The date on this California edition is November 6, 1991. I spent 8 years on the Board of the Salinas Union High School District. I don't think I got anything done at all. I was too abrasive. I needed to learn the art of negotiation. Not me. Lock and load. I really was about the only liberal ever to serve on that board, so it was not an easy go. At the moment, and I could come up with lots of stories, the three issues that come to mind, and those that perhaps I am most proud of are; 1) They were getting ready to tear down Salinas High School. I think I was somewhat instrumental in saving the front building from destruction. (One of my platform issues was that this is where John Steinbeck went to school. How could we tear it down. John Steinbeck did graduate from Salinas High School, just before this building was completed. His school was over on Alisal Street across from the Post office.) I knew this, but who cares. It worked. 2) I think I was instrumental in hiring the first Latino Superintendent and we had the audacity to make it a woman. I cannot even tell you what "they" did to her. It was very much like what the republicans in the House have done to Obama. 3) I think I was somewhat instrumental in getting "district elections" for the board. This expanded the board from five members to seven, and cut out districts which might be called Latino districts. What this did was to make the board overnight a Latino majority and this was after no Latino had ever been elected to that board.
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