Martinez for county schools

EDITOR,
I am writing in support of George Martinez for Santa Cruz County Office of Education Trustee, Area 1.
As someone not personally familiar with either candidate, I decided to look up each of the candidate’s websites, and I found Martinez’ website to be very informative and impressive. He has been involved in education for 32 years, beginning with Santa Cruz City Schools as a bilingual teacher-bilingual program coordinator, mathematics teacher, and mathematics department chair. In 1998, he was elected president of the Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers, Local 2030, and in 2004, he was elected president of the Early Childhood and K-12 Council of the California Federation of Teachers, where he participated in policy-setting committees at the local, state and national level. He is currently a commissioner for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which accredits private, religious and public schools.
I believe that George Martinez has the experience, the creativity and the negotiation skills necessary during these budget-cutting times. Check out his website at http://electmartinez.info.
On a completely different subject, I have to say that I agree with Mary Ammirati regarding our hometown citizen Pat Burrell (Letters, “Three cheers for hometown Giant,” Oct. 22). How often do we get to see one of our own up there on the big stage? Go Giants! Go Burrell!
And if you haven’t already, vote Nov. 2.
Helen Sullivan-Thompson, Boulder Creek