The candidates for Kennewick School Board, Position 5, are veteran campaigner Uby Creek on her third attempt and newcomer Brian Brooks. Brooks was recently selected by the school board over Creek for a temporary board vacancy. Voters have also said "no" two times to Creek in past elections. In 2009 she received only 41 percent of the votes, nearly handing her opponent a landslide victory.

Her support dropped by close to 1,300 votes between the 2007 to 2009 elections. Voters recognized her position to change the current focus on popular and effective reading and catchup programs to be detrimental for kids. In this year's primary, voters cast nearly as many votes for Brooks, a relatively unknown candidate, as they did for Creek.

Despite these outcomes, she continues to push the same platform and suggests she deserves your vote because she is Hispanic and speaks Spanish. However, Brooks has lived in Latin America and speaks Spanish in his therapy practice. Currently serving on the board, Brooks is gaining valuable experience. He continues efforts to qualify himself, studying past years' board minutes and spending hours listening to voters concerns. For continued excellence that will focus on all kids, vote Brian Brooks.

Patty Kessie, Kennewick