Up until yesterday, the establishment had lined up behind incumbents Susan Lovenburg and Alan Fernandes. The Davis Enterprise, the Davis Teachers Association, and Yolo County Democratic Central Committee had all backed the incumbents in the DJUSD School Board race.
But challenger Bob Poppenga has run a very strong race. At the last filing, he had raised 50 percent more than his nearest challenger, Susan Lovenburg. He has a strong campaign organization that has already walked much of Davis. And he has his share of strong endorsers, but what he didn’t have was a major endorsement until now.
The Sacramento Bee has endorsed Bob Poppenga and incumbent Alan Fernandes. Now Bob Poppenga can claim a major newspaper endorsement, while Alan Fernandes can claim to have the endorsement of both the Enterprise and the Bee. As some have put it, Alan Fernandes is in a strong position because he’s everyone’s second choice – and while that may overstate things, it does make this race intriguing as it heads into the final three weeks before the election.
The Bee breaks down their endorsements as follows.
First they call Measure H “an easy call.” They write: “Voters should approve it. It represents about $620 a year on an average parcel, with an exemption for seniors, but the money underwrites about $10 million a year in enrichment that makes all the difference for Davis children, from athletics and libraries to reading specialists and reduced elementary class sizes. It needs a two-thirds majority to pass.”
They call Alan Fernandes “an easy call” as well. They write: “Voters should absolutely re-elect incumbent Alan Fernandes, who has been a smart, calm and positive voice in the three years since a former trustee’s conflict of interest led to his appointment and subsequent election. A lawyer with two young sons in the Davis schools and a day job as head of government relations for Los Angeles County, Fernandes has worked hard to rebuild trust, transparency and consensus. His skill increased the ranks of Davis’ elementary counselors and school nurses; if re-elected, he wants to ramp up preschool enrollment and narrow the district’s achievement gap.”
The other seat, they say, “is more of a jump ball.”
On Susan Lovenburg they write that her candidacy “is wrapped up in a bruising debate the district had last year over its popular program for gifted students in elementary and middle school.”
They note, she “pushed for that debate” and “has ended up having to fight for re-election.” Her desire to update the program “was surely well-intentioned, but it touched a third rail of local politics in the university town, where about one child in three was in the gifted program.”
Instead, “Fearing that the schools might lose their rigor and have less to offer high achievers, fans of the old gifted program have contributed amply to challenger Bob Poppenga, a UC Davis veterinarian with two children in the district. Their fears seem exaggerated, given the community’s regard for academics. Far more pressing in Davis is the need to better serve the children who aren’t bound for the Ivies.”
But they argue that Ms. Lovenburg has served for nine years and her children are grown. On the other hand, Mr. Poppenga, “who has one child in the gifted program and another in the district’s program for English learners – brings a broad perspective, a fresh eye and perhaps a more personal stake in the district’s business. As a smart newcomer, he should be given a chance to serve.”
The Bee dismisses Jose Granda as having “a sincere commitment to public education,” but that “is undercut by his ideological opposition to the parcel tax the schools depend on.”
Supporters of Bob Poppenga will certainly see a less than glowing endorsement, but Mr. Poppenga can put it on his literature in the last three weeks and push the endorsement out on social media and into the press. That certainly gives him another leg to stand on as he battles two incumbents into the final weeks of the election.
Our analysis remains that there are two strong incumbents and one strong challenger for three seats. Every little advantage matters and the Bee endorsement, quixotic as usual, gives both Alan Fernandes and Bob Poppenga a boost.
We are surprised that AIM has not become a bigger issue in this election, but perhaps it is simmering just below the surface.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
Great to see a source outside of the local arena recognizing the solid attributes that Bob Poppenga would bring as a 30-year experienced educator and sole scientist on the board. His even temperament and evidence-based approach would also represent a huge improvement to how the board conducts its business.
poppenga is my number one. i have to be convinced on a number 2.
I’m glad to see Poppenga get this recognition as it’s tough to get noticed when there are incumbents running. He has really impressed me, both in the last election and in this one, with his respectful and logical approach and dedication to educating each and every child in the best way possible for them and their needs. He is without a doubt the best candidate in this race.
Such great news.
I am really happy that the Bee chose to move beyond the person who has not only outstayed her welcome after so many years of poor choices, but is insisting that she didn’t make the poor choices which have cost many students opportunities and also a lot of unnecessary strife and cost to the DJUSD and the students, parents and grandparents.
Poppenga is number one, and Fernandes is number 2.. . in my book… I also like Granda, why not, he is an engineer, right?
however he is always too little too late….. and a vote for him will be like a vote for the female who I refuse to name…
With four candidates seeking two seats, the election is less about who you want ON the School Board, and much more about who you want to keep OFF the School Board.
Alan has played his cards well. I see yards with Susan’s and Alan’s signs, and yards with Bob’s and Alan’s signs. The really rare, almost impossible site, is Bob and Susan signs together. If you see one, let us know!
PS> Dear David, just because most people do not use the “pc” nonsense word AIM, doesn’t mean that it is not playing a role.
I prefer to call a spade a spade…and this one is called GATE.
Sometimes one has to not open one’s mouth openly, right?
But, the lines are being drawn in the sand as I type and hopefully you sleep.
For parents, grandparents, students, educators, and others who want choice in the schools, the clear choices are Poppinga and Fernandes.
For those who think the real agenda (aka CTA agenda) is benefits for teachers, they may not understand the real issues….
Poppinga and Fernandes do…..
Indeed. It is surprising that the progressive voices in Davis that brought sunshine to the G.A.T.E identification corruption in the DJUSD and, for good reason, demanded needed changes in the student identification and selection process have not been heard in this election.
Poppinga and his supporters are clearly supporters/defenders of the DJUSD’s prior G.A.T.E. identification system that allowed affluent, highly educated families to re-test, re-test, challenge and, ultimately, buy their way into the elitist and segregated old program. That process discriminated against children and families of color and lower socio-economic status. A close examination of student demographic data of students who were deemed to be ineligible for G.A.T.E and who then challenged, re-tested (through private vendors) and gained admission into the program is clear evidence of that history of discrimination, favoritism and inequity in the DJUSD.
Why is it that the Vanguard has failed to openly challenge Poppenga and his supporters on these issues?
The board eliminated private testing. I have no reason to believe Bob supports private testing. Do you have evidence that he does?
The new, current testing procedures implemented by the board majority resulted in fewer children of color in the GATE program. It’s worse than it was before. If this is your concern, you should object to what the board majority did.
Is there anyone who supports private testing? Jose supports open entry, Bob’s focus is monitoring the effect of change, and both Alan and Susan have voted against private testing.