A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

3 May 2015

Ehrenberg launches last minute school board write-in campaign

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Whitefish community activist Joan Vetter Ehrenberg has launched a last minute, but full hearted, write-in campaign for the Whitefish school board (District 44). Ballots are due Tuesday, 5 May.

Two positions on the board are up for election. There are three candidates on the ballot: incumbent and school board chair Pat Jarvi, Bob Auerbach, and Marguerite Kaminski (see the sample ballot below)

Ehrenberg is well known in Whitefish for her work on the successful campaigns to approve bonds for a new high school and raise the resort tax by 50 percent to protect Whitefish’s drinking water. Her daughter, Kate, who attends Whitefish High, is currently in Washington, D.C., serving as a Senate page in a work-study program.

Earlier today she released an endorsement video and a 473-word statement explaining why she's running:

I was asked to run as a Write-In Candidate for Whitefish School Board Trustee, School District #44.

I chose to say YES to Whitefish.

I am, and have always been, all about our kids first. That being said, the primary reason I am running is that I have deep respect and admiration for the current School Board Trustees.

I could not be more blessed than to be around Pat Jarvi (Chairwoman), Dave Fern, Ruth Harrison, Shawn Watts, Nick Polumbus and Heather Vrentas. They are all rock stars.

Whitefish needs a symbiotic relationship with our teachers, our administrators, our facilities and our community. It’s the people, the parents, the families, the seniors the grandparents — all of us — are what matter most, and communication, planning and foresight are essential for our success.

With the prospect of hiring a new superintendent we are at a critical time in our school district. Will that person be able to finally negotiate with teacher unions, parents of music and performing arts and technology geeks and all facets of our school? Where is our trades program? Are we enveloping our children as number one — as well as the public? How good a communicator would that person be?

Communication is the essence of any foundation, and it is my primary goal to foster a better environment between our integral relationship with our children, our community, our schools, our teachers and how that all relates to our taxes.

Are we spending our money wisely? When someone sends you money, that organization has a fiduciary requirement to report and disclose how that money is spent, and does it represent the taxpayers well?

I will ask and I will answer.

Why wouldn t I want to step up to the plate, when the other two candidates are not people that I would want to represent my child and our future economy? I truly believe education is the foundation for better jobs and a rising economy and will work to foster that environment of our future global citizens.

Please also know, that my agenda is your agenda. School boards are the root of our society. They are not black or white, blue, red or purple. They are the foundation.

Together, let s build them up.

Please vote for Pat Jarvi and write in my name: JOAN VETTER EHRENBERG.

Please be sure to read ALL of the instructions and take your vote seriously. 49 people in the last election Haskill Basin Campaign did not sign the secrecy envelope and their votes were wasted.

I will win or lose by 5 votes, and I need you to be a messenger, a supporter, an advocate and help me get the word out.

Thank you so very much,

If by some crazy reason I can win a campaign in 36 hours, I will be honored to represent you.

Ehrenberg’s campaign website — www.voteforjoan.com — successfully registered the domain, but the URL had not fully propagated through the DNS system when this post was written. She has an extensive Facebook page.

The write-in ballot

Ballots must be delivered by the end of business on Tuesday, 5 May, to the school district’s office, which is located below the performing arts center at the Whitefish Middle School. Here’s a sample ballot showing how a legally marked write-in ballot looks.

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Disclaimer. Joan is a friend. I hold her wit, enthusiasm, and fire, in the highest possible regard. If I lived in Whitefish, I’d vote for her.