3 Pasco school incumbents are needed as district readies for major growth | Opinion

In just four months this year, four of the five seats on Pasco School Board saw turnover by election or by resignation. We recommend that voters choose stability by electing three incumbent directors.

In recent years, the district’s nearly 19,000 students have fallen short academically as measured by the Washington State Report Card. Less than one-third met English language arts and science standards, and only 22% met math standards. Those rates are well below statewide performance. About one-fifth of Pasco students don’t graduate high school in four years.

One can chalk some of those struggles to the pandemic, but Pasco schools lagged other districts even before anyone had heard of COVID-19.

The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board interviewed candidates and reviewed their records and qualifications in deciding whom to recommend in each race. We commend all of the candidates for stepping up to run. Competitive elections elevate the public discourse and give voters a choice, which is a cornerstone of democracy.

Voters can view all of our recommendation and our endorsement interviews online at tri-cityherald.com. In two of the races, we were unable to schedule interviews with both candidates. Normally we would not make a recommendation in those races unless a strong candidate is running against someone with clear disqualifiers.

District No. 1: Vincent Guerrero

The Pasco School Board appointed Vincent Guerrero to the vacant District No. 1 seat in April after interviewing several candidates. We recommend that voters ratify the board’s decision. The district covers much of southwest Pasco.

It’s easy to see why the board chose him. Guerrero holds a master’s degree in public administration. He has two children enrolled in the district. And he is active in the community. He is the sort of people-focused leader who can build consensus and connect with the public.

Guerrero tried hard to make himself available for an endorsement interview, but his opponent, Steve Norberg, was nonresponsive. A look at Norberg’s online presence hints at why he might not want the public to know too much. It’s a dive into fringe, far-right conspiracies and ideology. Given those views, it’s doubtful that Norberg would support state and federal law unreservedly.

District No. 2: John Kennedy

John Kennedy ran unopposed for the seat representing downtown and southeast Pasco last year. He has to run again because the new district-based system needs staggered elections. In his short time on the board, he has proved a thoughtful leader who listens to students and parents. We recommend voters stick with him.

Kennedy’s opponent, Gabriel Lucatero, is barely running a campaign. He provides no contact information, a minimal statement in the Voters’ Guide and was unresponsive to interview requests. An unserious candidate doesn’t deserve serious consideration by voters.

Position 5: Rosa Torres

The Pasco School Board appointed Rosa Torres to fill a vacancy in February. At the time, she became the only Latino member of the board in a district where about three-quarters of students are Hispanic. Voters might recall that the reason the district switched to geographic board positions was to encourage Hispanic representation on the board.

All of which argues for keeping Torres, one of the best candidates we interviewed this year. She represents a critical constituency in the community. That’s important not just because she can speak to the needs and concerns of Hispanic residents but also because it is important for young people to see someone who looks like them in a leadership position. She can connect with the many families that don’t speak English at home.

It doesn’t hurt that Torres also is eminently qualified for the job. She is a University of Notre Dame-educated finance manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. When the board appointed her, she rose to the top of a field of 16 applicants.

Her opponent, Steve Simmons, is a former school board member who stepped down over a potential conflict of interest and now wants back on the board. He has cultivated political ties that put him at odds with a forward-looking school district and does not bring the same upside as Torres.