As Seattle Public Schools enters a spiraling crisis of mismanagement, underfunding, and the possible closure of schools, the school board needs a new leader with a strong background in data-informed problem solving, coalition building, and effective advocacy. That’s why we’re endorsing Ben Gitenstein for District 3.
Ben Gitenstein will lead the fight to save our schools from closure and resist the district’s push for austerity, which will harm kids and drive even more families to abandon public education. Together with our other endorsed candidate, Debbie Carlsen, Gitenstein has held town halls across Seattle, bringing members of the public together to discuss common problems, articulate collaborative solutions, and chart a better course for our public schools.
Gitenstein brings two decades of experience working to pass legislation and obtain funding needed to meet the needs of Seattle residents. When Gitenstein served as director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance in the 2000s he proved his ability to build coalitions to make major progress on affordable housing. “Though he served as Executive Director for less than two years, from 2006 to mid-2008, Ben Gitenstein moved mountains in the work of renewing the Housing Alliance,” according to the Alliance.
His work led to the Washington State Housing Trust Fund growing to more than $100 million for the first time, as well as the passage of nearly a dozen bills to help house the homeless and protect renters.
These skills will be absolutely essential for a member of the school board in this urgent moment. The board desperately needs leadership that knows how to work with the legislature to obtain the funding we need to avert devastating cuts that will hurt our kids. Gitenstein’s track record proves he is the candidate in the District 3 race who can win the funding we need in Olympia.
Gitenstein has support from nearly every Democratic Party organization in the city, along with key legislative leaders like Rep. Frank Chopp and Sen. Jamie Pedersen. An unprecedented list of former school board members, including former presidents and progressive champions Leslie Harris and Sue Peters, are backing Gitenstein. Christie Robertson, a progressive candidate who we endorsed in the primary, has also endorsed Gitenstein for this position.
The other candidate in this race, Evan Briggs, lacks the experience needed to succeed on the school board, especially compared to Gitenstein and particularly in this moment of crisis. Briggs is aligned with the current majority on the school board and was recruited by Chandra Hampson to take her place and uphold a failed status quo. We cannot count on Briggs to fight against closing public schools or resist the anti-union, pro-austerity financial policy the board is considering.
The outcome of this race may decide the future of public education in Seattle. We can’t afford to get it wrong. Vote for Ben Gitenstein for District 3!