School Board election politics

Candidates aren't the only ones getting steamed over the Hillsborough School Board race.

The district's blue collar workers union, the Hillsborough School Employees Federation, is filing an ethics complaint against incumbent Carol Kurdell.

HSEF claims Kurdell was campaigning at a Sept. 16 board meeting when she stated that a bus driver had been told not to talk to her. The reason? The union had not endorsed her, she said. HSEF endorsed her opponent, Stephen Gorham.

Union president Luis Perez showed up at last week's board meeting to complain: "Ms. Kurdell used her public position to broadcast this statement over a public television broadcast of the School Board meeting in an attempt to gain sympathy as a victim for potential voters. She is the one who made this a public issue before election, not me."

He drew gasps from school employees in the audience with a parting dig. He asked viewers to vote for Gorham on Nov. 4.

Perez said he waited for Kurdell to call after the meeting, but it never came. So he has filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Kurdell sees little good faith in the effort. She said she does not reply to threats of legal action, as Perez mentioned in an e-mail to her. She said Perez had misunderstood her, but he could have picked up a phone to talk at any time.

"I am extremely disgusted by the partisan politics that is going on in this election," Kurdell said. "I've never been exposed to it in all of my years of running for office, and it really saddens me that we have devolved to this level. It doesn't serve the students of Hillsborough County well."

She noted that School Board elections are nonpartisan races.

(Photo: Carol Kurdell)

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Comments

[Timmy!]

All politics is partisan. Kurdell was in a gray area with her comment. She should have known better than to bring it up.

Good for you Mr. Perez. The board has stretched the patience of every employee with the continued demands made upon them.

Wait a minute? Isn't this the same Carol Kurdell whose campaign signs were at the McCain offices?

http://www.tampabay.com/news/article808616.ece

Kurdell has been playing the partisan card all along. She stepped it up when she realized that her opponent is motivated, educated, qualified, and ready to serve.

Stephen Gorham is going to win this race!

[Joe]

Good for Perez for calling her bluff. Kurdell knows she is in trouble. She thought that she could coast into the school board again while quietly playing GOP style politics.

This time, voters are paying attention. Yes...Gorham is going to win this seat. Our kids need change for their future, not more of the same.

[Michelle from Tampa]

I am so OVER being sick of right-wingers playing the victim when they've been the ones victimizing the rest of us for nearly two decades in this state. And then they say WE'RE the ones who are bullying THEM. They need to get over themselves!

[Michelle from Tampa]

Right-wingers being the likes of Carol Kurdell and her supporters (yeah--"non-partisan" my eye).

[Karen]

What? Kurdell is crying partisan politics while her signs were in Republican offices?

What a hypocrite!

[Anastacia Beaverhousen]

Kurdell is so full of it! Gorham is going to win this race and she is trying to bully anyone she can to win.

Here's a little message for Kurdell: you have been playing party politics all along and so have your supporters and it won't work.

Kurdell: What in the heck are your campaign signs doing at the County Republican Headquarters? Why did La Gaceta and Patrick Mantiega endorse you and never event interviewed Gorham? Oh, that's right, you are paying Mantiega as a political consultant. (More on that story to follow...)

What's astonishing is that Kurdell does this right in public view. Out in the open - she totally writes off an employee of the school district and then cries foul when she gets called on it.

Kurdell is unethical, mean-spirited and vindictive. Time to go, honey.

Oh, and by the way: I am a REPUBLICAN VOTING FOR GORHAM!

[Glenn]

Should someone file an ethics complaint against Kurdell for running a partisan race? After all, you have the proof with that picture showing her signs at the Republican County office.

[Bethany]

Excuse me ... but hasn't this woman been sitting on the school board for 16 years? and isn't Hillsborough County at just about 40% drop out rate? That is only a 60% graduation rate.

What has Carol Kurdell been doing to support our kids for 16 years? The kids who were in 1st grade when this woman began her career on our school board - they are college graduates now. It's been a school-life cycle and she's done nothing.

Politics Schmolitics Carol - get your signs out of the McErratic offices ... or we're going to start thinking youre wanting to play politics too.

[Sybil]

OMG Carol Kurdell hired Patrick Montega and the LaGaceta as part of her campaign for reelection?! Are you serious?!

Let's talk politics here, Carol. Please. Let's look at your "record" a little closer. What have you achieved? What has LaGaceta been doing for you? Who did they "endorse" or should that be .... who signed the check they deposited for that endorsement?

[Tyler]

Uh oh Carol. It seems as though those employees you were supposed to be supporting while sitting all these years on the school board ... they've noticed, taken notes and have now held you accountable.

You have failed not only the students and teachers of this county these past long 16 years; you have failed every single staff/employee of every single school in this district. There are so many more of us that make up this district than teachers and administrators.

We've noticed. You don't know we exist.

I'm for the new kid - Stephen Gorham. With his experience as a soldier, he knows how important every single one of us are to the big picture.

Stephen Gorham for School Board

[Susan S]

It's time for a change. Stephen Gorham for School Board.

[Stanley]

16 years is a long time. I hope that Carol Kurdell begins to understand that she needs to pass the torch to Stephen Gorham with grace and honor.

[el matador]

This is the same Kurdell I saw at the Republican Party fundraiser in Plant City? The same one that bid $200 for a painting at that fundraiser, with the proceeds going to the Republican Party? The same Kurdell who's signs are at the local Republican office? She is doing the same Bush thing . . .accuse someone of doing what you are doing. That is pathetic. We all know the only reason Kurdell is running is so she can get full retirement for 20 years of service . . .I am one tax paying voter who sick of the free riding Republican's who talk of small government is followed up with a 700 Billion theft of tax payer dollars. The bible says words without deeds mean nothing. We know now that Kurdell's words and her lack of deeds over the last 16 years mean nothing. Time for her to go home.

[Lucy]

Yeah, right, Carol, you're surprised by the partisanship. Maybe if your party stopped trying to defund education by pushing for vouchers - maybe if your party saw the value in the community of free and equal public education (heck, members of the board opted for private school for their kids) we'd be more apt to believe that party politics shouldn't matter. Until then, continue to coax money out of your Republican ties, while crowing on about how you're just in it for the children. I'm done with whiners. When can Stephen Gorham take the position?

[jwt]

Kurdell has been on the board longer than many of my students have been alive! I haven't noticed a significant improvement she can claim in her entire tenure! In the last five or so years--longer than her latest term--education in Hillsborough has done nothing but make a steep downward slide! Not only is she ineffective, but unethical, too. We cannot stand any more of this--vote for Gorham! We MUST have the change!

[Mencken Jr]

Kurdell has been on the board for way too long. We have large challenges that need fresh thinking, not mindless kowtowing to whatever the superintendent wants.

Stephen Gorham all the way!

[Chucky Cheese]

Did you see the video on youtube about Kurdell?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xWUTnEyUvA

[IJ]

Carol is rooted in the good ole PTA leadership of the 1980's that never wanted to stand up to the Superintendent. she was encouraged to run and first elected because she is a 'yes' person. She has had the backing of the 'System's' good ole boy network for years and has served their interests well. VOTE HER OUT! It's time that the students, teachers and parents of Hillsborough County, as well as the taxpayers, get fair representation. Stephen Gorham already got my vote and that of everyone in my family!