How I Was Re-elected to the Live Oak School Board, Santa Cruz
By Paul Franklin
Green Party of California

	Paul Franklin

My campaign for a second term began with my first day of service in December 2002. I resolved to act with diligence, impartiality and integrity when addressing financial audits, the budget, policy and staffing issues. The board was able to convince local voters to pass a $14.5 million bond for facilities upgrades. During this time I earned the confidence of my fellow board members and was elected as board president.

My campaign began with a statement of qualification for the sample ballot in early August, something I'd declined to do in 2002. I paid $690 for printing costs, in English and Spanish, to go out to about 13,000 voters. I learned the race for three open seats would be contested by four candidates, but I was the only one to publish a bi-lingual statement languages, in a district that is over 30 percent Hispanic/Latino. I followed this up with a modest candidate web site - www.votepaulfranklin.org - the only one in this race.

I participated in three candidate forums and received favorable publicity from the Santa Cruz Sentinel. I attended most school events, receiving endorsements from the teacher's association, three former board members, one current board member, two former mayors of Santa Cruz, a former mayor of Santa Monica and several teachers, along with the local Green Party. I recorded a short candidate "commercial" at the local community television studio as part of a free service they offered all local candidates. (From viewing this two-minute segment I came to appreciate I have more work to do towards developing my public presentation style and skills.)

Despite the teachers' association conducting an evening of phone banking, I didn't organize any phone banking myself. Plus, I declined to post yard signs and didn't engage in a direct mailing as I had in 2002due to insufficient funds. I also did not campaign on Election Day, rather volunteered as I have since 2002, as a poll worker, as part of my commitment to support democracy in a more general sense. 

I feel gratified to have placed second by a comfortable 700 votes, garnering 28 percent more than I did in 2002. I look forward to investing back into the District the leadership skills, more astute business acumen and student-centered educational sensibilities that I have acquired over the previous four years.

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