In My Wildest Dreams

When I started this campaign to represent District III on the Gwinnett Board of Education, I felt we needed new leadership, and that I couldn’t sit on the sidelines. I needed to step up to the plate. It has been such an affirming and humbling experience to see friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers come together to support me regardless of their party affiliation.

I have always thought that any group of neighbors and friends who come together around a table will resolve political differences and find solutions more efficiently than any room full of career politicians. Many of you must agree with me because regardless of party preference, you have offered me your support.

I am so grateful to everyone who’s supported me, but I am especially grateful to the droves of Republicans who have crossed party lines to make a stand with me for fiscal responsibility and outstanding education. Local elections should have nothing to do with party affiliation. The only thing that matters is whether the candidate you select is the right person for the job.

My opponent likes to say that the biggest issue facing education is funding. I think this viewpoint demonstrates a lack of imagination. Funding will follow excellence. If you choose to see the school system only through a filter of funding, then you tend to make cuts in the most predictable way possible and lose sight of the original goal – excellence.

If, however, you keep your eye on the goal and dedicate yourself to finding creative solutions, you will find them. If we stay focused on retaining excellent teachers and keeping class size manageable, everyone will notice. People will demand the best for their children and move into the area to get it. We will build a momentum that will benefit our children for generations.

There are plenty of ways the current board could have scrutinized the budget to focus on the goal of world-class education. As we have said before, they could have shrunk the central office budget. They could have refused to staff lobbyists at the Gwinnett Chamber. They could have insisted that no one at GCPS get benefit perks when teachers are being laid off. Excellence is not a distant dream. It is absolutely achievable and again, I want to thank all those who stand with me to demand nothing less for their children.

Now it’s About Winning

But first, I have to get there. If you need to convince your Republican friends that I am worth crossing party lines for, please encourage them to visit votejenfalk.com. This week we have featured a growing list of Republican supporters, some of whom have never voted against party lines in their lives, but who stand with me in this campaign. Read my blogs. I have been very candid from the beginning about my position on all educational issues. Even if you don’t agree with all of them, I hope that you will see that I have a real interest in hearing what you have to say, regardless of your politics.

Go to the Polls and Bring 2 Friends

Vote. I need your support. We are so close to starting a new era in Gwinnett government. If you believe we need change, I need you to make it happen. Take two friends with you when you go to the polls. Let them know that you support me, and they should too. Satellite voting is now available at several locations in Gwinnett Coounty including George Pierce Park in Suwanee and Lucky Shoals Park in Norcross. Together, we can do this.