Tell me you haven’t asked yourself this question for two reasons. Reason No. 1, it’s the obvious question to ask, and No. 2, it’s the question none of the current union candidates seem to have a good answer for – unless you count their answers stating they are running to maintain the successes of their incumbent opponents from the current Board of Education.

Because other than “I was a teacher” or “I have kids in the school district,” I really haven’t heard anything but platitudes and generalities from our (heavily) union-backed candidates trying to unseat our successful incumbents Andrea Haitz, Angela Lema and Will Jones.

And yes, I say that even though they’ve done several things I’ve disagreed with. Don’t think so? I’d urge you to just ask them if they’ve ever heard from me either personally or through this column. Truth is that every elected official is going to do something I don’t like, and chances are I’m gonna write about it. Yeah, that’s me admitting I just might be a local influencer.

But here’s the difference with the three public servants who are running for re-election on our school board: You can’t argue with their results.

Maybe that’s why when you look over the very professional, union-paid websites of the union candidates you see the same basic message: Either as a former teacher or now parent of a D51 kid or kids, they know what kids need and deserve for their education based in our values to create successful schools. Gee, even in its total generality, sounds a lot like what the current folks brought to the table and are already doing.

And you can add to the “I love kids” platitudes better teacher pay, improvement across the board in testing and grades and graduation, and fiscal responsibility for the current board. Which again begs the question: Why are you running? Because if the current board is already doing the job you are currently saying so desperately needs to be done, why aren’t you out canvassing to get them re-elected?

So, it must be hidden on your websites, and if one looks hard enough, it can be found. What I found were these two things: To keep religion and politics out of the classroom. And while I am sure our union-based, leftist candidates will do everything in their power to keep religion (which isn’t there) out of the classroom, I would fully expect them to doggedly do the opposite in putting politics (DEI and other leftist agendas) into it.

It’s too bad another opposite is true. Our schools did better when religion (Christianity) was the basis in founding our education system and we kept politics (statism) out of it. Then again, that’s the difference between public service and public force. And in anything government today, it tends to be about force.

Except oddly, lately in D51, where for the past four years, public service, what’s best for the kids and fiscal responsibility has come to the forefront and is unquestionably working. When one is leading from those areas with a servant’s heart, there’s no question who to vote for. And that’s Will, Andrea and Angela.

I mean, the only other reason I’ve seen to vote for one of the union candidates was the “Dances with Wolves” op-ed in the “daily” from the triumvirate who desire to run the county behind the curtain.

D51 isn’t the Great Wolf Lodge. It’s a massive organization and employer that is responsible for our kids’ education with nearly a billion dollars flowing through it every four years that needs responsible people at the helm.

It’s a good thing we already have those folks in place. Let’s keep them there.

In Truth and freedom.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com