CANDIDATES FOR THE MAY 9TH ELECTIONS GIVE THEIR VIEWS DURING CANDIDATES FORUM

Mary-Janet April 24, 2015

353

KWHI hosted a Candidates Forum Thursday night to give the candidates of the Burton and Brenham ISD, City of Brenham, and Blinn College Board of trustees a chance to give the public their views on why they wish to be elected to their perspective boards.

The forum started out with the candidates from the Burton School Board. Marcus Broesche, who is in his fifteenth year of being on the board. Also present was Ande Bostain, Terri Roberts Smith and Brian Jaeger.

Current Mayor Milton Tate gave his opening remarks. Gary Gabriel, who had earlier said that he would attend the Forum, was not present. Tate reminded people they still needed to vote for him, noting that Gabriel’s name was still on the ballot because the mayor’s race is still is still opposed, despite Gabriel’s attempting to leave the race earlier in the week.

Each of these candidates were given a chance to give opening statements, and then the public and the listening audience were given a chance to ask questions.

Seeing that there were none from the listeners for Burton ISD, the forum moved on to the Brenham ISD school board trustee election, which featured some contentious conversation between two of the candidates, Carey Counsil, who is running against incumbent Susan Jenkins for Position 3.

Both said that they were looking forward to working with the new Brenham ISD superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson to try and find solutions to the school district problems.

Counsil questioned Jenkins about emails of “harassment” and “intimidation” in reference to former Brenham ISD superintendent Sam Bell. Counsil remarked that Jenkins, as well two others were in on these email, which Jenkins vehemently denied being involved in a conspiracy, or was involved in intimidation or disrespect toward the administration. Jenkins also says she never tried to micromanage or act in an unprofessional manner, adding later that she felt that SHE was the one being intimidated in all of this.

Counsil went on to direct questions at Jenkins about the disrespect, noting that if he were that disrespectful in business and as an instructor, he could not remain in these positions. Again, Jenkins denied ever being a part of those emails.

Counsil was asked by an audience member whether his decision to run was a “second guess” on his part. He replied that no, his original intention was to run against board member Marshall Harrell. When Harrell decided not to run, according to Council, he decided at the last minute to run against Jenkins.

Both candidates were asked how they would retain good teachers in the district. Both mentioned that they would like to raise moral and pay, however, they both disagreed on how much.

Counsil mentioned that he would like to give a 6% raise over the next three years, through attrition and reallocation of tax dollars.

Jenkins mentioned that, why she truly believed the teachers needed a raise, Counsil’s figures would translate to a 19% raise during those three years.

Counsil disagreed with her assessment of those raises.

Also present at the forum were the candidates for the Blinn College Board of Trustees candidates David Reynolds, Stacy Holle Aschenbeck, Deborah Goss, and Richard Powell.

The majority of the questions from the audience and the listeners in reference to legislation currently in the Texas Legislature, mainly the funding bill for the Blinn Brenham and Bryan campuses.

Audience member George Dillingham ask about the compromise bill of House Bill 1903 and whether the candidates present would or do support that compromise.

Stacey Holle Ashenbeck believes that the funding should not be based on student contact hours, but believed that State Representative John Raney’s bill compromise would give Blinn time to deal with the Raney Bill, and give time for the Blinn Brenham campuses to adjust its finances without using funds from the Bryan campuses. Ashenbeck went on to say that what was needed was an outside entity, where Blinn can know where there money is coming from and where it was being spent. She also noted that taxpayers in Washington County have, for years, paid Blinn College taxes, and has made an initial investment in the new Bryan campuses.

Debbie Goss remarked that the compromise was a valiant effort, but did not support it because she did not want to send the message that we would want to be subject to House 1903.