Profile: Byron Barrett, Candidate for Albany Unified School District Board of Education

don August 25, 2012 at 07:03 pm

I DONT FEEL 5YRS HERE IN ALBANY ONE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TIME TO KNOW US SO I COULD NOT VOTE FOR SUCH PERSON EVEN IF HE THINKS HES BEST I WANT PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE OVER 10 YRS KNOW OUR WANTS NO PROGRESSIVE WAY OUT FORMS THANKS DON

don August 25, 2012 at 07:06 pm

SORRY NEED PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE AT LEAST 10YRS WHO KNOWS OUR TOWN AND PEOPLE HE MAYBE BEST BUT NOT VOTING FOR HIM NEED PROVE WHO HE REALLY IS ALSO NEED NO WAY OUT PROGRESSIVE TO MESS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WHICH WE STILL HAVE HIGH REGARDS OF DON

Peggy McQuaid August 27, 2012 at 11:26 am

I appreciate that you are running, Byron. I believe healthy competition encourages thoughtful discussion on policies and direction for the school district. I don't know you, but will be interested in hearing your ideas.

don August 27, 2012 at 05:18 pm

steve:not cutting you down your correct in one sense people we have now in office are in my oppinion far left we dont need that stuff our town is simple with best aval police fire schools no shootings or gangs just quiet simple life here my self been past pres jc albany rotory boarddirector ymca and include bussiness here over 35yrs.i also done work for 2 past pres regan and senior bush so ive seen much in my life and compared of what we have to others and answer is i always come here where people are warm friendly and has know how so tell me more of your self and sell yourself to us albanians thanks don george ee nasa ames ca

Steven Steve August 29, 2012 at 12:04 pm

@Don The arbitrary measure of 10 years implies at the 10 year mark, anyone who has called Albany home, is suddenly endowed with the 'our town' mental mind set. I think, and have thought, this approach leaves 'our town' relegated to an inferior status with regards to the rest of the world. If we are embracing large corporations who have zero years of living in our community and can immediately exit our community with our money, unlike home owners or residence; then we should examine our collective mindset of naively voting for he/she whos Albany residence is greater than or equal to X...it just strikes me as slightly 'Birther', and not really focused on what the community needs...which is EXCEPTIONAL leadership...something sorely lacking with Jock-Javendal and Cruela-Thompson.
Note: the monikers given to our politicians have there roots linked to each of their pasts. For instance, pandering to our sense of how special we are in Albany (versus anywhere else, where they love for their children is less, their schools are not 'good' as ours even if they score the same, etc) by wearing his AHS varsity jacket opens the door for such comments as referring to you as Jock. Cruella is a much easier nickname and she has a laundry list of issues which she favors over our community (e.g., Corporation Taxes versus long-term growth for our community).

don August 29, 2012 at 09:51 pm

ive been to other citys and always always wanted to come back to albany so again if your not in love with our town or city then move try another city i then feel you will know what we have here and you would move back i garanteeeeeeee you would if you did that if you then did come back you and all albany would then be in your court don

don August 29, 2012 at 09:55 pm

sorry of the dups dont know why double emails again sorry don

Holly McCroskey August 30, 2012 at 09:09 pm

My kids know his better than I know him, probably, but I assure you that Byron is a fine member of the Albany community. We're neighbors, we've visited each other's homes, the kids play together and have sometimes been classmates, we see each other at all of the school events. How does the length of time one has lived in Albany, or having moved away and then come back, "prove who you are"?
I believe that the AUSD board is in desperate need of better representation of parents' interests, and Byron's willingness to serve in what has got to be a mostly thankless job in order to fill that need is entirely admirable. Anyone who did NOT love Albany and appreciate its schools wouldn't bother.

Paul O'Curry August 30, 2012 at 09:31 pm

Obviously you are a victim of the Reagan and Bush education policies !!!

Emilie Raguso August 30, 2012 at 09:54 pm

I'm looking forward to hearing from all three of the school board candidates this election season -- and happy that there were enough candidates this time around to get to know people's positions. I missed that in 2010!

Kathryn Javandel August 31, 2012 at 11:37 pm

@ Steven Steve - I kind of like the pet name "Jock" for my husband. In addition to his earning an athletic letter at every available opportunity at Albany High School back in the 1980s, it is factually true that he was recognized as an "Athlete-Scholar" by the Oakland Tribune due to his outstanding academic achievements as well as his outstanding athletic achievements. Not to mention his academic achievements at UC Berkeley's College of Engineering including BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Transportation. It is equally true that he is NOT running for re-election this year; to the contrary, he terms out this December so your criticism of his leadership is somewhat superfluous with regard to the candidates for the upcoming election in November.
I'm thinking it's lucky that he didn't wear a hoody sweatshirt the day you saw him in his letterman's jacket.

don September 1, 2012 at 07:32 am

no pun intended but people who live here for 10yr or longer seem to know albany and its people others which live five yrs or less are here the short time because going to uc or other and move after graduation they dont really get to know us or we them thats all don

Steven Steve September 1, 2012 at 01:04 pm

@Don - Are you saying that is someone has live here longer than you then they must have a better understanding of Albany than you? Or does the logic only work until you have lived here for 10 years, and then your magically up to par on Albany? If you moved away, as you stated you had, does that start the timer again when you move back or does it just keep accumulating? I ask because I am a 3rd generation from here but did go to college at a skool other than Berkeley. :)

Paul D September 1, 2012 at 01:16 pm

Sinclair Lewis knew a small-town smug mentality when he saw one.

don September 1, 2012 at 05:05 pm

steve thats it you did leave here correct and then left correct for education correct so did t so we both have the feeling of albany if you did go elsewhere you feel the difference dont you i did this is why you did come back you felt it as i and doing so run for office and give the people best of yourself correct again i did 20yrs ago welcome home dojn

Jim Beller September 1, 2012 at 06:19 pm

Peggy, you are far too reasonable and gratuitously nice.

Reuel Schiller October 12, 2012 at 12:58 am

Mr. Barrett. I wanted to confirm that your opinion is that Albany's schools start too late and that you would rather have earlier start times. This position was attributed to you in the Patch article reporting on the School Board Candidate Forum. Could you confirm whether this is your position.