August 07, 2014

 

By Kenneth D. Miller

Assistant Managing Editor

   

Stellar Community Advocate and political pillar Brenda Marsh Mitchell spent her final days volunteering tirelessly for The George McKenna Campaign for Los Angeles School Board District 1 Seat.

 

As Ms. Brenda, as she had been affectionately called, was being prepared for her final resting place after succumbing to cardiac arrest during the early morning hours of Aug. 3, McKenna’s campaign staff was struggling to go on without her.

 

An ally of the late Dr. Marguerite LaMotte for whom the seat McKenna is vying, Ms. Brenda would have loved nothing more than to see McKenna become victorious on Tuesday August 12.

 

Thus as the special election draws near, Ms. Brenda’s home going ceremony will be held on Aug. 8 during the week McKenna’s campaign picked up another key endorsement.

 

Touting the enormous confidence they have in Los Angeles Unified School Board District 1 Seat candidate George McKenna, the Los Angeles School Police Association joined the growing list of prominent organizations to endorse McKenna for the August 12 Special Election.

 

“We have confidence in [George McKenna's] demonstrated ability to protect children in all school environments. As a principal and administrator he always put child safety first, including putting his own life on the line to protect the students under his care at gang-infested Washington Prep High School. Parents will rest well at night with George McKenna on the school board,” said Max Gonzalez, President, and Los Angeles School Police Association.

 

The McKenna campaign has picked up some big endorsements recently, but few make their campaign more proud than the expression of confidence by the men and women of the Los Angeles School Police.

 

A Prayer for Brenda Marsh Mitchell

 

The McKenna volunteer campaign staff began their work on Monday Aug. 4 with heavy hearts, now they would not have one of their most ardent supporters Brenda Marsh Mitchell.

 

The Rev. Jewett Walker, McKenna Campaign Director, opened the evening with a prayer for Marsh-Mitchell, thanking her and offering condolences to her family and friends.

 

Respected Journalists Continue to Expose Our Opponent's Lies

 

For the third time in the past 10 days, the LA Times called out opponent Alex Johnson for their shameful campaign of lies and smears. The Times, education reporter Howard Blume exposes several of their misrepresentations, including these two about George’s service as a state-appointed administrator at Compton Unified:

 

“A Johnson flier blames McKenna for inflating graduation rates in Compton, among other things. McKenna's actual role was to correct inflated rates, said former state administrator Randolph Ward, who now heads the San Diego County Office of Education. The mailer also says ‘McKenna was sued by parents for ordering teachers to falsify their students' grades.’ That characterization also is misleading, Ward said. At the time, the district was trying to end grade inflation and to halt the practice of moving students to the next grade level even if they lacked necessary academic skills.”

 

The McKenna team held fundraisers throughout the week, finalizing their plans to get voters to the polls on Election Day Tuesday Aug. 12.

 

“I’m not running to win a contest, I'm simply extending my service to children and the community by seeking a position on the school board where I can more effectively serve as a policymaker.  The system demands that I run for this office and I am committed with every fiber of my being to win this campaign,” McKenna said.

Category: Community