I received a mailing from Juan Lopez today, and his message struck me as sharply negative toward his opponent and anyone else who makes suggestions about how to improve the district. Here are a few excerpts:
We do not lack for nay-sayers and pessimists who say that the sky is falling and dismiss our accomplishments. . . . We do not lack for special interests during this period of fiscal austerity. . . .
Already my opponents are crafting narrow, negative issues to try to focus the campaign on a few trees while ignoring the beauty of the forest. . . .
I will be vocal during the upcoming campaign in order to counter the distrotions and pessisism that may be put forward during this election. . . .
I respectfully urge Juan to take the high road throughout the rest of the campaign.
Truth in advertising: I’ll be voting for Lucy Mathiak.
To me the beauty of the forest is all the children in the Madison school district and their potential for learning and achievement during their public school years.
Equating probing questions, critiques and opinions about major issues such as curriculum design, strategic planning, budgeting, etc. with negativism is a narrow, petty statement and a weak attempt to divert attention away from talking about and discussing the major educational and financial issues facing the district. This spring election season I’m looking forward to discussions of substance.