Alma Lara
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Karen Derr, At Large #1
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Lane Lewis, District A
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Brenda Stardig, District A
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Natasha Kamrani, HISD Trustee in District I, not running for re-election
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Dexter Handy, District G
George Foulard, District G
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A few days ago, I sent Ms. Lara the following email, to which she did not reply. Her failure to reply suggsts to me that, indeed, she does not disagree with the teachers’ union on even one important issue. Is that a good thing? Not to me.
—– Original Message —–
From: Bathus
To: info@almalara.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 1:38
Subject: Alma Lara and the Unions
Dear Ms. Lara,
When you came by my house the other day, I was really too busy to talk much and didn’t want to keep you long standing there in the rain, but there is a question I wish I had asked you.
The campaign literature you gave me that day notes that your runoff opponent, Anna Eastman, has received contributions from groups and individuals that you say “are big supporters of vouchers and charter schools.” Because of that support, your literature raises the question, “Where will Eastman’s priorities be?”
Of course, someone could ask the same question about you “Where will Lara’s priorities be?” since you have received so much of your monetary support from unions, not just the teacher’s union, but also from plumber unions, the SEIU, etc. See the December 8, 2009 Houston Chronicle School Zone Blog which reports your contributions from Houston Educational Support Personnel ($5,000); Plumbers Local Union No. 68 PAC ($5,000); Houston Federation of Teachers ($3,800); HOPE SEIU Committee on Public Education ($1,500).
Having met you and followed your campaign pretty closely, I think you are a very good person personally and that you care about educating children, but I really do seriously question whether you have the independence of mind to stand up to the unions on any important issues.
So my simple question to you is:
CAN YOU TELL ME ONE OR TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING EDUCATION ABOUT WHICH YOU DISAGREE WITH THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, OR DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT UNION ABOUT ALL IMPORTANT ISSUES?
This is not a complicated question, so I hope you will find time to answer before noon Thursday (12/10/2009), because at that time, your answer (or your lack of an answer) will be published in several relevant places on the internet. If you do not answer, I will conclude that you agree with the Houston Federation of Teachers on all issues.
Thanks!
Bathus
Houston Heights