Vote for Eckley for council
When I moved to Ventura a few years ago, I couldn’t help noticing the poor condition of city streets. So, I was not surprised to learn that where I live in District 6 has the worst roads in the city.
Our district has waited the longest for so many improvements. We pay the same property taxes as every Ventura resident, and now we have a candidate running for Ventura City Council who understands these issues. Karba Eckley has the know-how, understanding and ability to fight for our district.
Prior to moving here, I worked for a Bay Area city pubic services department where I learned that providing routine road maintenance was far less expensive than allowing roads to deteriorate to the point of having to be repaved, which is very expense. I have
recently learned that the city of Ventura spends about $8 million a year on road maintenance, which is less than a third of the $27 million needed to keep our roads in top shape to prolong their life. Preventative maintenance of municipal infrastructure is standard for keeping roads drivable while saving taxpayers money.
Sidewalk tripping hazards also abound in Ventura; many neighborhood sidewalks have been uplifted by street trees causing trips and falls for pedestrians. I cannot recall ever seeing sidewalk repairs being made since I’ve lived here.
We have been left behind for too long. Vote for Karba Eckley for Ventura City Council, District 6, on Nov. 3.
Madeline Moran, Ventura
Marschner is clear choice for job
In a 20-year career in education — as a paraeducator, a classroom teacher, and an administrator in the Oxnard School District, including Assistant Principal at all three comprehensive middle schools — I have seen firsthand what effective school leadership requires, and that’s exactly what Maggie Marschner would bring to the role of Ventura County Superintendent of Schools.
As a retired Oxnard School District administrator, I strongly support Ms. Marschner. Her training, ability and experience to lead VCOE and exercise oversight over the county’s 19 school districts are unmatched. Maggie began her career in the classroom with the Clark County School District — the fifth largest district in the country, serving over 324,000 students annually — where she worked as a literacy coach and intervention specialist with English Language Learners, and in 2010 was named Teacher of the Year out of roughly 18,778 teachers districtwide.
She went on to serve as an Assistant Principal supervising 13 special education programs, experience that will be invaluable as she supports special education throughout Ventura County. She then moved to the district level, serving five years as an Intervention Specialist and District Project Facilitator supporting the full transformation of Valley High School, one of the district’s most challenged campuses. During this time, she was appointed by the governor to co-chair the Nevada Teachers and Leaders Council, tasked with developing a statewide evaluation system for school personnel grounded in fair, rigorous measures.
Maggie holds two master’s degrees, in Secondary Education and Educational Administration, as well as a California Administrative Services Credential.
Maggie’s leadership and experience make her the clear choice for this job. She has been student- and teacher-centered throughout her career, with an emphasis on listening to and including all stakeholders in decision-making. Please support our local school communities by voting for Maggie Marschner for County Superintendent of Schools on Nov. 3.
Pam Cwiklo, Camarillo
Support Sher for superintendent
Every school system rests on one thing: leadership that makes it possible for others to do their best work. When leaders listen, teachers feel supported, families feel heard, and students get the opportunities they deserve. When they do not, it shows.
As a school board president, I have seen how much the county superintendent's office shapes what districts can carry out. That is why I am supporting Dr. Karen Sher for Ventura County Superintendent of Schools.
Karen's leadership was built where it counts. She spent 30 years teaching middle school English in Oxnard, then served 12 years on the Oxnard Union High School District Board and helped lead teacher recruitment efforts at the California Department of Education. She has seen education from the classroom, the boardroom, and the state level, and she understands how decisions made at each level reach students.
The county needs a superintendent who treats districts as partners, not subordinates. Karen has made the right priorities her own: recruiting and keeping excellent educators, strengthening support for students with disabilities, and expanding pathways for young people after graduation. These are the challenges districts across Ventura County are working on now, and they need a leader who will listen first and then deliver.
Strong leaders do not just manage systems. They remove barriers for the people doing the work and keep students at the center of every decision. I believe Karen will do exactly that.
I encourage voters to join me in supporting Dr. Karen Sher for Ventura County Superintendent of Schools.
I am writing in my personal capacity, not on behalf of the Ventura Unified School Board.
James Forsythe, Board President, Ventura Unified School District
Verify candidates’ qualifications
As Ventura voters prepare to elect their next school board representatives, I have a question: Who is verifying the professional qualifications of the candidates asking for our votes?
Some candidates offer specific, easy-to-find qualifications, certifications or verifiable degrees but others offer next to nothing. Ventura Unified School Board candidate Amber Thompson describes a professional background in commercial banking, auditing and financial controls. These qualifications are particularly relevant as our district faces significant financial challenges and potential school closures.
Yet I have been unable to find publicly available, independently verified information identifying the employers, positions or dates supporting these claims.
This raises a broader question about political endorsements. When political parties, labor organizations and elected officials endorse a candidate, what exactly are they evaluating? Are professional qualifications independently verified? Are references checked? Or are endorsements primarily based on interviews, questionnaires and shared political priorities?
An endorsement carries considerable influence with voters. But what does that endorsement actually tell us about a candidate’s qualifications?
I am not suggesting that any candidate has misrepresented their experience. I am asking why voters should have to conduct their own investigations to establish basic professional credentials.
This standard should apply equally to every candidate, regardless of political affiliation.
Our school board oversees significant public resources and makes decisions affecting thousands of children, families and educators. Surely voters deserve more than campaign biographies and lists of endorsements.
I would welcome The Star examining the professional qualifications of all three candidates for Trustee Area 4, as well as the vetting processes behind their endorsements.
Transparency shouldn’t begin after someone is elected.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura council, superintendent race, candidates' qualifications | Letters
