam now. Just look at all the mailing pieces and signs, and look at the design work that has gone into them. This is a local race. Without exception, every politician who has taken significant contributions and support from special interests has remained beholden to them. The last thing we need is another UNION YES puppet on the Council. Somebody has to pay for all that - and it's US. In terms of results, under Ms. Navarro, test scores have declined (she recommended lowering the criteria for minority students to offset this in a candidate forum prior to the last BOE election) and expenditures have spiraled upward by....wait....can't see the books! Yet, Special Education programs have been recommended for cuts, Paint Branch High School's fire alarm system failed due to age and the Fire Marshal had to order a round the clock staff fire watch so that classes could be held, and my kids still have classes in trailers. We've seen what Ms. Navarro has to offer, and beyond the pleasant smile and demeanor, it's a failed leadership record. In fact, I hope she does leave the Board of Education so that MCPS isn't lead into receivership and doesn't lose even more of its performance edge. Is this what you or I want from a Councilmember?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-82794737986002486702008-04-02T09:02:00.000-04:002008-04-02T09:02:00.000-04:00Nancy is in the tough spot of having to defend her MCPS record. A careful review of her record and her interaction (or lack thereof) with local community and school activists paint a very clear picture of what Nancy is all about. She certainly is not the balanced leader that she claims to be and she certainly hasn't served the needs of all children during her tenure on the BOE. I repeatedly tried to get her attention on an important matter impacting my kid's school and she absolutely would not return emails or telephone calls. When I shared my experience with parents at other "upper middle income" MCPS schools, I heard similar "Nancy" stories from them. Seems that your only chance of getting Nancy's attention is if your kid's school profile is different from my kid's. Her selective attention to certain groups and income cohorts of the MCPS school population during her time on the BOE severely undermines her claim to be about representing all people in our diverse district. We need a leader for District 4 that can transcend race and income. I'm not sure who that person is, but I know it is not Nancy Navarro. <BR/><BR/>Note that I am not advocating for one of her opponents. So I hope none of the posters dismiss this as campaign spin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-41276310500787277742008-03-31T14:30:00.000-04:002008-03-31T14:30:00.000-04:00I think you'll find some feel that way about all of the candidates, actually. So to see it written out like this is amusing, because it smells like campaign spin to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-74706755072872910992008-03-31T13:29:00.000-04:002008-03-31T13:29:00.000-04:00Nancy seems like a very nice lady but if you ask parents who are active in the school system in District 4, you won't find too many that care for her. At least that is the case in my neighborhood. You'd think that she would have widespread support among parents of school aged kids, but she clearly doesn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-82576474522677452512008-03-30T13:48:00.000-04:002008-03-30T13:48:00.000-04:00Hey, I was up at the People's Community Church for the debate, and despite my best efforts, seem to remain <B>unnoticed</B>. I feel like a Republican or something. Oh, that's right, I <I>am</I> a Republican. <BR/><BR/>Be that as it may (and it is), in general I find myself drawn towards the Centrist position, rather than that of the extreme Individualist or the extreme Statist positions. <BR/><BR/>What I mean is this: I don't at all mind being reasonably taxed at a fairly high level, so long as I get a high level of service, especially the core competencies such as fire/rescue, law-enforcement, and infrastructure. Social programs, outside of entitlements for citizens, come next, with a priority directly proportional to their utility to the core competencies.<BR/><BR/>Nancy Navarro gave some interesting insight into some of her goals and approaches to those goals.<BR/><BR/>This forum will be broadcast on Cable Channel Montgomery or Access Montgomery, possibly both; I suggest that you tape it and possibly upload parts to YouTube. <BR/><BR/>When asked about how to combat gangs and promote "youth engagement", she said something to the effect -- I don't remember the exact words and please correct me if I am in error -- "we have to provide after-school and out-of-school (summertime, etc.) programs and opportunities, and we have to increasingly regard these programs as an extension of the schools".<BR/><BR/>Wow, that sounds positive enough, innocent enough, but that does constitute attempting to extend the school system's <I>authority</I> as well as its <I>opportunity</I> into the lives of children and young adults, outside of school hours.<BR/><BR/>I don't have to point out, but shall, that this obviously provides more employment opportunities for schoolsystem personnel, as well as probably bring potentially very expensive. Furthermore, it clearly owuld extend the power of the County (or State) even more into people's lives.<BR/><BR/>This potentially is "creeping Statism" or an intrusion of socialism into individuals' personal lives. <BR/><BR/>My own approach is really almost the opposite, to have the State (County) encourage individuals to form their own groups to provide opportunity and enrichment to the lives of young people, more along the line of "it takes a village to raise a child", but without the implication that there should be intrusion into the independent and personal lives of individuals, at taxpayer expense.<BR/><BR/>As I said, tape the program and YouTube it.T Jr Hardmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242946497119292615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-6910997980035277632008-03-30T09:45:00.000-04:002008-03-30T09:45:00.000-04:00Last night at the People's Community Church, both Navarro and Praisner reaffirmed that they would vote to exceed the charter limit on property tax revenue. We already have a County Executive and eight council member in favor of that position. Don't we need a different viewpoint on the council? One that won't drive people out of their homes and Montgomery County housing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-89722556860209134092008-03-28T22:07:00.000-04:002008-03-28T22:07:00.000-04:00Marc Elrich and his "progressive" allies insist that because they say so, Nancy Navarro is beholden to developers. They have no evidence of this whatsoever. Nancy has never cast a vote on a development or land-use issue. But, just like Joe McCarthy claiming everyone is under the influence of Communists, Marc loves to label people he doesn't like as "pro-development." Ask Marc whether he knew about the illegal robo-calls smearing Navarro. I guarantee his fingerprints are all over them.clean politics, pleasenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-44213440817337224072008-03-28T13:59:00.000-04:002008-03-28T13:59:00.000-04:00Didn't the Council also approve the school contracts???? <BR/><BR/>Didn't all the Councilmembers now complaining about the unions kiss their asses when they needed their endorsements in 2006????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-27148434329386740632008-03-28T05:00:00.000-04:002008-03-28T05:00:00.000-04:00From FY06-08 the School administration added over 1000 employees, many of them non-teachers, while the number of students dropped 3,076. Navarro will support a small selected group of cronies at the expense of the people in District 4. She promised the union tax increases to meet their demands on question 3 of their questionnaire. That is called a grovel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-79904882337038777112008-03-28T02:08:00.000-04:002008-03-28T02:08:00.000-04:00Number one: I think negative smear politics have no place in a Democratic Party Primary. Witness the nastiness at the federal level as a case in point for why this is unacceptable.<BR/><BR/>Number two: It is disgraceful that in a Democratic Primary we have so many "progressives" bashing TEACHERS and labor unions??? With the massive growth of corporate power in America (and corresponding decline of worker power) why is everyone suddenly anti-union -- just because they're supporting Navarro? All of the politicians pander to the unions when they need to win, then all of a sudden the unions endorse someone they oppose and then they are public enemy number one???<BR/><BR/>Lastly, since when are teachers overpaid? Nobody believes that nonsense. It sickens me how everyone pays homage to education and teachers when they run for office, and now that they think it is politically advantageous to bash educators, they go for it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-60877504441128194672008-03-27T21:12:00.000-04:002008-03-27T21:12:00.000-04:00Do you really want two former school board members on the County Council who are in the pockets of the teachers union and their intent on holding back our kids from achieving greatness so that they can put in another teacher holiday (AKA teacher drinking day). Only Mark Fennel can rein in unsustainable spending by the school system. Vote Mark Fennel for your kids and District 4.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-5467117636986872152008-03-27T05:00:00.000-04:002008-03-27T05:00:00.000-04:00Navarro is irresponsible with budgets. Hold on to your wallets!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-39990925862676636402008-03-26T21:25:00.000-04:002008-03-26T21:25:00.000-04:00I agree with "supporting navarro." I hope Nancy Navarro wins. Of all the candidates in the race, she alone truly represents the new face of Montgomery County communities in District 4. As a woman, I am so proud of the smarts, grace, dignity and calm under fire that she brings to the table. The Council could use her over there. She has earned my vote!Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00501889098373789138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-18769270843931285322008-03-26T21:14:00.000-04:002008-03-26T21:14:00.000-04:00This is quite simply an awesome interview. I sincerely hope that Nancy Navarro makes it to the Council. Her interview is a breath of fresh air. I am a resident of Disrict 4 and I know that my entire neighborhood is going to vote for her. We are so proud of her work on the School Board for the disadvantaged and children. Nancy Navarro gets it and this interview shows it. Go Nancy. We are not going to elect someone who wishes to be a place holder until the next election. This ought not to be a coronation if my neighborhood has anything to do with this. And she presents so well on television and in debates compared to the other SIX men running for office. Go Nancy, we need you to help us revitalize our communities!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-59577459642050516342008-03-26T11:51:00.000-04:002008-03-26T11:51:00.000-04:00Navarro and Praisner represent the the second-rate politicans that District 4 has come to be known by. Can't the East County come up with a solid candidate that isn't a psyco?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-62724497583718936512008-03-26T11:25:00.000-04:002008-03-26T11:25:00.000-04:00Nancy is supporting a 30% pay raise for the school administration---17% over three years PLUS 3.5% annual step increases in a recession. She supports Leggett's property tax increase, the largest in 20 years. She would give away the store and bankrupt the county. <BR/><BR/>Why don't you run an up-to-date photo? That one is 10 years old.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-12146050907816663562008-03-26T10:46:00.000-04:002008-03-26T10:46:00.000-04:00I hope she wins!supporting Navarronoreply@blogger.com