October 2, 2022 - As a responsible voter I like to research my candidates and the issues to make an educated decision before I cast my vote. Typically when I get to School Board I have no clue who any of these people even are. Nowadays with mandates coming from our governor concerning the health and well-being of our children I find it important to be involved with the issues at hand. I spoke at a school board meeting earlier this year, presented data and voiced my concern about blindly following mandates . I was dismayed and surprised when none of the members appeared to even listen much less weigh my concern. This year I have spent time and energy researching our candidates and I seek honest and open-minded board members who care more about our children’s mental and physical health then what the government dictates they do.

This year a handful of California school district boards said “no we will not enforce the vaccine mandate”which caused the issue to be temporarily dropped. Each district is supposed to represent the children, the families and the community first and foremost not just be an arm of the school district. In my research two candidates stood out. They are Robert Hill in district 1 and Kelly Salonen in district 3. Neither has ties with the school district or personnel that could affect their impartiality, Both have children in the district and both have professional lives that bring effective skill sets to the board.  They both are honest and the children are their first priority.  Remember, as in politics, the most and biggest signs and ads only reflects the amount of money behind a candidate. It does not reflect their popularity or integrity.  I hope to someday have my littlest grand children attend school in this district, and want our schools to reflect this amazing community and county that we are so blessed to live in. Hill and Salonen  will help make this a better place for all of us.

Katee Owens
Mariposa, CA