Why I won’t ever vote for Marcelino Quinoñez of Phoenix, AZ.

If anyone in Phoenix is planning on voting for Marcelino Quinoñez, Roosevelt School district #66 board member, for any office I would caution you. After meeting him twice and personally engaging with him once, I feel as if he is just paying lip service to the cause of excellent education. I spoke with him about the lack of a gifted program in the district and explained that my children would be going to a charter school next year. Instead of assuring me that my concern was valid, he chose to bad mouth the school I chose. He told me that Bernard Black had received a B rating. That my chosen school had only been open for two years and only had a D rating. I attempted to explain that while the rating at my chosen school was low right now, so was Black’s when I enrolled my students two years ago. I went on to explain that from the research that I had done on my chosen school, that the conditions seemed to be a better fit for my children to thrive. His response was a smug and condescending “well you can make the decision that best for your children, of course.” To me a more fitting response would have been, “I understand your concern. The budget has not allowed for a dedicated gifted program but I will discuss your concern with the other board members. I wish your children continued success wherever they attend school.” But I guess it’s kind of hard to come up with talking points outside of campaigning for the next office you plan to hold. (He won the school board election in 2012. He is running for district 27 state rep now. Seems that the school board position was only to get his foot in the political door.) I personally will be voting for whoever runs against him because we have enough non civil servants in the game.