Public Forum for TVUSD School Board Candidates Announced

The following was submitted for publication by the The Temecula Valley Council of PTAs:

With three seats up for grabs on the Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) Governing Board, seven local residents have declared their candidacy and will be on the November 4 ballot.

To help voters make informed decisions, as well as provide voter registration materials, the Temecula Valley Council of PTAs (TVC PTA) will sponsor a Meet the Candidates Forum, a nonpartisan, public event, on Wednesday, September 24, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., at the TVUSD Conference Center, 31350 Rancho Vista Road, Temecula.

Each candidate will present an opening statement and will field questions from the audience and presented by the moderator. Each member of the panel also will respond to questions submitted in advance by PTA. Dr. Philip Pendley, retired superintendent, Hemet Unified School District, will serve as moderator. Once the forum ends, informal discussion will follow until 8 PM.

The public is encouraged to come learn more about the candidates: Cheryl Eckard, office manager; Julie Farnbach, parent/educator; Kevin Hill, teacher; Sandy Hinkson, retired teacher; Mark Katan, retail store manager; and incumbents Bob Brown and Rick Shafer. Hill and Katan previously ran in 2008.

“We’ve traditionally sponsored a school board candidates’ forum. With a field of seven contenders and only three seats, this is an ideal time to blend education and advocacy with empowering voters,” said TVC PTA President Rebecca Weersing. “We’re proud of our schools, and we want parents to understand how they can become advocates – how they can have a say in the work that the governing board does. It’s important for voters to hear from all candidates and to be informed. We urge citizens of all ages to come out and hear what the candidates have to say and, most importantly, to exercise their civic responsibility and vote on November 4,” she added.

Voter registration materials will be available at the event. October 20 is the last day to register to vote in the November 4 election.