Having homeschooled his children, Mr. Regan lacks personal experience with our public schools and issues that are important to parents and teachers.

His insensitive and mean-spirited remarks make him unworthy for the office of Trustee. Many recall his infamous racist joke earlier this year. Surprisingly, he followed that with a recent Facebook post (4/27/13) wherein he attempted humor by personifying elk as Democrats. Sadly, he characterized both federal aid recipients and Democrats as ungrateful, entitled takers. Is this how he sees the children in our district who receive free or reduced-rate lunches? Or is it just their parents he disdains? His poor judgment leads him to publicly make disparaging remarks about those who are not like him, yet he seeks a position which would entrust him with the welfare of children and employees, some who fall into the very categories he seems to mock.

Mr. Regan claims personal success is one of his greatest qualifications, but the office of School Board Trustee is a position of service to others. There is nothing wrong with individual success, but applying one’s efforts to make others successful requires more than just hard work and a high IQ. Investing in the success of others requires altruism and compassion for all members of our community, not just the wealthy or politically like-minded. Mr. Regan’s choice to constantly emphasize his individual successes rather than his record of community service suggests where his values lie.

Christa Hazel, on the other hand, is a dedicated parent whose children attend SD271. She has a strong record of service, having volunteered countless hours for the betterment of our schools. Christa Hazel cares about the individual students and families in our district. She is the best choice to serve Zone 1 as School Board Trustee.

NICOLE OLSON

Hayden