Ruth Veales, who has been campaigning vigorously the past several weeks, is on the ballot on Tuesday, Feb. 9, as a refreshing choice over the incumbent to be the next District V school board member.As she’s been campaigning, Mrs. Veales has been telling us how she will “stand up” and be counted as a school board member, and, her campaign has reminded us all again how dreadfully the incumbent has represented this community throughout the years.
Mrs. Veales’ campaign is refreshing because we, simply, have not had any decent representation for District V since the incumbent first took advantage of a fluke that landed her in the position.
From Day One, the incumbent has embarrassed her own constituents with her runaway, boisterous, egotistical and overbearing behavior and excesses, and she has repeatedly underlined how ineffectual she is with her infamous abstentions, made whenever an issue of consequence was being voted upon by the board. With her abstentions, the incumbent was refusing to “stand up” not only for the district she represents, but for the children and good education, as well. (Many of us don’t have to be reminded that the only time the incumbent has deviated from her bullheaded, recalcitrant, bullying posture on the school board was when she voted against then-Supt. John Q. Porter, who was battling for his job while fighting against the clearly vindictive wiles of then-Chairman Cliff Hudson.
Come Tuesday, Feb. 9, District V has a golden opportunity to replace that incumbent with someone who will “stand up.”
Mrs. Veales, who has previously worked for the Urban League of Greater Metropolitan Oklahoma City, has an outstanding record of public service and is a parent and grandparent who has guided her children and grandchildren through the city school district, has promised to do more than “just show up” if she is elected on Tuesday.
She has promised to “stand up” to “ensure that District V receives its fair share” of revenues; “to return District V to the table;” “to abolish old and outdated mandates;” “to return extracurricular activities” to our schools; and “to strengthen parental and community involvement” in our schools.
It’s long past time for someone to “stand up” and stand tall for the benefit of the entire school district and for the children we’re trying to educate.
Ruth Veales is that person. She is willing to “stand up,” and we should stand with her and vote overwhelmingly for her on Tuesday, Feb. 9!
