The following are candidates' responses to the following questions: Incumbents only: With School District 43's recent difficulties, which resulted in $13.4 million in cost cutting, and a forensic audit noting lack of control and monitoring resulted in a deficit in 2012/'13, why should anyone vote for you, an incumbent who was on the board when it happened? To non-incumbents only: If you are elected, what issue would you bring to the board's attention? To all: What is your reason for running for school trustee? Also: Do you think there is enough transparency about what goes on in the school district? If not, how would you change it?
Retired, Incumbent, 21 years on board of education, lives in Sooke
Deficit issue: "We are beginning to implement all 14 recommendations from the forensic audit. We have set up a finance committee with trustee representatives and controls, quarterly reports. We are setting up a training program for principals and staff and we expect regular reports from staff on it."
Why run: "I want to continue working with my colleagues and professionals in our district in ensuring the board places students first in decision-making. And I want to also ensure that partisan politics are not part of the reason the board makes a decision."
Transparency: "I think we do our best to try to get our information out to the public but it never seems to be enough. Maybe we need to do a town hall meeting or have a place in the media to get our message out. I believe trustees do need to get our message out better."
