ExtraCredit: Modesto City Schools Board Election, Day 2

I put in a prediction that Marks, Cline, Zwahlen and Villalobos would be the top 4 - I thought Solange Altman had an outside chance.

The biggest shocker was incumbent Belinda Rolicheck coming in last place - who ran her campaign, Michelle? Whoever it was is probably kicking himself right now. How do you go from being an incumbent with the backing of the Modesto Teachers Association four years ago to placing last among nine candidates - and having an inexperienced 24-year-old candidate in Josh Vander Veen beating out Rolicheck no less.

What got me, Michelle, was seeing Belinda's "Re-Elect Rolicheck" signs in the right of way along Standiford Avenue near Conant (west of Prescott). The apparent sign violation didn't help her at all. 

It's hard to analyze the race too much since there were no exit polls or much surveying, but I think Belinda and Steve campaigned on the achievements of the district over the last couple of years.  They probably knew that might cost them the campaign, with so many employees and community members voicing concern over issues like communication and leadership.

Michelle

I enjoyed your post...  thank you. 

I think one of the problems Steve Collins and Belinda Rolicheck had stemmed from a similar problem Kimberly Spina and Steven Grenbeaux may have when their current terms expire.  They seemed to be too close to the Superintendent (Flores) and more concerned with pleasing him rather than the parents who pay their salaries. 

Marks, Cline, Zwahlen, and Villalobos all ran as people who will be independent of the Superintendent and who will keep an open line of communication with school district employees.  The voters want that in elected officials (be it a school board, city council, state or Federal official).  Voters want to know that the people they vote into office will listen to their voice and not be tied down to a superintendent, mayor, political party boss. 

Voters are smarter than some give them credit... when an attitude of "I'm in charge here" alienates the voters... they will vote that person out.  That seems to be the case in this election. 

Hopefully those in office will remember that...

there are 13,400 undervotes.  It appears as though a substantial amount of the voters supported less than four candidates and by doing so enhanced the chances of their selected candidates to prevail.

Rolicheck has got to be the biggest surprise of the election for me.  I am not involved one way or another, but it just seems impossible for her to have garnered such anemic totals.

Thanks for the comments!!

Bmoore3 -- loved your post.  I think A LOT of people feel the same way.

sdm -- I'm checking with an elections expert about undervotes.  I'm sure for some voters it's a strategy, but there are others who probably only support two or three people.

airportprotector -- Belinda didn't raise a lot of money and didn't campaign (signs, mailers and hitting the pavement) very much.

Michelle

 "but it just seems impossible for her to have garnered such anemic totals."

People just did not vote for her... it is that simple.  People did not like the message and voted for their choice.  Just because it says you can vote up to four choices... does not mandate that you choose all four.  If you feel only two or three people are worthy of your vote, that is what you do...  She was rejected for how she positioned herself on the Board... the voters did not like what she was doing and chose not to vote for her...  nothing more… nothing less….

 P.S.  Thanks Michelle....

We all post, pissed and sometimes or many times tired, dog tired or with our spell-check on the blitz, but BM are you posting drunk?

You sound like some tipsy fool who should step away from the keyboard.

while your getting information, please check out as to how Joe Muratore's business partner had drawn the map for district -4 City Council Elections and Joe Muratore wins the election. How is that not a conflict of interest?

You should earn double credits on exposing political corruption....maybe?

When people disagree with you on the Hive (and I'm sure you know this) they resort to gutter talk.....  Nothing worth saying, so they start with "Umm BM..."  We all post... (and you read the rest)...  Or they go off making accusations and innuendos that someone did something, or might have done something, or....   I just wish they could actually get on a thread and respond to what the thread is about.  Your thread started off interesting and worthy of note, however some just can not keep focused on what the subject is...."Modesto City School Board: What are your impressions about the race's apparent outcome?"

Well, better luck next time. You can only try...

You kids get to stay up late.

Stay off the computer, your making fools out of both of you.

Damn I get tired being one person. How tired does a person get being 1, 2, 3, people.

I think it would take Hurcules to carry that off....

pfffttt.

Wayne2008 -- I cover schools and we have another reporter covering the City Council races, so I'm sure they're aware of your point of view, but I'll remind them.

Everyone else -- Let's try to stay on topic.  Thanks!!!

Michelle