Latest news with #EllenAronson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
TNT Endorsement: Puyallup School District Board Pos. 1
In the election for a Puyallup School District board member, voters have a good problem: two great candidates. One of the editorial board members at this newspaper even called them 'uniquely excellent.' Ultimately, we chose to endorse Ellen Aronson because of her longstanding work in the Puyallup schools community and deep familiarity with the issues faced by the district. Melissa Bedford is also highly qualified. Another candidate, Frank Archer, didn't participate in the endorsement process. Aronson, 39, has lived in Puyallup almost 20 years, and has a 9th grader and a 5th grader in the city's public school system. She says she got her start at the Washington state legislature, working in the civic education program and with college-age interns, and as a committee assistant. Now in nonprofit development, Aronson also worked closely on two bond measures this year that would have raised money for new construction needed to replace aging school buildings. In sequential elections, the bond measures failed. This was despite winning a comfortable majority of votes both times — the high bar required by law to pass bonds meant even a 60% yes vote wasn't enough. In an interview with the editorial board, Aronson spoke compellingly about Puyallup's need for updated facilities, especially Spinning and Waller Road elementary schools. She said public trust needs to be restored for more residents to support a bond at a time when voters are highly sensitive to tax measures. She added she has learned how to build consensus in her community through leadership roles in organizations like Mothers of Preschoolers and her church. Aronson also spoke of the importance of building the community's values into the school district's policies. That would include commitments to making students feel welcome no matter their racial or ethnic background or whether they face adversities like homelessness. Voters also have a great choice in Bedford, who has been in education for almost 20 years as a school teacher, a college professor with a doctorate in education, and an elected school board member in Spokane. Bedford, 39, is now a fourth grade teacher in the Seattle Public School District and lives in Puyallup. Bedford also has experience building relationships and understanding the issues in a school district. She also has done her homework on Puyallup. She spoke of listening to Puyallup students and families talk about their experiences and attending city council meetings. She also said she would have held off on putting the failed bond measure on the ballot for a second time until a later election when more voters were likely to come out, and focused on educating the community about the severity of the need for new buildings in the meantime. It's easy to imagine Bedford being a quick study when it comes to aspects of the district she's less familiar with. But Aronson has the edge with the relationships and knowledge she's already built up in Puyallup. The News Tribune Editorial Board is: Laura Hautala, opinion editor; Stephanie Pedersen, TNT president and editor; Jim Walton, community representative; Justin Evans, community representative; Bart Hayes, community representative. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Puyallup school bond back on ballot. Is there record of how you voted last time?
On Tuesday, April 22, voters will determine the fate of the Puyallup School District's $800 million bond measure once more. The bond got a 63% approval rating during a special election Feb. 13 but failed because it didn't reach the total voter-turnout threshold. If passed, the bond would allow the district to expand three high schools, replace three elementary schools – Mt. View, Spinning and Waller Road – and build a new elementary school near Emerald Ridge High School and Glacier View Junior High. In the lead-up to the second election, some voters received a text from the campaign supporting the measure, thanking them for voting 'yes' in the February election. 'Thank you for voting YES on Prop 1 in February!' the April 19 text said. 'While 64% of voters supported it, not enough people turned in their ballots for it to pass. Now we're back on the ballot so Puyallup schools can expand capacity, replace outdated buildings, and build a new elementary school for our growing community – all while maintaining the current tax rate!' The News Tribune reached out to the Yes campaign and asked about privacy concerns – specifically, whether it has a record of people who voted 'yes' in the previous election. 'We don't know HOW people voted but we did use a list of people who DID vote,' Ellen Aronson, spokesperson for the Yes campaign, wrote in a statement to The News Tribune. 'We are trying to reach out to voters and err on the side of optimism that they are [supporters.] Our goal was to remind our community to participate in the election tomorrow.' The News Tribune also reached out to Kyle Haugh at the Pierce County Elections Office. He confirmed that Washington state law does not release how voters voted. 'If you voted, it's public record,' Haugh said. 'But how you voted? Never.' Voters have until 8 p.m. to turn in their ballots. For more information on drop box locations, sample ballots and more, visit the Pierce County Elections website at In our Reality Check stories, The News Tribune journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? realitycheck@
