In 1974, as a senior at St. Cloud High School, I was picked for many awards, recognitions and positions. I really didn't "run" for anything. I liked people and treated them, as much as I knew how as a teenager, as I wanted to be treated. I was Miss St. Cloud High School, Most Likely to Succeed, Most Dependable, Girls State Representative, Senior Class President, all of which helped shape me into who I am today, and I am thankful my school mates thought highly of me. However, I wasn't always the "best" candidate for the position. When I think of the job I did as Senior Class President, I know now that Glen Reed would have been a far better choice. He had visions beyond St. Cloud and wanted us to go to Washington D.C. for our Senior Class trip. How cool would that have been? I opted for the easy way out, the traditional way out, St. Augustine here we come...again. Ahhh, the inexperience of youth. Glen was by far the "best" candidate because he would have brought to the position a broader perspective I did not have then that could have opened the eyes of an entire senior class.
A good candidate sees beyond what is right in front of them. Life experience and an open, curious mind are great characteristics for a candidate for any elected position, including the school board. They help broaden the perspectives used to make decisions. I now have a rich variety of life experiences to bring to the table. Along with that, a good candidate has experience making hard decisions and fearlessly follows them through to the end with all faith in those decisions. I did that when I worked at the school district; I did that when I ran Marcal Growers, I do that every day running Midtown Cycles.
A good candidate handles finances with thoughtfulness and always as if the "pot of money" involved is his or her own money. A good candidate cherishes and holds good credit. Understanding money is not something everyone does naturally, but I understand it, and I know what it takes to take limited funds and maximize every possibility to make those funds work for the most good. Maybe credit scores should be made public for those of us running for office. They say something about our values. There are hardship cases that change that for some, but as a whole, good credit is an important marker.
A good candidate has a strong work ethic, envisions outcomes for the work at hand both short term and long term, and uses acquired knowledge, creative vision, and good advice to approach difficult problems. A good candidate works well with others, always trying to communicate and share and build together, but also knowing that voting alone against many others does not mean he or she does not care for the team. It means he or she is not afraid to stand for principles and well thought out decisions.
Life has been a wonderful teacher to me. I've grown immensely since 1974. I wasn't a "good" candidate for Senior Class President then even though I won the title, but I am a "good" candidate now. I believe I am the very best candidate you could vote for to fill the position of Osceola County School Board District 5, and I will throw in "Most Dependable" as icing on the cake.
A good candidate sees beyond what is right in front of them. Life experience and an open, curious mind are great characteristics for a candidate for any elected position, including the school board. They help broaden the perspectives used to make decisions. I now have a rich variety of life experiences to bring to the table. Along with that, a good candidate has experience making hard decisions and fearlessly follows them through to the end with all faith in those decisions. I did that when I worked at the school district; I did that when I ran Marcal Growers, I do that every day running Midtown Cycles.
A good candidate handles finances with thoughtfulness and always as if the "pot of money" involved is his or her own money. A good candidate cherishes and holds good credit. Understanding money is not something everyone does naturally, but I understand it, and I know what it takes to take limited funds and maximize every possibility to make those funds work for the most good. Maybe credit scores should be made public for those of us running for office. They say something about our values. There are hardship cases that change that for some, but as a whole, good credit is an important marker.
A good candidate has a strong work ethic, envisions outcomes for the work at hand both short term and long term, and uses acquired knowledge, creative vision, and good advice to approach difficult problems. A good candidate works well with others, always trying to communicate and share and build together, but also knowing that voting alone against many others does not mean he or she does not care for the team. It means he or she is not afraid to stand for principles and well thought out decisions.
Life has been a wonderful teacher to me. I've grown immensely since 1974. I wasn't a "good" candidate for Senior Class President then even though I won the title, but I am a "good" candidate now. I believe I am the very best candidate you could vote for to fill the position of Osceola County School Board District 5, and I will throw in "Most Dependable" as icing on the cake.
Peace. Love, Linda
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