The four candidates running for Tucson United School District (T.U.S.D.) Governing Board were interviewed by Kimberly Craft for KUAT AZ Illustrated, to air at 6:30 p.m tonight on Channel 6. The four are: Adelija Grijalva (incumbent), Michael Hicks, Miguel Ortega, and Armand Salese.

I reported on these candidates on August 5 (click here), before the fifth candidate Dr. Cassandra Bolden was later found ineligible (click here) due to less than the required signatures (400) on her petition.

The KUAT interview online consisted of 4 questions to all four candidates:

1. What are your objectives in seeking this position?
2. How do you intend to improve the quality of students’ education?
3. What qualities are you looking for in a new Superintendent?
4. How do you aim to improve the district’s image and improve the relationship with the community?

To view this interview on KUAT, click here or view it below. This election for 2 seats will be on November 2nd ballot (General Election).

Judge Richard E. Gordon of the Arizona Superior Court issued a ruling on Friday invalidating the candidacy of Dr. Cassandra Bolden for T.U.S.D. governing board, due to less than the required number of valid signatures (400).

Three petitions were filed in Arizona Superior Court on August 17 and 18 challenging the validity of some of the signatures submitted by candidates Dr. Bolden (who works at the Tucson Urban League) and also by Michael Hicks (who works for the City of Tucson’s Transportation Dept.)

Since Bolden only submitted 398 signatures (less than the minimum required),when 29 of the signatures were found invalid, her candidacy was no longer viable, and her name will not be on the November ballot.

Hicks’ petition challenge was ruled valid by Judge Gordon. Hicks issued a press release about the petition challenge on August 26 (click here.) Although 65 signatures on his petition were found invalid, he had 420 valid ones, over the minimum required.

Two separate petitions were filed against Dr. Bolden by Ralph Lim, and Jan Allard. The petition against Michael Hicks was filed by Ruben Carlos Romero. Bolden submitted 398 signatures and Hicks submitted 485 signatures by the deadline of August 4, in order to qualify to run for one of 2 seats open on the the T.U.S.D. Governing Board.

According to the Pima County School Superintendent’s Office August 18 was the deadline to file petition challenges to these governing board candidates’ signatures. The filing fee for such petitions in Superior Court is $236. The Judge assigned to these petitions has 10 days from the filing date to schedule a hearing and to determine the validity of the challenges. Hearings on these petitions were held on August 25 and 26. Bolden did concede that she did not have enough valid signatures in court.

See my earlier blog (with photos) announcing the 5 candidates seeking two seats up for election this November. (click here)

The other candidates are Ward 3 Council aide Miguel Ortega, attorney Armand Salese, and incumbent Governing Board member Adelita Grijalva, who has served since 2003. There were no petition challenges filed against these 3 candidates.

Questions about these petition challenges can be directed to Ricky Hernandez (Chief Financial Officer) at 520-740-8451, Pima County School Superintendent’s Office.

The TUSD Governing Board sets policy for Tucson Unified School District, the largest school district in Tucson (K-12), and meets monthly at 1010 E. 10th Street in the Robert D. Morrow Education Center. Their website is http://www.tusd.k12.az.us/contents/govboard/govboard.html. Governing board members are unpaid volunteers, and are usually people passionate about education, with education backgrounds.

Who filed to run for the 2 seats on this board this year? Each term is for four years. With 2 openings, these are the names below of candidates who gathered about 400 signatures to be on the Nov. 2nd ballot, by the deadline of 5 p.m. yesterday August 4th, per the office of Linda Arzoumanian, School Superintendent.

1. Dr. Cassandra Bolden, Program Facilitator (educational programs) of Tucson Urban League
2. Adelita Grijalva, incumbent board member (has served 2 terms since 2003)
3. Michael Hicks, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Manager for City of Tucson, Dept. of Transportation
4. Miguel Ortega, Council Administrative Assistant to Ward 3 Councilwoman Karin Uhlich (formerly Chief of Staff)
5. Armand Salese, J.D., attorney in private practice, ran for this office before in November, 2004

Current board members:
–President : Judy Burns (term expires 12/31/2012)
–Clerk: Miguel Cuervas (term expries 12/31/2012)
–Bruce Burke, J.D. (not seeking re-election this year)
–Adelita Grijalva, seeking re-election this year, daughter of Congressman Raul Grijalva (CD 7), who is also up for re-election
–Dr. Mark Stegeman (term expires 12/31/2012)

Good luck to these non-partisan candidates, as governing T.U.S.D. is not an easy job, with upcoming school closures and a struggling budget due to the economy. Interim Superintendent is Dr. John Carroll.

Questions about these T.U.S.D. candidates and other school district Governing Board candidates can be directed to 520-740-8451 (Pima County School Superintendent’s Office).

Photo of Dr. Cassandra Bolden not available at press time

Board member Adelita Grijalva

Michael Hicks

Miguel Ortega

Armand Salese, J.D.