Third in a series.
Re: “Resentment That Never Dries up”
As the perceived stench of the unpleasant Culver City Democratic Club experience wafts away for School Board contender Anne Burke, a loyal Democrat, she makes a pledge: “We are moving forward, not looking back. When you have grudges, you can’t make decisions. You can’t be an active part of progression.”
As a founding member of the independent group United Parents of Culver City, Ms. Burke said she has had to devote campaign time to correcting misunderstandings or errant information about UPCC. “The good news is that it has gone smoothly,” she says. “People have been willing to listen and to accept.”
Prior to 2012, Ms. Burke said the PTA was the main path for parents seeking change. “But they were just individuals,” she said. “They didn’t have power.
“UPCC has changed that. We have a very active group of parents. Some of the UPCC’s critics think that we have been ‘way more calculating than anyone ever, ever was. Calculation never was the way we were.”
Smiling, about to edge into a laugh, Ms. Burke said to her interrogator, “If you had been in those ground-up meetings, you would have thought they were starting a hippie commune.”
Reaching back for a 1960s imitation, “there was talk of peace and love.”
And now, back to the School Board campaign that will be decided Nov. 3 – after voters have had a chance to digest the next candidates’ forum, Thursday night, 7 o’clock, in Council Chambers, sponsored by the League of Women Voters – with Frances Talbott White at the wheel.
Ms. Burke is running as a unique joint entry with Scott McVarish for the two open School Board seats.
Since the Democratic Club debacle, the team of Burke and McVarish has picked off one of the community’s choice endorsements, from the Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.
One of the first rules of community politics is to speak well of rivals, and Ms. Burke does.
Of opponent Dr. Kelly Kent she says, “I respect her tremendously.”
However, “in terms of true experience of what Scott and I have done for the School District, and what we have done personally,” Ms. Burke says the edge should go to her side.
With this background from Ms. Burke, it was striking to hear her say “I am new to Culver City.”
Really?
The East Coast native “moved here 10 years ago,” near native status as some yardsticks and lifespans go.
That, however, is a subject for the next time.
(To be continued)