Over the last several months, I’ve been contemplating a run for school board. It’s not a simple yes or no question. For me, deciding whether or not to run for school board is loaded with pros and cons.
The cons are clear:

  • I’m a horrible salesman.
  • The incumbent in my district (District 4) is a seasoned politician who’s run both successful and unsuccessful campaigns. Many sources will contribute to his campaign and he has a crap ton of political support. He knows what it takes to win, and because of his loss, he will learn and correct his mistakes.
  • People are mean.


There’s probably many more cons that I haven’t even considered, which is a con in and of itself. When I allow the fear that emerges from the cons of which I am aware to rise, I come to a hard “no” and and give myself a few days of peace from the “school board” question.
But then I talk to a school-aged person who has stopped even attending school. Then the contemplation rises again and I consider the pros:

  • I have no doubt that there’s a segment of Santa Fe’s population for whom school offers no value. If a young person is different in any way, there’s a high likelihood that our schools will leave them behind. I want to represent them, and all other young people, in such a way as to develop equitable policies from both linguistic and learning style perspectives.
  • I currently serve on the District’s audit committee and diversity council and I have been fortunate to participate in addressing issues that affect my desire to serve those who can’t find a purpose in school. To experience these processes hasn’t satiated my desire; rather, my experiences have only ignited a desire to do more.
  • The political process bugs the crap out of me and I want to run in such a way as to show that money shouldn’t be a factor in offering people a reason for which they should vote. Bringing educational equity to Santa Fe’s south-side should be an idea everyone should support. I want to prove why.


So, weighing the pros and cons will continue for me probably until the last possible minute. There’s a cliché about being the change you want to see, and I can’t ignore that I want things to change, yet sit on the sidelines. But, the thought of campaigning scares the crap out me. Maybe the yellow brick road will present itself and I will be able to ask the wizard for courage…