The positions above directly stem from events and actions that I saw firsthand during my first term, and it is shocking. These principles guide my service and reflect a dedication to rebuilding a board that truly serves our district. By choosing independence and integrity, we can address past challenges and create a safer, more transparent future for our students.
Why I Stand Out
In a school board election, voters deserve candidates who prioritize independence, integrity, and the best interests of students and families above all else. As a current board member seeking reelection, I’ve consistently demonstrated a commitment to transparency, accountability, and principled decision-making. What sets me apart is my unwavering focus on ethical governance and challenging practices that undermine public trust. Below is a list of key distinctions that have come up during my initial term, many of which troubled me when they occurred and are seen as problems by others in the community. After each item, I highlight my approach compared to others in the race. Click on the item to see the specific related events.
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Independence from Conflicts of Interest
: I maintain clear boundaries, free from personal or familial ties to district administrators, ensuring unbiased oversight of the superintendent and staff.
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Active Engagement in Oversight
: I believe the board’s role includes questioning decisions to protect students, rather than deferring without scrutiny even in routine matters.
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Consistent Participation in Votes
: I vote on every issue as a matter of duty, recognizing that leadership requires full involvement, not abstention based on position.
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Adherence to Ethics Laws
: I strictly follow state regulations on hiring and voting, avoiding any actions that could invite investigations or compromise fairness.
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Commitment to Open Communication
: I support sharing accurate information with the public and media, without resorting to threats or restrictions that stifle dialogue.
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Focus Solely on District Needs
: My service is dedicated entirely to our schools and community, not as a platform for personal political ambitions.
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Clear and Consistent Positions
: I advocate for thoughtful integration of tools like AI in education, maintaining steady views that align with student success.
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Promoting Fair Bidding Processes
: I push for competitive bidding on contracts to ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent favoritism toward any single vendor.
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Delivering on Campaign Promises
: I actively work to implement commitments like live-streaming meetings, overcoming resistance to enhance accessibility for parents.
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Avoiding Industry Entanglements
: I steer clear of business connections with district contractors, prioritizing impartial decisions over potential personal benefits.
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No Ties to External Sales Interests
: My decisions are uninfluenced by ventures selling services to other districts, keeping the focus on our local needs.
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Guarding Against Insider Advantages
: I oppose using board knowledge for personal financial gain, such as in real estate, to uphold equity and trust.
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Encouraging Diverse Viewpoints
: I value open debate and dissent on the board, rejecting the idea that unity should silence differing opinions for appearance’s sake.
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Resistance to Political Recruitment
: I run independently, not as part of efforts orchestrated to maintain the status quo or target outspoken members.
Independence from Conflicts of Interest
Several board members are or have been married to administrators in the district during their terms on the board. In most states, this is illegal because of the obvious conflict of interest, but South Carolina allows this. Regardless, it is not in the best interest of students and parents.
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Active Engagement in Oversight
Several board members, and at least one candidate have expressed the belief that the board should always defer to the district adminsitration for all decisions, but this directly contradicts the established purpose for an oversight board, including what the State of South Carolina mandates we do.
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Consistent Participation in Votes
One current board member and candidate for reelection went two years abstaining from every vote so that he wasn't forced to take a position. He tried to justify it by saying that he was above common voting since we was board chair, but no other district in S.C. does this, and neither has any other board chairman in D2. The people in District 2 don't need to elect people who refuse to vote for half of their term.
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Adherence to Ethics Laws
Multiple current board members voted to hire their spouses in direct violation of state law, and have not disclosed all gifts received by district vendors. They are under investigation by the State Ethics Commission for nepotism and failure to report properly.
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Commitment to Open Communication
The prior superintendent was having private conversations with certain board members and candidates, disclosing different information to them than what was made to other members and to the public. On at least one occasion, the board chair admitted that he was aware of a lawsuit 1 full year before the rest of the board was notified, and never disclosed it himself.
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Focus Solely on District Needs
I have no other political ambitions, unlike certain other board members and candidates who expressed to their inner circles their desire to use this as a stepping-stone to the county council or state legislature.
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Clear and Consistent Positions
One of the candidates has made public statements supporting certain positions, but made private statements to the board that were the exact opposite. I don't waffle on my positions depending on who I am speaking with at the moment.
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Promoting Fair Bidding Processes
Certain contracts, worth millions of dollars, have been granted to vendors without ever requesting bids from other vendors, or even having the contracts scrutinized for improper services and billings. This current process circumvents the reason for having board oversight and does not protect our own tax dollars. Worse, it smells of corruption, backroom deals, and outright bribery.
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Delivering on Campaign Promises
One of my original commitments was to establish live streaming of board meetings, and the other board members agreed in principle to this publicly. But when I proposed this policy, it was blocked from a vote each time by the board chairs. Ultimately, I invoked a lesser-known state law that permitted me to live stream the meetings myself and prevented interference by the other board members.
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Avoiding Industry Entanglements
At least one candidate has financial interests in the district's revenue and spending channels. To make this "legal" he makes sure that certain measures will pass, and then abstains from voting himself so that he's technically within the law, but his personal gain is still realized. Even if the tactic is legal by a technicality, it is still immoral, and couterintuitive to the board's responsibilities.
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No Ties to External Sales Interests
Some candidates already provide educational and consulting services to neighboring districts, and are undoubtedly more valuable becuase of their position on the D2 school board. The ethics of this are questionable, at best.
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Guarding Against Insider Advantages
Several past and present board members are licensed real estate agents. Their intimate knowledge of when and where the district is going to purchase land and build is then used regarding properties adjacent and near to district plans. This is effectively a form of insider trading.
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Encouraging Diverse Viewpoints
After asking questions to the former superintendent related to accusations against administrators and teachers, I was given a "cease & desist" and told to drop all questioning of events, past and present. Again, this goes against what the State of South Carolina has charged the school board with doing.
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Resistance to Political Recruitment
The current board members and district administration have worked together to recruit certain specific people to run for the D2 school board, people who they know will protect them and block greater oversight.
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