Incumbents Reelected to School Board
By John Earp
In the November 4th election this past Tuesday, Jal School Board President James Gooss and Vice President Amy Crawford won reelection. Gooss received 41% of the votes cast, with Crawford receiving 37%. Cruz-Martin Melchor Sanchez received 11%, and Julia Watson received 12%, with a total of 709 votes cast for the school board election. Gooss notably gave the most verbose interview of any of Jal candidate interviewed this election cycle, laying out his priorities for the district and emphasizing, “My experience really matters. I’m really proud that I have a proven track record of progress that I did not achieve by myself, obviously, but as a member of a team, and for many years as the president of that team or an officer of that team. I have a proven track record. I want to continue to build on the foundation that we’ve already created. You know, we’ve maintained fiscal responsibility, always putting student achievements and staff support at the top of that priority. And lastly, I’ve always focused on providing a safe and very modern and supportive learning environment for our staff and specifically our students. I’m an advocate for public schools, and I have some sweat equity in this. I own it. I believe it. I’m a part of it. I’m responsible to it. I’m responsible for it. And of course, I want to see not only my grandchildren who are here now, but every student achieve and be safe and happy and be greeted and known as an individual.” Mrs. Crawford did not respond to a request to be interviewed about her candidacy, with no reason given.