View Full Version : DougCo School Board Candidates
Confusing as ever. Google has intentionally suppressed any truth of who the candidates really are and there is too much "fluff" around the whole thing to know where they stand on the issues.
Here's the only thing I found which clarifies it for me...
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/education/344537-how-a-colorado-school-board-race-has-national-implications-for
Abresch/Mills/Nelson/Scheffel appear to be the pro-choice candidates who are supportive of vouchers/charters.
Anyone have any better/more info?
No info on DougCo. I looked up Widefield District 3 candidates as on my ballot. Found 2013 Gazette info.
Hilarious part? All of them had errors of spelling, grammar, or punctuation in their answers. I'm assuming they were emailed questions and replied w/ email.
OneGuy67
10-19-2017, 14:34
This is easy.
Graziano
Holtzmann
Leung
Schor
are all supported by the American Federation of Teachers, a national union who dumped $300,00 into the school board race; they are against school vouchers and want to bring back collective bargaining with a local union for the teachers. The board prior to the current one stopped collective bargaining and stopped payments to the local union, which dried them up. They go by the CommUNITY slate name.
The other side:
Mills
Abresch
Scheffel
Nelson
go by the Elevate! slate name and want to continue the reforms started by the board prior to the current one. This is important as the issue of school vouchers was remanded back to the CO Supreme Court and Douglas County and can be realized if the board continues to fight for it. If the other slate wins, then they will not pursue the court case and it will die on the vine. They are supported by the Douglas County Republican Party.
This is easy.
[snip]
The other side:
Mills
Abresch
Scheffel
Nelson
go by the Elevate! slate name and want to continue the reforms started by the board prior to the current one. This is important as the issue of school vouchers was remanded back to the CO Supreme Court and Douglas County and can be realized if the board continues to fight for it. If the other slate wins, then they will not pursue the court case and it will die on the vine. They are supported by the Douglas County Republican Party.
That is the confirmation I needed!
And no, it was not easy ;) I spent an hour searching and reading fluff pieces before I could figure it out. I think a lot of people will get this one wrong (we're a red county).
Lately I've noticed carefully positioned the Lib candidates are to create this confusion. They even use the same buzz words/slogans.
OneGuy67
10-20-2017, 09:02
Go to voteforcolorado.com, which is run by George Athanasopoulos to promote conservative candidates for various political seats.
Sadly, on Facebook, the CommUNITY slate has been very effective to get their names out and to muddy the waters with former teachers railing against the BOE, primarily because they BOE went to a Pay for Performance and a retention policy that doesn't allow ineffective teachers to stay employed, all outside of a union.
The Douglas County Republicans Facebook page just started carrying on this....it's a resource
Honey Badger282.8
11-07-2017, 21:22
It looks like the Elevate candidates all lost.
Late to the party, but ballotpedia always has some good info.
Example:
https://ballotpedia.org/Douglas_County_School_District_elections_(2017)
Elevate Douglas County slate
Ryan Abresch Randy Mills Grant Nelson Debora Scheffel
Supports continuing case for district's voucher program. Supports current teacher pay system with adjustments.
The Elevate Douglas County slate—Ryan Abresch (https://ballotpedia.org/Ryan_Abresch), Randy Mills (https://ballotpedia.org/Randy_Mills_(Colorado)), Grant Nelson (https://ballotpedia.org/Grant_Nelson_(Colorado)), and Debora Scheffel (https://ballotpedia.org/Debora_Scheffel)—were endorsed by the following organizations and elected officials:[16] (https://ballotpedia.org/Douglas_County_School_District_elections_(2017)#ci te_note-outsidespending-16)[17] (https://ballotpedia.org/Douglas_County_School_District_elections_(2017)#ci te_note-17)[18] (https://ballotpedia.org/Douglas_County_School_District_elections_(2017)#ci te_note-18)
Colorado Republican Committee
Colorado Women’s Alliance
Denver Post Editorial Board
The Gazette Editorial Board
Douglas County Republicans
Douglas County Young Republicans
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colorado)
State Sen. Chris Holbert (R-30)
State Rep. Pat Neville (R-45)
State Rep. Kim Ransom (R-44)
Colorado State Board of Education member Steve Durham
Colorado State Board of Education member Pam Mazanec
Colorado State Board of Education member Joyce Rankin
Douglas County Treasurer Diane Holbert
OneGuy67
11-08-2017, 10:33
Sadly, the pro-union, pro Mill Levy Override (tax increase) platform won. Now, the next battle will be when they propose the MLO as we will have to convince all the liberals moving into Douglas County not to vote for it. "Its for the childrens!"
Great-Kazoo
11-08-2017, 10:40
Sadly, the pro-union, pro Mill Levy Override (tax increase) platform won. Now, the next battle will be when they propose the MLO as we will have to convince all the liberals moving into Douglas County not to vote for it. "Its for the childrens!"
Don't be surprised when the rest of CO is more in favor of taxes (for anything) than they are now.
The writing on the wall the direction CO is headed has become a big neon sign.
OneGuy67
11-08-2017, 11:03
Don't be surprised when the rest of CO is more in favor of taxes (for anything) than they are now.
The writing on the wall the direction CO is headed has become a big neon sign.
After seeing how Denver's bond proposal passed by a large margin, it seems that non property owners are very happy to spend other peoples money on their own behalf. All I can hope for here is there is a large swath of empty nesters who may not wish to add to their property taxes in order to educate others kids.
Looks like yesterday was overall bad for conservative ideals in Colorado. Jeffco also had unfavorable results for anti-union people. Kazoo is so right, the writing is on the wall, and if you don't see where we're headed here, you need to wake up. I only hope CA fails so catastrophically that everyone here sees how it just doesn't work and change their ways... But I won't hold my breath, people aren't that smart.
hurley842002
11-08-2017, 11:46
I understand the good fight, and will always vote against the liberal agenda, but I have to ask, is anyone really surprised with the outcome? My opinion only, but CO will NEVER be a red state again, it's over.
If you are unable to uproot your family and must remain in CO, I hope the best for you. If you can move, I'd recommend moving, if for nothing more than prolonging the inevitable liberal spread. I'm on a two year plan to move (logistics of my job, and my children's education).
I understand the good fight, and will always vote against the liberal agenda, but I have to ask, is anyone really surprised with the outcome? My opinion only, but CO will NEVER be a red state again, it's over.
If you are unable to uproot your family and must remain in CO, I hope the best for you. If you can move, I'd recommend moving, if for nothing more than prolonging the inevitable liberal spread. I'm on a two year plan to move (logistics of my job, and my children's education).
I hear where you're coming from, but this is exactly the reason we're losing here- everyone just throws their hands up and says "I'm out!" I was born here, I don't want to live anywhere else, so I'm gonna stay and fight. You do you, but some of us are unable to leave.
hurley842002
11-08-2017, 12:56
I hear where you're coming from, but this is exactly the reason we're losing here- everyone just throws their hands up and says "I'm out!" I was born here, I don't want to live anywhere else, so I'm gonna stay and fight. You do you, but some of us are unable to leave.For some of us, relying on the "fight" and hoping for the best isn't good enough, we need a change sooner rather than later (main issue being schools I'm sending my kids to, children they are growing up with). Politics is only part of the reason we are planning a move. Like I said, if you can't up and move for whatever reason, I wish you the best, but no amount of guilt trip is going to make me stick around and fight.
For some of us, relying on the "fight" and hoping for the best isn't good enough, we need a change sooner rather than later (main issue being schools I'm sending my kids to, children they are growing up with). Politics is only part of the reason we are planning a move. Like I said, if you can't up and move for whatever reason, I wish you the best, but no amount of guilt trip is going to make me stick around and fight.
+1
We are looking at several other states. I'd prefer to stay in the West, but ultimately will have to go where the best job opportunity is.
Honey Badger282.8
11-08-2017, 16:48
I understand the good fight, and will always vote against the liberal agenda, but I have to ask, is anyone really surprised with the outcome? My opinion only, but CO will NEVER be a red state again, it's over.
If you are unable to uproot your family and must remain in CO, I hope the best for you. If you can move, I'd recommend moving, if for nothing more than prolonging the inevitable liberal spread. I'm on a two year plan to move (logistics of my job, and my children's education).
I was born and raised in Colorado but have lived or visited all over the US, except for the Great Lakes region and New England area, and I have yet to find a state I like better than CO. As long as CO still has TABOR and they don't go full retard on guns like CA, NY, MA, etc., then I'll probably stay. If I had to move to another state, the PNW would be awesome but Oregon and Washington are even worse than CO as far as politics goes, Idaho is an option and so is NW WY. Southern AK, around Sitka, would be cool too. Outside of those states, I can't picture myself anywhere else.
We arrived here some 25 years ago from the liberal wasteland known as Michigan. Previous to that, I was from California. You know, back when it was known for their superior schools. (That should tip you as to how long ago THAT was). Now, this year, we have new "traffic metering lights" at the Harmony on ramp to I25, and Windsor does, too. THAT is depressing. Just as I'm retiring, and no longer have to endure the I25 trip between Ft. Fun and Denver area, they put this crap in MY TOWN! Wyoming is starting to look better and better every day. The Fort Collins SH1tty Council looks more and more like the Republic of Boulder every day. (Trust me, we know that's their goal...) And, this is after caving to enormous pushback about Agenda 21 crap on trash pickup and other stuff lately. LARGEST citizen participation for any policy ever. Let's just say, they caved, as they should. It ain't CCCP, that's all I'm saying.
I was born and raised in Colorado but have lived or visited all over the US, except for the Great Lakes region and New England area, and I have yet to find a state I like better than CO. As long as CO still has TABOR and they don't go full retard on guns like CA, NY, MA, etc., then I'll probably stay. If I had to move to another state, the PNW would be awesome but Oregon and Washington are even worse than CO as far as politics goes, Idaho is an option and so is NW WY. Southern AK, around Sitka, would be cool too. Outside of those states, I can't picture myself anywhere else.
Ask Bailey about ID... We have some friends who moved to WY about a year ago, they caught some flak from the locals for being from "that pot state" for a bit, but then fit in well. My wife said WY is a possibility one day, maybe, but only if she can put on 20lbs of insulation to keep warm in the dreadful 7 month winters.
hurley842002
11-21-2017, 12:52
Ask Bailey about ID... We have some friends who moved to WY about a year ago, they caught some flak from the locals for being from "that pot state" for a bit, but then fit in well. My wife said WY is a possibility one day, maybe, but only if she can put on 20lbs of insulation to keep warm in the dreadful 7 month winters.Thought you were staying to "fight"?
Great-Kazoo
11-21-2017, 23:57
Thought you were staying to "fight"?
Float like a butterfly
Migrate like a bee
Thought you were staying to "fight"?
If it ever becomes impossible to live here... we're not there yet. But I fear there will come a day that we are like CA, NY or IL. I hope not, but I fear we're already on the path. When it becomes impossible to even handle a pistol in a gun store without a permit, that's when I fear there will be no more fight left.
Ask Bailey about ID... We have some friends who moved to WY about a year ago, they caught some flak from the locals for being from "that pot state" for a bit, but then fit in well. My wife said WY is a possibility one day, maybe, but only if she can put on 20lbs of insulation to keep warm in the dreadful 7 month winters.
Have her shop at the Commissary. :D
Have her shop at the Commissary. :D
Unfortunately my discharge status (of not being "retired") doesn't allow me commissary access at either Buckley or Carson [BooHoo]
It's not that great. No taxes, but the prices end up being lackluster. I cannot recall actually buying anything at the Commissary or PX since getting out.
It's not that great. No taxes, but the prices end up being lackluster. I cannot recall actually buying anything at the Commissary or PX since getting out.
Half the time I didn't buy all that much there when I was in... Class 6 is another story- although in retrospect, their selection wasn't that great.
Following up, been out of the loop.
This one really pissed me off. Seems like Conservatives can't be bothered to get out and vote no matter the costs. We had something like 20% ballot returns IIRC. It was $0.49 to cast a vote! The school board candidates were the only ballot issues for DougCo so it took us like five minutes to complete our ballots. More time spent researching the candidates.
So I guess I'm done caring. If you can't homeschool or afford private school, I don't care. You get the teacher's union "solution." No matter how special your snowflake is, no choices for you, but failure.
Yes, I will remind my neighbors often. It started a conversation at my current workplace and I was surprised to see how many people were upset by this too. I thought I was a minority in this red county.
Following up, been out of the loop.
This one really pissed me off. Seems like Conservatives can't be bothered to get out and vote no matter the costs. We had something like 20% ballot returns IIRC. It was $0.49 to cast a vote! The school board candidates were the only ballot issues for DougCo so it took us like five minutes to complete our ballots. More time spent researching the candidates.
So I guess I'm done caring. If you can't homeschool or afford private school, I don't care. You get the teacher's union "solution." No matter how special your snowflake is, no choices for you, but failure.
Yes, I will remind my neighbors often. It started a conversation at my current workplace and I was surprised to see how many people were upset by this too. I thought I was a minority in this red county.
Didn't even cost me one cent to drop it in the box at the PPD. I was going to Lowes anyway.
Yea, pisses me off too and my kids are long since gone out of the system.
That said, I do have a special needs grandson that is taking advantage of some DougCo programs.
Didn't even cost me one cent to drop it in the box at the PPD. I was going to Lowes anyway.
Yea, pisses me off too and my kids are long since gone out of the system.
That said, I do have a special needs grandson that is taking advantage of some DougCo programs.
I have friends with a special needs kid who is going to a charter school that's helping him learn according to who he is.
Have a co-worker using a charter school to get his daughter out of a really bad situation and get her back into learning.
Charter schools will be next. Special programs to follow. But bilingual ed will remain.
In some states they've already gone after homeschoolers. It wouldn't surprise me if they go after private schools too.
OneGuy67
11-29-2017, 10:31
The next battle in Douglas will be the Mill Levy Override, aka tax increase. The slate that won wants to ask for more money as that is their answer to all the problems; pay the teachers (and the union that will be back in place) more money and all will be great again! So saddle up for that coming in 2018/2019. Most likely the off election year so they can take advantage of the lack of concern to vote when it isn't a major election.
Following up, been out of the loop.
This one really pissed me off. Seems like Conservatives can't be bothered to get out and vote no matter the costs. We had something like 20% ballot returns IIRC. It was $0.49 to cast a vote! The school board candidates were the only ballot issues for DougCo so it took us like five minutes to complete our ballots. More time spent researching the candidates.
So I guess I'm done caring. If you can't homeschool or afford private school, I don't care. You get the teacher's union "solution." No matter how special your snowflake is, no choices for you, but failure.
Yes, I will remind my neighbors often. It started a conversation at my current workplace and I was surprised to see how many people were upset by this too. I thought I was a minority in this red county.
Right there with you. And I don't live in Dougco, but it had implications statewide, if not nationwide. I'm still kind of bitter about the BS the liberals pulled in Jeffco a few years back after the Conservative "sweep" of the school board. Really, though, is there hope at this point of stopping the flow of indoctrination centers becoming the new form schools are taking?
hurley842002
12-04-2017, 23:04
http://kdvr.com/2017/12/03/fate-of-controversial-school-voucher-program-to-be-decided-tomorrow/
That was a given. Elections have consequences...as DougCo starts the slide toward the shade of blue.
And it's gone... which means the legal battle that went from the CO Supreme Court to the US Supreme Court and back won't be heard.
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