STUDENT ED HERRERA TO RUN FOR SWEETWATER SCHOOL BOARD

Teachers, students, parents, and school employees set out to elect new leadership to Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees.

Chula Vista, CA -- This election season, the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) is the political focal point of South Bay San Diego Chula Vista, and Ed Herrera is one of the youngest candidates to ever challenge an incumbent for the board of trustees. Herrera is an honors graduate of Sweetwater Union High School District class of 2004. He is currently enrolled as a student at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Public Service.

Although fresh out of high school, Herrera contends that this is a strength that no other candidate possesses. Education and the SUHSD inner-dynamics are not new to Herrera. He has advocated on behalf of access and affordability of education at the local, state, and national levels of government. For example, he serves on the Board of Directors on the University of California Student Association. He has also served as a Chula Vista Mayor- and City-Council-appointed commissioner, where he led efforts with SUHSD, the Chula Vista Police Department, the Chula Vista Mayor’s Office, and the community to promote safe and secure learning environments for students that are free from the influences of alcohol and drugs.

When asked why he is running, Herrera said, “I am running because I believe it is time for a change. …We need honest, effective, accountable, and responsive leadership for our school district.” Herrera wants the district to keep up with providing educational resources for the ever-growing communities in the district, without compromising the quality of education for older schools. He also sees the need for the school board to perform individual assessments on employee conditions, while working personally with district employees to ensure fair and responsive leadership that values the contributions of staff, faculty, and employees -- to the advancement of students' education, rather than on the reliance of administrative filtering of employee concerns.

Herrera has also been an outspoken critic of school board members who receive large campaign contributions from contractors, which the board later votes on to hire for district services. “If elected, I will not be a quid-pro-quo rubber stamp for special interest contractors and allow our students and school district to suffer,” Herrera said.

Herrera is challenging Seat #3 incumbent Greg Sandoval of Bonita. Sandoval unsuccessfully challenged former Chula Vista City Councilwoman Mary Salas for the Democratic nomination for State Assembly during the June Primary. “Mr. Sandoval stated that he ran to give voters a choice. I am running to give voters a voice. Four out of five school board members have ether sought or are currently seeking higher office. Our district should not be used as a political stepping stone and school board members should not rely on the shoulders of our students to elevate them to higher office. We need a school board member who is committed to SUHSD,” Herrera said. Sandoval has also sought a seat on the Chula Vista City Council.

Herrera has received support from students, parents, educators, and employees, who are dissatisfied with the current school district leadership. For example, Chula Vista Senior High Alumnus Paul Norton noted, “Three of the five school board members have become too comfortable in their leather chairs. ... A vote of three-two is not enough to make the significant changes needed to help students. I believe Herrera is our only hope for taking back our voices that are always ignored.” Norton, a student at Southwestern Community College, also said that he is disheartened by the idea that when a student takes the podium at school board meetings they are ignored. “When the district consultants go up, the school board members sit up at attention. … As far as we students are concerned, these school board members had their opportunity and chose not to use it. At least not with students in mind,” Norton added.

South Bay San Diego will have the opportunity to vote on November 7, 2006 and Ed Herrera is counting on the district voters to take notice of his candidacy and vote for change.