In an unexpected twist, the 2012 Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Education election saw one candidate who previously bowed out of the race nab third place out of six hopefuls.
Amy Porter Jensen, a candidate who wasn’t sure if she wanted the seat, announced Wednesday morning that she does, in fact, intend to assume her spot on the school board dais. Porter Jensen publicly announced in early October her decision to withdraw and also notified the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters – but her name still ended up on the ballot.
“The process was more than I had anticipated, and with time restraints, I decided it best not to campaign,” explained the 33-year-old Live Oak High School alumna whose daughter is a sophomore at the school. “But I was elected and I am going to accept.”
An agriculture planner by day at Sakata Seeds in Morgan Hill, Porter Jensen decided to run because she “cares about the students, parents and staff of MHUSD.”
“As a parent,” she continued, “I know that we may not always feel we are heard and our needs are being met in regards to our children’s education, and I would love to have the opportunity to work as a liaison between parents and the administration to assure that the main focus is on our children’s education and success.”
Porter Jensen will join the seven-member school board alongside first-time candidate Rick Badillo.
At 20.9 percent, Badillo, 41, took the lead over 62-year-old appointed incumbent Bob Benevento (19.26 percent), who initially led the pack.
The three seats, which are four-year terms, became vacant after trustees Peter Mandel and Kathy Sullivan decided not to seek re-election after two terms each. Trustee Bob Benevento’s appointed term is expiring.
Final tallies capped off at 5,906 votes for Badillo; 5,421 for Benevento; 5,103 (18.13 percent) for Porter Jensen; 4,002 (14.22 percent) for Klem; 3,927 (13.95 percent) for Marty Cheek; and 3,783 (13.44 percent) for Brenda Cayme.
The unexpected appearance of Porter Jensen’s name on the ballot muddled the process somewhat for voters and candidates alike, Benevento agreed.
“It is unfortunate, because who knows how the results may have turned out otherwise,” he said.
This isn’t an isolated incident, however. Benevento mentioned two past instances in local school board elections where the name of a candidate who previously backed out still ended up on the ballot.
“There is precedent, unfortunately, for this type of event right here in South County and Morgan Hill,” he said.
According to the Santa Clara County registrar of voters, a candidate who no longer wishes to run must withdraw their name before the Aug. 10 close of the nomination period. Porter Jensen withdrew in early October.
Badillo takes an objective stance. He “absolutely” thinks it’s fair for Porter Jensen to assume her seat.
“She has their vote of confidence, and they voted for her,” he resolved. “If you don’t give someone an opportunity to fail, you’re not giving them an opportunity to succeed.”
Badillo won by a margin of 288 votes. The 41-year-old Navy veteran is the father of two Jackson Academy of Music and Math students and works for his family-owned construction business, R. Badillo & Sons.
After encountering “rough seas” during the five years his children have attended Jackson – Badillo is also on the school site council and sits on the District Advisory Committee – “I thought I could make a difference, rather than complain,” he reasons. “I figure I could either be a part of the problem, or a part of the solution. And I choose to matter. I want to hear people’s concerns. I want to know what the problems are so we can try and fix them.”
Like many other school board candidates, one of Badillo’s top concerns is that a majority of MHUSD schools are in Program Improvement – the government’s label for when students don’t meet requirements on state tests. Bolstering early intervention for struggling students and increasing collaboration between administrators will help address this, said Badillo, whose mantra is “one day and one issue at a time.”
Incumbent Benevento finished second with 5,288 votes out of more than 27,000 cast in Morgan Hill, San Martin and South San Jose.
Benevento was appointed to the board in 2010 and is a small business owner of Lobo Enterprise. He and his wife have four children from a blended family; three are in college and one daughter is a junior at Sobrato High School this fall.
Benevento is looking forward to seeing the $198 million Measure G bond – which the MHUSD board unanimously voted to place on the November ballot – work its magic. The new revenue stream will pay for needed facility upgrades, but even better, says Benevento, are the pending benefits to student instruction. He’s gung-ho on improving classrooms, installing new laboratories and bringing the district’s technology infrastructure out of the dark ages.
“My passion right now is to develop a career pathways program in our high schools,” he said. “My concerns are our graduation rates, which are not as high as we would like them to be. I want to make our students aware of what options are available when they exit high school.”
Superintendent Wes Smith commented on the selection of the three new school board trustees, pointing out the “interesting dynamic, because (superintendents) don’t select our boss.”
“I really don’t get very involved emotional or otherwise, because you never know. I’ve always said if we come from different places, but our goals are making kids feel safe and educating them, then whoever got elected I know we can work together.”
Close margin between Klem and Cheek
Candidate Stephen Klem came in fourth place with 3,916 votes.
After attending numerous back-to-school meetings, board of education meetings and the Oct. 4 candidate forum, Klem – a salesman for a wholesale heating and air conditioning company called Slakey Brothers – was honest about his disappointment. The father of a Barrett Elementary School teacher, Klem was encouraged by his son-in-law, Gavilan College Board member Jonathan Brusco, to try his hand at school district governance.
“The MHUSD race was a tight one and there were obviously some surprises,” said Klem, in a statement issued Wednesday morning. “Either way she chooses, I respect Mrs. Porter Jensen’s decision and hope that the new board will put in the time and effort to make great decisions that benefit the children in this district.”
Fifth-place candidate Marty Cheek trailed Klem by 85 votes.
Cheek is an author, MHAT volunteer and former Morgan Hill Times columnist. His campaign theme was “student excellence.” Cheek said he’s “definitely glad I decided to run.”
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” said Cheek, who mingled cheerfully Tuesday evening with friends and supporters between Ladera Grill and Rosy’s at the Beach in downtown Morgan Hill. “I was reluctant at first, but in my heart I really care about kids … I want to help the schools out.”
Cheek comes from a long line of educators. His father was a teacher at San Benito High School in Hollister, his sister is a teacher, his grandfather and great-grandmother were teachers and one of his ancient ancestors, “Sir John Cheke” was even a “tutor to the Tudors,” according to Cheek. He says running again for the MUHSD School Board in another two years could be in the cards.
“I have all the signs. I might as well put them to use in two years,” he said, jokingly.
Candidate Brenda Cayme, a 47-year-old mother of two students at Paradise Elementary School, came in sixth place with 3,658 votes.
Cayme, who enjoyed dinner Tuesday evening surrounded by family and friends at Dutchman’s Pizza in Morgan Hill, told the Times earlier that night that if elected, she hopes to be “the voice for the kids who don’t have the voices. Who are afraid to speak up. I’m not only fighting for everyone, but especially for those who don’t have that voice,” she said.
For someone who belongs to a community organization called Padres Unidos, which aims to ensure all children receive an equal education, Cayme’s intentions certainly correlate with her campaign slogan: “Actions speak louder than words.”
