Representative Riecken Endorses Jan Stricklin for School Board

Dear Vanderburgh County Voters;

There is a candidate running for a position on the school board who is a breath of fresh air, who brings new energy and excitement,  who cares about school employees, will watch the budget and most importantly, who wants to improve our children’s public school education.  Her name is Jan Stricklin.

Jan impressed me the first time I met her.  She was straight forward in her comments. She was sincere in her desire to run for office.

I asked her about the recent controversy over employee health insurance.  Jan answered that it was unacceptable an employee would have to take a child off her insurance to afford insurance payments and still leaving her with only enough money from her paycheck for a meal or two; and, that it was unacceptable that a mother who for several months must write a check for her insurance because her bi-weekly paycheck won’t cover the cost.  Jan thought something was wrong about that picture. I agree.  Jan will do something about it.

Jan Stricklin has a strong personality.  You can be assured her vote on board matters will be an independent one. Her decisions will be founded on facts.  She is detail-oriented, a person who researches, who asks questions.

Jan has a sense of fairness when she talks about school issues. I know her vote on school board matters will be inclusive, she’ll listen to differing points of view. Just by her presence, all board members will be encouraged to hear from the public before a vote is taken, which is not the case now.

Jan Stricklin is respectful of others.  With her there it will be impossible for one board member to bully another, as is rumored happens in closed door meetings.  You and I don’t approve of bullying on the playground and we, as a public, should make sure it doesn’t happen in the school boardroom.  We owe it to our children to vote in a member who will not be quiet if it is tried again.

Jan will offer an important perspective, more and more common today, i.e.,  Jan is a non-traditional college graduate.  Jan graduated from North High School..  As an adult Jan realized that to get ahead she needed to continue her education.  She went back to school studying at the University of Evansville and graduating with a BLS degree in 2000.  Today she owns her own real estate company.
Jan will make responsible decisions about spending taxpayers’ money.

As a single mother who raised a daughter, she knows how hard it is to make ends meet.  Running her own business takes “smarts” and a responsible attitude about money.  Jan once worked for a Superintendent of School as his secretary.  She can add these experiences to a better understanding of the finance issues facing schools today.

When you think of the decisions that have to be made in the best interests of our children, I can’t say enough about Jan Stricklin and her candidacy for District 1, School Board member.  She will be responsible and accountable to you and me.  She will be respectful of fellow board members, administration officials and employees,  and she will ask the questions that need to be asked before a vote is taken.  She has knowledge of financing and has worked in the school environment in the past.
Jan Stricklin will help gain back our trust and confidence in our school board.  “It is time for a change”.  It is time for Jan Stricklin.  Please vote for Jan Stricklin on November 4.

Sincerely,

Gail Riecken

District 77 State Representative

Posted by City County Observer without bias, editing or opinion