All four candidates running in the Nov. 7, 2023, general election for Academy School District 20 school board, At-large completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
The candidates are incumbent Heather Cloninger (nonpartisan), incumbent Will Temby (nonpartisan), Amy Shandy (nonpartisan), and Derrick Wilburn (nonpartisan).
Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Cloninger:
“I believe EVERY child deserves the right to an education. I believe EVERY child deserves a safe nurturing learning environment. I believe in a parent’s right to choose which school their children should attend. … I also strongly believe in our local control over our own districts. Just as we as parents know what’s best for our children, we as a board know what’s best for our district. I will watch out for all our students as I am on the board. …”
Temby:
“Foremost is education–especially school finance at the state level and IDEA full-funding at the Federal level. I am also passionate about local control as specified in the Colorado State Constitution.”
Shandy:
“I am passionate about returning D20 back to a focused mindset where the main things are the main things: reading, writing, math, science and civics. Implementing board policy that reflects the community’s vision and values for things like age-appropriate library books will help alleviate the distractions and return to an academic focus mindset.”
Wilburn:
“I am personally passionate about the erosion of parental rights. With very rare exceptions, nobody cares more about the welfare of children than their parents. They raise and nurture to the best of their abilities for 18 years. The very idea that a public institution, like the school system, can work against parents or be actively involved in deceiving or keeping information from parents ought to give pause to all. Schools must partner with the families.”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
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